Attractions in Kiambu County
6. Limuru Gardens
The lay of the land in Limuru area – influenced by the Aberdare ranges – varies from steep in the extreme western region to undulating volcanic ranges as you go north. Limuru sits on the youngest lava flow, known as the Limuru Trachyte, resulting from the formation of the Great Rift Valley. The oldest lava flow forms the eastern plain where Industrial Area and JKIA are located. The next flow was the Nairobi Trachyte which terminates just northwest of the Nairobi City Centre and swings westward to form the heights on which Karen and Langata are sited. The composition of surface soils from volcanic ash and weathered rock coupled with the high altitude of about 2,500 metres (8,202 feet) and good rainfall gives the area around Limuru its surpassing fertility and natural beauty, especially of the pretty sight of tea farms. Limuru is also home to numerous gardens that are open to visitors to enjoy. Among these is Limuru Gardens along Nazareth Road in Limuru, just 1.7 km from the town. From here, it is easy to appreciate the higher elevation, dissected by valleys, and resulting greenery. It is obvious that their gardens have taken a lot of work and commitment, with plenty of charm and character, that you’ll find relaxing. Neat lawns and herbaceous borders, on an idyllic plot overlooking a tea estate, is a shining example of how imaginative yet practical design can lift a place far above the ordinary. It is a fantastic place for families and groups, and you’ll find plenty of space to run and jump around, walk through a maze of paved pathways and rest under shaded pergolas. Their bold, bright and airy palatial house offers visitors a stay that is both luxurious, homely and rural. With wooden floors, sumptuous, tactile furnishings it’s just what you need for a weekend away from the city. You’ve probably heard Limuru is cold, temperatures sometimes dropping below 10oC. Its true. The months of June to August are the coldest, but, for the most parts, the weather is pleasant; the wet season is overcast, the dry season is partly cloudy, and it is comfortable.
7. Buxton Tunnel
At Karanje village 2.7 kms south of Limuru Town is one great oddments of the colonial railway building enterprise in Kenya. It drastically defies its landscape. Photogenic at both openings encapsulated in thick bush – regenerating around the entrances with vigour after the rains – but pitch black on the inside with a forbidding and spectral quirk, the 2 kms long Buxton Tunnel is impressive in scope and engineering. Even without the green leafy cover, it’s haunting. Burrowing through the hilly area, at altitude of 1,795 m asl, it made way in a place that would otherwise be impassable, eliminating the need for winding through the hills. Even so, the idea of a tunnel-boring machine was still a decade from realization and would have been inconceivably expensive to work with here. Instead, crews turned to dynamite to help carve out the needed space to successfully cart the tunnel. Known locally as the “kimungu kia mbogi” (train tunnel) is arguably the longest tunnel on the old railway line. But with a total length of 4.5 km, the Ngong tunnel is, without doubt, the longest tunnel in Kenya and the dominant work in new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2A. The old Nairobi-Limuru Line was built in the 1940’s as adjunct to the famed Kenya-Uganda Railways. Connecting Mombasa to the hinterland was a five year process for the colonial government, for which Kenya is indebted. Named for its ultimate destination, the line didn’t actually reach Uganda. Construction began in 1896 in the port city of Mombasa to its terminus on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria. On December 20th, 1901, Lord Salisbury, then British Prime Minister, received a telegram advising him that the rails of Uganda Railway had at last reached the shores of Lake Victoria. Buxton Tunnel is located 2.7 kms south of Limuru Town via Limuru Road, taking at turnoff at Methodist Church Karanje to Karanje Village. A word of caution is necessary: the dark nature of the tunnel has had incidences of insecurity and at times used as a foxhole by local gangs. It is advised to tour as a group or via organizational arrangement of hiking outfits.
8. Brackenhurst Centre
There are two principal line of communication in Kiambu County, the A104 Nairobi-Uganda Road and A2 Nairobi-Nanyuki-Isiolo Road traversing the county along the outer flanks west and east, respectively. Three secondary roads cross Kiambu: Kiambu Road, Banana Laini and Limuru Road. All the three roads branch off from the A2 Road before the rejoin near Limuru and A104 Road. Kiambu Road makes a large loops in the northerly area and contrariwise for Limuru Road, travelling in the south region, with Banana Laini Road in between the two roads destined for the same location. Two further equally important tertiary route is Boma Road which branches off from Kiambu Road near Kiambu Golf Club and travels within 3 kms south of Kiambu Road before it joins Banana Laini Road destined for Limuru. All these roads can eventually get you to Brackenhurst Centre, easiest reached along Banana Raini Road – 7 kms from Limuru Town and 32 kms from Nairobi. Both begin Started in 1914 as the Three Trees Farm, and reestablished as the Brackenhurst International Conference Centre in 1964, it is set on a scenically-splendid 100-acres of indigenous forest in the verdant suburb of Tigoni. It has been hosting conferences in East Africa for more than 50 years. At the same time, there are plenty of activities for the casual and extempore guests, that include: its high or low rope challenge courses, touring nearby indigenous forests, its team building programs, mountain biking and birding. Brackenhurst is also a honeymooners foxhole. It is located 32 kms from Nairobi, along Banana Raini Road to Limuru.
9. Thayu Farm
Thayu Farm, a 5-acres farm hideout typified by fully bloomed mature gardens, the backdrop of tea farmlands and a lovely refurbished farm house, is great for day excursions or for a weekend. The establishment’s biggest trump card are its faultless lawns. On a pleasant weather’s day, a drive to Thayu Farm – passing through the native coffee and tea plantations – makes the destination magical. The farm comprises of a retreat and five Kikuyu inspired cottage huts. At Thayu Farm, trippers can also get useful insights on the Kikuyu folklore. It is located 31 kms from Nairobi, off Kabuku-Tigoni Road, and 4 kms from Tigoni Hospital.
10. Limuru Country Club
There are four main routes of getting to Tigoni from Nairobi CBD: via Kiambu Road through Kiambu and Limuru Towns; via Banana-Raini Road through Ruaka; via A104 Nairobi-Nakuru Road through Limuru; and via Limuru Road onto Kabuku-Tigoni Road. The latter is the shortest and traditional route to Tigoni. Just north of Tigoni Dam, about 1 km before Tigoni Police Station and 2 kms before Brackenhurst Centre, sits Limuru Country Club, one of the top-hole golf clubs in Kenya. “Golfing in the Limuru area began back in 1926 when local farmers Scott, Bradshaw and some neighbours established a course and hotel at what is now the Brakenhurst Baptist Conference Centre. It opened it’s first nine holes in 1949 and the second nine holes in 1952. Other than the golf course, the club consists of lawn bowling, tennis courts, a cricket pitch, squash courts and a swimming pool” – Limuru Country Club. Unique to Limuru Club is the abutting plush cricket pitch – the only cricket pitch in East Africa that has a grass wicket.
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