Kiambethu Tea Farm, Get away from Nairobi for a day and enjoy the beautiful green tea fields of Limuru. A short drive from the city takes you to a world of endless green fields, dense native forests, and times when you could sip cool drinks on the porch and take it easy in the afternoon.The first tea plants were grown in Kenya 100 years ago right here at the Kiambethu Tea Farm. You can enjoy the grounds of this lovely tea plantation and learn about the past of Kenyan tea farming and colonial life in the Ngong Hills when you visit.

As befits this fancy place, you’ll be offered a cup of tea when you get there and told about the farm’s past. You’ll also learn about how tea is grown, and then you can go outside and see the rows of deep green tea plants growing in the fields for yourself.

Your tour will continue into a nearby forest, where an experienced guide will walk with you and point out the native birds, plants, and flowers. Another treat: this area is home to Colobus monkeys, and you might get to see them up close.

After the walk, enjoy a drink on the verandah before lunch while taking in more views of the tea fields and the Ngong Hills. Soon after, there will be lunch, which is a three-course vegetarian feast made with food grown on the farm itself.

The Farm of the McDonells

Kenya exports more tea than any other country in the world, so it’s strange that its growth didn’t start until the early 1900s. It all began right here in Kiambethu.

Arnold Butler McDonell, better known as AB, bought 350 acres from the British government in 1910. He planned to use the rich land to grow coffee, corn, and flax. But those crops didn’t do well at 2,194m (7,200 ft) above sea level, and it looked like he was doomed to fail.

To save the farm, he planted 20 acres of tea plants in 1918 after a friend brought him some samples of tea from India by accident. Within a few years, AB became the first professional tea planter in all of Africa. The new crop did very well.

AB made the tea himself on the farm and then brought it to Nairobi to sell to sellers directly. His business did well, and so did his family. He had four daughters on the farm, so he built a close school for girls that they went to.

Fiona Vernon, AB’s granddaughter, leads the gardening and tour activities today. She shares what she knows about the tea business that has been important to this family for 100 years.

Kenyan farmer, field of cropsKenyan farm land with crops

About the Kiambethu Tea Farm

It is in the town of Limuru, which is 25 km (15.5 mi) northwest of Nairobi.

Weather: The weather in Limuru is nice. The temperature here is 20oC (68oF) on average. April has the most rain, and July has the least.

Business Hours: Tours of the farm start at 11:00 a.m. Tours can only be booked ahead of time.

The best way to get there is to book a tour in Nairobi with African Safari Kenya.

By air: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the main airport that serves Nairobi, the capital city.

Explore Kiambethu Tea Farm.

This one-of-a-kind farm is where a $1 billion industry got its start. It has beautiful fields and forests that are full of Kenya’s past. Enjoy high tea, a drink, and a delicious lunch spread while taking in views of the green hills and the tea crop. You don’t want to miss this beautiful and wealthy part of Kenya.