Nairobi now and then

I want to tell you a little about Nairobi, as you may already now Nairobi is situated on a high plateau, 1600 m above sea level. In the early 1900's Nairobi was the British administrative center and quickly became the European focus of high life in Africa. The new settlers often lived miles apart and probably a life that was often a bit lonely, to make up for what they had left behind, a new lavish lifestyle was created. To Londoners and Parisians this place in Kenya became known as "the Happy Valley and the Happy Valley set".

The Brits amused themselves by attending parties, dinners, horse races, playing tennis and of course going on safaris which at that time referred to Big-game hunt. At these different gatherings there was always an abundance of alcohol served such as pink gin, gin with a dash of Angostura bitters, champagne and vintage vines.

Most households at that time had servants and only the best china was good enough to dine on. Well-known places were the Muthaiga Club which still stands to this day, another social corner stone was the Sarova Stanley hotel where Hemingway used to sit by the bar. On Saturdays the"Happy Valley set" drove down the hills in their Buicks, women all dressed up in long gowns and men wearing black tie. They would enjoy a night of dining, dancing and drinking until the break of dawn. Imagine all the gossip and safari tales that must have been passed around there. It was not only at home that life was lived in utter luxury also on Safaris this high standard of living was maintained. A man named Finch Hutton ran safaris for the rich and famous and offered large tents, daily laundry and hot baths- probably more than most safaris today can offer...When returning after a day out exploring there would be a hot bath, cocktails and a dinner table laid with white linen and silverware. How extravagant!

Each year, Finch Hutton traveled to Paris to buy only the finest wine and spirits to stock up for the Muthaiga club, he was not only a clever businessman, he was also the lover of the now very famous Karen Blixen. Apparently he was introduced to her at the Muthaiga Club in 1918 and later became friends with her and her Swedish husband. In 1925 she divorced her husband and shortly afterward he moved into her house. It is however rumored that he was either homo or bisexual. One can still visit Karen Blixen's beautiful home in Ngong Hills which today has a museum and a nice restaurant.


The story of Nairobi is to be continued..