Most of the hotels and lodges arrange entertainment in the evenings, which include traditional dances, folklore from various ethnic groups of Kenya, film shows and skits. These are usually combined with the evening barbecue normally around a bonfire.
Discotheques
Almost all hotels have discos, which are of a varying quality. They are open the whole night and some of them are private, only for the hotel guests. If you want more exposure you could visit the public night-clubs. Each kind of music is played here to the taste of the patrons. Live band performances are usually held, especially of resident bands and travelling celebrities. Shuttle busespick up guests at certain times and bus stops if the disco is located outside the city or town centre. A small amount of entry fee in to the disco is payable.
Night Clubs
Major towns of Nairobi and Mombasa have several night-clubs, which have fairly good sound systems and lights and stay open till 0500 hrs. Most popular are those with open floor dance floors.
Live band performances are uncommon in these, but can be organised especially inviting travelling celebrities. Due to crowds it is not advisable to carry valuables to the night-club, leave them in the hotel. Twilight girls may appear very persistent especially to foreigners, but if not interested, give them a polite send off.
Casinos
They are open until 0300 hrs on weekdays and 0330 hrs on weekends. Most hotels have good casinos, and are widely spread in the major destination areas like the Coast and Nairobi area.
Cinemas
There are a number of cinemas in Mombasa, Malindi and Nairobi. The local newspapers have a Cinema guide write up which shows the movies to be screened in each cinema.
A wide variety of movies is offered and the films on show include British, American and Indian productions and there are often fairly recent releases. Most cinemas have one session in the morning from 1100 hrs, one in the afternoon from 1400 hrs and two in the evening one from 1730 hrs and the other from 2030 hrs. An average fee of between 200 and 1,000 Kenya shillings is payable per show. The cheap cinemas are usually very crowded and their films are less good.
Cultural Centres
The major ones are the French, Japanese, American, German, and Italian centres and the British council. These also offer films, concerts and talks mostly depicting that specific culture, and usually in their language. They also stock newspapers from their specific home country and offer language lessons to locals at some fee. Programmes are announced in the local press and all are free except the American, which is open to members only.
Theatres
The only major theatres are found in Nairobi. The Phoenix theatre is a small group but the most active and produces a range of drama of a very high standard. The other is the Kenya National Theatre where local artists and performers hold most concerts.
Traditional literature; plays, poems, and songs are presented here on regular basis; even educational literature set books are presented here for students. There are other small armature-groups that present a range of comedies, musical and choral concerts and pantomimes, all of which are very popular. The local newspapers have notices of what's on.
