Subukia Shrine

The National Marian Shrine at Subukia, dedicated as Village of Mary Mother of God, was established in the 1980s on a wooded hillside in the Subukia valley, and it has become the principal Catholic pilgrimage site in Kenya. A spring on the site is central to the devotion, and pilgrims collect water from it; a path of the Stations of the Cross climbs the slope through indigenous forest to a hilltop cross with a view over the valley. The annual national pilgrimage each October brings tens of thousands of people who camp on the grounds, and smaller groups come throughout the year, particularly at weekends. The valley itself is fertile and green, one of the more attractive stretches of the Rift, and the site is calm and shaded outside the big events, with guesthouse accommodation for retreats.

What you actually see

• The spring - the water source at the centre of the devotion.
• Stations of the Cross - the path climbing through forest to the hilltop.
• The main shrine - the open-air church and gathering ground.
• Valley views - the green Subukia valley from the high point.

When to go

Year-round; the October national pilgrimage is the great gathering but the site is then completely full. Weekdays outside pilgrimage season are quiet and the forest walk is pleasant. Mornings are cool and clear.

Honest expectations

This is a place of worship rather than a sight, and visitors should behave accordingly. During the October pilgrimage the grounds are crowded with campers and access is difficult. Facilities are simple. The forest path is steep in places.

Nearby

Nyahururu and Thomson's Falls lie north; Nakuru is south.