A guest blog by Brenda Kipkemoi
Are you looking for an off-the-beaten-track Kenyan destination to visit? Then why not try Kericho.
Kericho isn’t your everyday tourist destination, and indeed it isn’t much talked about on Kenya’s western tourist circuit. Tucked in the tea highlands south-west of Kenya’s Rift Valley, this quaint and picturesque farming town with perennial rainfall, dubbed “God’s bathroom” has a peaceful appeal that strangely grows on you.
Expect a five hours’ drive from Nairobi and 90 minutes’ drive from Nakuru, branching off to the Kisumu-Busia Road (B1) at Mau Summit, off the main A104 Nakuru – Eldoret Highway. Alternatively, you can fly to Kisumu International Airport from Nairobi on Kenya Airways, Jambo Jet, or Fly 540, and then drive the 1-hour trip the rest of the way.
So, why haven’t we heard more about Kericho on Kenya’s inventory of notable tourist destinations? And is it worth a visit?
Video: Kericho Tea Highlands
Both the national and county authorities need to redouble their efforts to market and support tourist-centred activities in the County. After reading this guide, we hope you’ll find that there’s plenty to do in this beguiling Kenyan highland town, perfect for a little bit of out-of-town R&R.
Where to Eat in Kericho: Aubergine Restaurant
Founded in 2018, Aubergine Restaurant located on the first floor of Green Square Mall came onto the Kericho dining scene with a bang.
This owner-operated restaurant is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Ben and Ruth Magolo. Victor Owino, former Boma Inn food and beverage service manager runs the front-of-house with strict professionalism and grace.
Ben, a protégé of renowned British chef Luke Doig, has worked in some of Kenya’s best restaurants including Mutamaiyu House on the Mugie Conservancy, Muthaiga Country Club, and the Almanara Luxury Resort in Diani.
Here, the food is honest and intelligent, focused on using only the freshest and locally available ingredients. A quick look at the menu confirms this philosophy. There's an assortment of starters to choose like the signature Smoked Salmon, and Beef Capaccio, as well as a variety of salads, soups, and sandwiches.
Seafood comes in fresh daily from Kenya's coast using refrigerated transport to give us sublime dishes such as Swahili coconut Fish, and Chilli Prawns. At the same time, the local organic beef sourced from the farms around Kericho yields a delicious and flavorful Kericho Beef Fillet dish.
If you prefer casual dining, Aubergine also offers an extensive pizza menu.
To accompany your meal, enjoy a selection of excellent reds and whites, and to finish, the desserts and cakes on offer as well as the espresso-based drinks are well worth trying.
As pricing goes, Aubergine Restaurant offers real value for money. Expect to pay about KES 500 for a starter, and between KES 700 – 1100 for the main meal. A glass of wine comes in at KES 400, coffee at KES 250, and the ubiquitous Kericho teapot at KES 150.
Location: Green Square Mall, 1st Floor, off Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway
Tel: (254) 0726 142 999 Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Auberginekericho/
Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, Cash, MPESA
Reservations: Reservations are not essential, but they may save you during busy weekends.
Price: $$$
Hours: Mon-Sun from 7AM – 11PM
Cuisine: Continental, African. Options: Seafood, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free.
Extra Features: Outdoor Seating, Indoor Seating, Parking, Wheelchair Access, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Private Dining, Highchairs Available, Free Wi-Fi.
Where to Sleep in Kericho: Saramek Villa Inn
Excellent accommodation in Kericho is, unfortunately, hard to find.
With the decline of a previously good quality hotel in the town, and the need to show a marriage licence at check-in no less in another, it can be hard to find a decent place to put down your head for the night.
Saramek Villa Inn breaks the mould and has managed to convert a residential house on one-acre grounds into an intimate and delightful boutique hotel, set in peaceful, manicured gardens in the heart of town.
This establishment is owned and run by the lovely Fifie Koske, who honed her craft in Australia. Fiona is a trained chef and hospitality professional. She's the inspiration for many dishes on the a-la-carte menu.
There are six rooms in this small guesthouse, ranging from Standard at KES 5500, Deluxe at KES 7500, and Superior Deluxe at KES 8500 per night. Prices include a full English or Continental breakfast and vary according to seasonal and non-resident rates; it's best to call ahead and confirm availability and the price before booking a room.
The all en-suite rooms are well-appointed, comfortable, and furnished in bespoke, handmade furniture with beautiful and thick drapery. All bedrooms are carpeted to keep out the cold that's a fixture all-year-round, and come with hot water, a bath, clean white towels, writing desk, ample clothes cupboards, and vanity table and mirror as standard.
Saramek Villa Inn also provides an in-room complimentary coffee and tea service as well as satellite TV.
There's a private bar on the premises (far enough from the rooms to ensure undisturbed sleep) and a resident's lounge with a real fireplace, in which to relax. Thankfully, there's also outdoor seating for those sunny days where only outdoor dining will do and plenty of parking with ample security for the ultimate convenience.
Saramek Villa Inn has set the standards for accommodation in Kericho. We’d highly recommend you sleep nowhere else when in town as really, nowhere else matches the Inn’s hig standards.
Location: 500m drive behind Green Square Mall, or branch off to the left at Sidian Bank off Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway. You may also call Saramek Villa Inn for directions on +254 795 508 898.
Email: [email protected].
Website: http://www.saramekltd.co.ke/
Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, Cash, MPESA
Reservations: Reservations essential; telephone or email ahead of time to book.
Price: $$$
Hours: Mon-Sun, 24 Hours
Cuisine: Continental, African. Options: Seafood, Vegetarian, Gluten-free on request.
Extra Features: Outdoor Seating, Indoor Lounge, Dining Room, Table Service, Private Dining, Room Service, Laundry Service, Free Parking, Wheelchair Access, Serves Alcohol, Free Wi-Fi, 24-hour Check-In,
Chagaik Arboretum
One of the splendours of Kericho is how unspoiled and beautiful the nature trails are.
Chagaik Arboretum is a peaceful an enclave of tropical jungle, full of indigenous tree species and beautiful picnic grounds surrounded by tea plantations.
The arboretum was established after the Second World War and is situated eight kilometres from Kericho town along the Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway. Visitors to the site will need to drive a few metres on a murram road, through tea plantations and in through a gate that ushers you into the picnic grounds.
The site is perfect on sunny days where you can picnic the hours away in the company of friends in serene surroundings. There are plenty of lush gardens with enough room for children to enjoy outdoor activities.
At the bottom of the grounds, there's a small dam framed by age-old bamboo trees. This spot is perfect for bird watchers, entomologists, and also a reliable place for the best of local wildlife, notably Colobus monkeys.
Location: 8km to Kericho on the Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway
Tel: +254 722 582 131
Reservations: Reservations not essential
Price: Free
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 8 AM – 8 PM
Chesumot Tea Farm
Another of Kericho’s most picturesque sites is Chesumot Tea Farm located approximately 10 kilometres to Kericho town on the Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway.
The entrance to the farm is to the left of Kaisugu Tea Factory on a dirt track that leads past beautiful tea plantations to the main entrance gate of the estate.
Chesumot Tea Farm is a fantastic camping and fishing site. There is an artificial dam that is perfect for trout fishing and canoeing. Although there are no eateries on-site, visitors are allowed to bring their food and cooking supplies. You can also enjoy horse riding, cycling, photography, marathons, bird watching, and bonfires in this beautiful, unspoiled location.
Location: Chesumot Tea Estate, approximately 10km to Kericho town on the Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway.
Tel: +254 722 741879
Website: https://www.facebook.com/chesumotfarm/
Reservations: Reservations not essential
Price: Day pass at KES 400. Children go free. If camping, phone ahead to get more information.
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 8 AM – 4 PM
Where to Learn About Tea Processing: Kaisugu Tea Factory
Tea estates are to Kericho what beaches are to Mombasa – without them, there is no Kericho.
Kaisugu Tea is a homegrown tea processing factory, owned by the African Gospel and African Inland Churches, in partnership with the family of Kenya's second President H.E. Daniel Arap Moi.
They are incredibly accommodating to visitors and, arranged in advance, can offer free factory tours to small groups. Avoid end month tours, though, as staff are usually frantic with stock takes and other administrative duties. It’s also best to call once you arrive in the town, as tours may not be available all of the time.
Learn about how tea leaves are received and graded from the small scale out-growers, dried, and transformed into Kenya's world-class loose leaf tea. Tea is also available for sale at the factory's outlet.
Location: 10 km to Kericho on the Nakuru-Kericho-Kisumu Highway
Tel: +254 54 30623/20027 or +254 722 208 827/735 539 747
Email [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: http://www.kaisugu.co.ke/
Reservations: Reservations essential; telephone or email ahead of time to book.
Price: Free but always phone ahead to check
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM, Saturday: 10 AM – 5PM
Getting Around
Kericho is a small town. Public transport is virtually non-existent and most people without cars cab it.
Uber and Bolt are unavailable but local rider apps Rafiki and Wasili operate in the area. These cabs are affordable and clean – town service shouldn’t cost you more than KES 150. Besides, they are safer and are more convenient, with the nearest driver picking you from your location 24 hours a day.
Download Rafiki for Android, and Wasili for Android and iOS devices before you go.
Kericho is undoubtedly one of Kenya's most beautiful destinations. It has a vibrant local history, mild weather, stunning wildlife, and friendly people.
While not all social amenities are available, the old world charm of the town more than makes up for this. The food is organic and to die for, and the serene environment is perfect if you need to get away from it all and recharge your batteries.
Try to squeeze in Kericho into your schedule this year; you never know it just may grow on you.
Looking for other Upcountry destinations? Try the idyllic CASTLE FOREST LODGE at the foot of Mount Kenya or take a safari at OL PEJETA
About Brenda Kipkemoi
Brenda Kipkemoi is a full-time, professional freelance food, lifestyle, health and wellness, product review, and travel writer who offers blogging, ghost-writing, and copywriting services. She has over 15 year's professional experience in Public Relations, Business Administration, and Customer Relations from working in the UK and Kenya
An accomplished amateur cook, Brenda also enjoys wine, the music of Coldplay, spending time with her daughter, reading cookbooks and travel. Her work has been featured on Medium, Globe Soup, and the US niche blog Cookoutpal.
Contact her by emailing [email protected] or on LinkedIn.
The post Kericho – Quaint Tea Town Tucked in Kenya’s Western Highlands appeared first on The Expat Mummy.
