Kiambethu Tea Farm Tour.
Step into Kenya's lush tea highlands and discover the story behind your cup — a charming farm tour through one of Kenya's oldest private tea estates near Limuru.
Overview
Just a 40-minute drive from Nairobi, the Kiambethu Tea Farm in Limuru is one of Kenya's oldest tea estates — established by AB McDonell in 1910 when he purchased 350 acres of land in Tigoni. Today the farm is lovingly run by the third generation of the Mitchell family. Set at 7,000 feet above sea level on the rim of the Rift Valley, this is a guided day tour into the lush cool highlands that produce Kenya's celebrated tea — and into one of the most charming colonial-era homesteads still operating in the country.
The day is wonderfully relaxed and characterful: a guided walk through the tea fields, a tour of the indigenous forest where you may spot colobus monkeys, a tea-tasting on the verandah of the original farmhouse, and a four-course farm-style lunch served in the garden. It's a wonderful counterpoint to the dust and drama of a safari week.
Highlights
- Walk through lush tea fields at 7,000 ft and learn how Kenya's celebrated tea is grown, plucked, and processed
- Discover how Kenya became one of the world's top tea producers — and the colonial story behind it
- Tour the historic Mitchell family farmhouse and its beautiful colonial-era gardens
- Walk the surrounding indigenous Limuru forest with a local guide — spot black-and-white colobus monkeys, syke's monkeys, and a rich variety of birds
- Enjoy a traditional tea tasting on the farmhouse verandah
- Sit down to a four-course farm-style lunch on the garden lawn with views over the Tigoni hills
- A perfect family-friendly and senior-friendly half-day just outside Nairobi
Sample Day Plan
- 09:30 — Pickup from your Nairobi hotel, scenic drive up to Tigoni
- 11:00 — Welcome tea and short talk on the history of the farm and Kenyan tea
- 11:30 — Guided walk through the tea fields and the indigenous forest
- 13:00 — Four-course farm-style lunch on the garden lawn
- 15:00 — Tea tasting and Q&A with your host
- 16:00 — Drive back to Nairobi
Pricing
Option | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
Per Person | From $100 |
Good to Know
The farm sits at 7,000 ft — bring a light fleece or jacket as Limuru can be cool, especially in the mornings and after the rains. The forest walk is gentle and on well-maintained paths. Allergies and dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) can be accommodated with advance notice.
Duration
Half Day (approximately 6 hours including transport from Nairobi)