Kiambethu Tea Farm

Kiambethu was planted in 1910 by A.B. McDonell, one of the first people to grow tea commercially in Kenya, and the farm has stayed in the same family since, with descendants running the visits today. A morning here starts with a talk on the house lawn about how tea is grown, plucked and processed, with the difference between black, green and white tea explained on the spot, followed by a walk through the tea and into a patch of remnant indigenous forest with colobus monkeys, then lunch served on the lawn with the Ngong Hills in view. Limuru sits at around 2,200 metres, which is why the tea grows well and why it is often cool and misty. It is a short drive from Nairobi and makes an easy half-day, but visits are by booking only since the farm is a home as well as a business.

What you actually see

• The tea talk - growing, plucking and processing explained on the lawn.
• The tea fields - a walk through the bushes with the pickers at work.
• Indigenous forest - a remnant patch with colobus monkeys.
• Lunch on the lawn - a set meal with highland views.

When to go

Year-round; Limuru is green in all seasons and often misty, which is part of the atmosphere. Mornings are the standard slot. Booking is essential and drop-ins are not accepted.

Honest expectations

This is a set programme with a fixed price covering tour and lunch, not a casual visit. The forest walk is short. Weather at Limuru is frequently cool and damp, so bring a jacket. Nairobi traffic on the return can be heavy in the afternoon.

Nearby

Limuru town is close; Nairobi and Karura forest lie southeast.