Parklands

Parklands, due north of the city centre, is traditionally an Indian/Asian zone. The area is dotted with mosques and Hindu temples and there is a hospital, a university and school named after one of its most illustrious benefactors, the Aga Khan, who spent his early childhood in Nairobi. Housing is a mix of apartments, townhouses and large, detached houses in private compounds, although some of the properties are in poor repair. Highridge shopping centre at the junction of Masari Road and 4th Parklands Avenue has a good selection of shops and other amenities, including two supermarkets, a late-night chemist, banks, an optician, a bakery, a butcher and a furniture retailer. The colourful daily Hawkers’ Market on Limuru Road sells fresh fruit and vegetables, second-hand shoes and clothes. The landscaped gardens and indigenous trees of the nearby City Park offer a welcome escape from the noise and pollution of the city, as well as a good place to see monkeys and butterflies. Local entertainment centres around Diamond Plaza, a few steps from Highridge; known affectionately by the local population as Little India, this arcade of shops, bars and restaurants draws a mostly young crowd from within the area and beyond. The bars and clubs of Westlands are also just a short drive away. There is no bus service through Parklands but there are plenty of matatus on the main roads. A taxi to the city centre costs around Ksh300; the fare to the industrial area in the southeast, where many of the local residents have their businesses is roughly Ksh800.