One of the best places to visit on weekends or holidays are museums. These are places that are used to collect, preserve, study, document and present Kenya’s past and present culture and natural heritage. However, museums in Kenya are overseen by National Museums of Kenya (NMK) which is a state corporation established by an Act of Parliament.

Here are some of the museums you should visit in Kenya.

Kisumu Museum

The Museum is located in the lake side city of Kisumu in the western part of Kenya. Kisumu museum stores and disseminates information on cultural and scientific issues with emphasis on Western Kenya.

Exhibits include cultural history. The museum provides educational services to schools in its neighborhood. A tour to the museum is ideal when visiting western Kenya.

Gede Ruins museums

These are the remains of a Swahili town at the Kenyan coastal town of Malindi. It was built around the twelfth century. Its numerous ruins, comprises of a conglomeration of mosques; a magnificent palace and houses all nestled in 45 acres of primeval forest.It is an ideal site to tour when you are within the coastal town of Malindi

Nairobi National Museum

The Nairobi National Museum offers a one stop for visitors to sample the country’s rich origin both for education and leisure.

In addition to the museum, visitors are treated to a variety of shopping and dining facilities, as well as botanical gardens and nature trails that offer a serene environment.

The museum is open from 0830hrs -17300hrs and closed on holidays. Nairobi National Museum is located at the Museum Hill, approximately 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi city center. It houses collections of Kenya’s History, Nature, Culture and Contemporary Art.

Nairobi Gallery

Another place you should not fail to visit when in Nairobi is The Nairobi Gallery. The Nairobo Gallery is located in the heart of Nairobi. The building housing the Gallery was built in 1913, it was the old Provincial Commissioners’ office building fondly referred to as ‘Hatches, Matches and Dispatches’ because of the births, marriages and deaths that were recorded here.

Currently, the building is a National Monument and serves as a museum holding temporary art exhibitions.

Karen Blixen Museum

Located 10 kilometres from Nairobi city centre, Karen Blixen Museum another place to visit is Karen blixen. it was established in 1917 by Karen Blixen and her husband, Baron Bror von Blixen with the intention of setting up a coffee plantation.

Subsequently, the house gained international fame with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’ an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s an autobiography with the same title.

The Museum is open to the public every day from 9.30 am to 6pm including weekends and public holidays. Guided tours are offered. The museum shop offers handicrafts, posters and postcards, the Movie ‘Out of Africa’, books and other Kenyan souvenirs. Additionally, the grounds can be rented for wedding receptions, corporate functions and other events.

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Mombasa Fort Jesus Museum

Fort Jesus Museum is located in the city of Mombasa at the Kenyan coast. The fort was built in 1593 by the Portuguese and was meant to secure their safety. The Fort became a Museum in 1962 and is now an important historical landmark in the East African region.
Additionally, exhibits in Fort Jesus Museum includes archaeological excavations from Fort Jesus, Gede, Manda, Ungwana and other sites. Other objects on display were donated by individuals including Mrs. J.C. White, Mr. C.E. Whitton and Mrs. W.S. Marchant. A tour of the museum can be arranged while in Mombasa.

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Lamu Museums

The Lamu Museums are located in the Lamu Archipelago, one of the most stunning & peaceful locations on the African continent and a World Heritage Site.

The museums in Lamu include Lamu Fort built in 1813, Lamu German post office established in 1822 by the Germans and also the unique architecture of the houses in Lamu. It is ideal to tour this museums when you are in Lamu town.