The Museum of Illusions is a visual, sensory, and educational experience designed to engage people’s sense of wonder and shift their perspective through the science behind optical illusions.
The first Museum of Illusions opened in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2015 and achieved overnight success. Soon after, the Museum of Illusions started growing and became an instant attraction in every city where it opened its doors. The global group of museums currently boasts locations in over 50 cities worldwide.
The franchise marked its much-anticipated entry into Nairobi on Friday, January 24, 2025, in an event presided over by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano. The tourist and cultural attraction is expected to offer Kenyans a world of illusions than they have ever perceived before.
“The Museum of Illusions has exhibits that challenge human perceptions, expand imagination, and kindle the joy of curiosity and wonder. This new type of museum is gaining popularity in every jurisdiction it has been set up in because of its ability to fuse art, science, and technology into fascinating and indelible sensations and images. Such is the magnet tourism thrives on,” CS Miano said during the launch.
Museum of Illusions Nairobi is located at Laxcon Court, Ground Floor, Shop 1 along Swaminarayan Road. It is the third in Africa behind sister establishments in Johannesburg, South Africa and Cairo, Egypt.
The establishment, which is within walking distance from the Nairobi National Museum, will open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Monday to Wednesday and from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Thursday to Sunday.
Features
Visitors of Museum of Illusions Nairobi will enjoy unique attractions such as illusion rooms, installations, and images that make up over 60 visual and educational exhibits, all designed to play tricks on the human perspective.
The illusion rooms give guests a glimpse of infinity as they take a walk in the upside-down world and grow and shrink their bodies all in one place.
The installations room features a ‘cloning table’, ‘head on a platter’, and a ‘beuchet chair’ that all assure guests that anything is indeed possible. The major attractions in the “images” section are holograms and optical illusions.
The Museum collaborated with a number of Kenyan artists, including Brian Omollo for his amazing murals, and Moha Graffix, an icon in the Matatu art industry.
Charges
Museum of Illusions Nairobi charges different rates for adults, students, and children. Adults are required to pay Ksh1,500, students Ksh1,100, and Ksh900 for children aged between 4 and 12 years.
A family package that caters to two adults and two children goes for Ksh3,900. There is free entry for infants and children under four years.
The Museum of Illusions only operates on a cashless basis, allowing for only mobile money or card payments. Guests can pay for the tickets upon arrival, though the museum strongly advises interested visitors to book and pay for their tickets in advance through their website.
The booking system works on a 20-minute time slot interval from the time the museum opens. However, the average time spent according to MOI is between 45 minutes to an hour. Guests can tour the museum at their own pace since the museum is self-guided.
Other Functions
Apart from being a tourist and cultural attraction, Museum of Illusions Nairobi can act a venue for corporate events, team-building expeditions, birthday parties, and other forms of entertainment.
