Follow the train tracks to Nairobi and head into the past

Put away your tourist hats and pick up an understanding of the Kenyan way of life by doing as the locals do. Immerse yourself in their culture through trains and tracks, and take the time to relax.

Nairobi is a city where wilderness beyond your wildest dreams meets the city on a slow moving, sun-scorched day. Many travel here for business and make their way to the ‘green city under the sun' to start a safari. No matter what your reasons are for visiting, make the most out of your trip. Learn more about the fascinating and rich culture of the Kenyans and check out the tracks leading to where it all started: the railway.

In 1899, the ‘stream of cold water', which translates into ‘Nairobi' in Masai, was simply a place for trains to change tracks when travelling from Mombasa on the coast, to Uganda. British Colonists and Indian laborers camped out here as they worked on the tracks and slowly and unexpectedly, a city grew to become Nairobi as we know it today.

So delve into the city's history and check out the national Railway Museum. Once you have learned about the past, take the famous train ride to the coast at Mombasa, as seen in the film, ‘Out of Africa'.

The Nairobi Railway Museum was opened by East African Railways in 1971 and offers visitors a fantastic chance to check out a bit of the county's history while playing in the train yard. Full of antique carriages, photos and railway equipment, train enthusiasts and those interested in studying the past will love this museum. Let the grounds here charm you as you climb the various locomotives and wander among rusty steel beams and engines that belong in an old western.

For movie buffs, the locomotive from ‘Out of Africa' found its last home here. Kids absolutely love to get on board the vehicles, flick switches and explore the engine coal rooms. Learn about the Man-Eaters of Tsavo, two lions that hunted humans along the train lines, responsible for an estimated 135 deaths, dragging workers from campsites and even cabins. This museum is for those who love trains, those traveling with kids and students of history, so if that is you, be sure not to miss it.

Once you have lapped up the rich culture within the city and are ready to experience more of this wonderfully wild country, there is no need to head to the airport. Why not enjoy the journey and make it part of your adventures. The train ride from Nairobi to Mombasa is a historical treat for those wanting to experience a snapshot of the Kenyan way of life and those wishing to relive moments from ‘Out of Africa'.

Board an old train that runs on the very same tracks that Karen Blixen rode on her journey to Nairobi to establish a coffee plantation. The train creaks at each turn, swaying slowly back and forth as it lugs passengers across vast plains scattered with zebras, baboons, giraffes and other creatures of Kenya's animal kingdom.

Put aside some time, grab a great book and book yourself a ticket. Gaze out at the countryside and you may be lucky to enjoy your own safari right from your seat. Meals are served in the restaurant car and you can opt to have a private sleeping cabin or to share. These trams role along on time to a watch with a slow second hand, so enjoy your time aboard and get to know to the locals. You will quickly learn this is the way Kenyans prefer to travel and get a greater understanding of life in this sun-scorched country.

While staying in Kenya's capital, enjoy the familiar amenities and great service Radisson Blu provides worldwide and book a room at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi.