Machakos

Machakos, nicknamed Macha, is a town in the Southern Rift Valley.

Understand
Established in 1887, Machakos was an early capital of the then British East Africa Protectorate. Machakos lost its status as the capital in 1899 to Nairobi after the railway was constructed which had bypassed Machakos.

Get in
On road, Machakos is a one-hour drive from Nairobi via the Nairobi Expressway and Mombasa Road. Buses frequent between the cities and stop at Machakos Town Bus Station, taking approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Go next
Head south towards the Tanzanian border to Amboseli National Park, which offers some of the best viewing of large African wildlife.