Torok Falls

Torok falls off the lip of the Elgeyo escarpment in a single long thread that breaks into spray before it reaches the bottom, and its character depends entirely on rainfall: after the rains it is a solid white line down the dark cliff, while in a dry spell it can dwindle to almost nothing. A viewpoint on the descent road looks across at the fall with the Kerio valley opening beyond, and a rough path leads down towards the base for those who want to stand under it. The escarpment here is close to a thousand metres of relief, so the setting does much of the work: dark rock, thorn scrub below, and the valley floor stretching to the Tugen hills. Local guides at the roadside offer to walk visitors down and it is worth taking one, both for the route and for the fee going to the community.

What you actually see

• The escarpment drop - a thin fall down a near-vertical cliff.
• The road viewpoint - the standard view across at the fall.
• The valley beyond - Kerio floor and the Tugen hills behind.
• The base path - a rough descent towards the pool.

When to go

Just after the rains, April to June and October to December, when the fall actually runs; in dry months it is disappointing. Mornings for light on the cliff. The path down is slippery in the wet, which is when the fall is best, so take care.

Honest expectations

In a dry season there may be almost no water, which catches out visitors. The descent path is steep, loose and unmaintained. There are no facilities beyond roadside stalls. Guides expect payment and rates should be agreed before setting off.

Nearby

Iten is up on the rim; the Kerio valley road continues to Kabarnet.