kiambethu farm

AliciaPhxtoHK

Went yesterday to this tea farm for the afternoon tour and lunch. The owner greets her customers personally and was very warm and welcoming. We sat in her living room, enjoying some homemade cookies and tea (or coffee) while she talked about the history of the farm, the farming process of the tea, and later how tea is made into the tea we know and love. Then one of her employees took us on a quick tour of the farm. The workers were busy in the fields picking tea, but for the first time since my arrival in Kenya, we were not greeted by smiling, happy employees, but people who were uncomfortable having their their pictures taken and frowns. It was strange and felt out of place to me. Perhaps I'm a naive newcomer to Kenya. The lunch was wonderful, served in the dining room among old family memorabilia and more family stories of boarding schools, weddings and family dispersing to other parts of Africa. The house and farm are spectacular.

JackieNairobi

Have visited the Tea Farm twice now and have not been disappointed either time,Fiona is a fabulous host and welcomes you into her home and tea family.She is extremely knowledgable about her farm and the tea making process from how it's picked to ending up in your teapot.Everything is homemade from your biscuits that you enjoy with your welcome cuppa to the fabulous spread at lunch time you will not go home hungry, the butternut squash bake is absolutely fabulous! Before lunch you have a talk from Fiona and then a walk around the gardens(which are beautiful).,see where the tea bushes are and how it is picked then a lovely walk around the woods.With a fabulous guide who explains about the trees and how they used trees for there healing property's. Lunch is fab so much food. Will visit there again and definitely worth the money for your visit.They have had new bathrooms built and they are a welcome addition to the place they are outside from the house but very clean and nice and the car park has been updated so much more room

traveller2469

We had a wonderful experience at the Kiambethu Farm, which combined gracious hospitality with an engaging overview of the tea industry, a tour of the tea plantation, farm and forest, and a sumptuous meal. Fiona is a natural host and warmly greets all the guests, making you feel like family visiting the farm. The tea and biscuits are a lovely warmup to a lively introduction to the tea industry in Kenya, and the trade that delivers tea around the world. Fiona's family have been here in Kenya for over 100 years and the house and decorations are a beautiful testimony to this. The tour of the farm and forest, complete with a lovely dog that patiently guides the guide, and introductions to the medicinal value of many of the trees is also very interesting. After all this, we are treated to a three course meal in the spacious garden of the farmhouse with views over the surrounding tea plantation. The food was extremely good - of special note is the butternut squash bake that was the best butternut dish we had ever tasted. All finished off with some cheese, several desserts and homemaid farm ice cream. Definitely worth a visit - highly recommended.

Paulad415

We loved the talk and insight into tea before being guided on a walk through the farm, tea plantation and indigenous forest. Lunch was served on the lawn, in a relaxed atmosphere with an amazing home cooked and hearty meal - the setting, atmosphere and old Kenyan charm will keep us going back. What a way to spend a relaxed Sunday with the family!

Hampt0n

If you need a time out from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi then this is a great thing to do. I had my mother visiting and I took her up to Kiambethu Farm a couple of days ago. The drive was great as we hit the tea farms and for once the roads weren't stressful. As we arrived for the 11 o'clock start we were greeted warmly by Fiona at her beautiful home and surrounding gardens. We started off with tea (or coffee) with homemade biscuits and Fiona told us about the history of tea in Kenya and her family's farm. We then were taken for a walk through the farm and surrounding forest before returning for a delicious lunch. The visit ended at about 2.30 and I think compared to other attractions close to Nairobi this was well worth the visit regarding time and money.This is definitely on my list of things to do with my next guests in a couple of months time.

lcourtney

We really enjoyed the time spent at the Kiambethu Tea Farm. A friend who lives in Nairobi suggested it to us, as she had been before. There is a walking tour of the property which has a beautiful flower garden, over to the amazing organic vegetable garden, past various farm animals, and then onto the country road where the tea fields are. Then you actually go into the woods and walk the trail as the guide points out medicinal trees. When you finally make it back to the main house you are offered a cup of tea to sip as Fiona, the third generation owner of the property, explains everything about the tea from planting to market. She also gives an interesting family history along the way. Then we await the luncheon as we are offered a nice wine or beer from the selection. When the meal is prepared we sit together in the dining room at a large table and enjoy the delicious foods prepared, along with making new friends around the table. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing! (About 30-40 minutes from Nairobi)

SteveMXP

A quite wonderful un-rushed place to visit. The surrounding tea plantations on the rolling hills are quite beautiful and the format of the half day is absolutely perfect. You arrive around 11.30 and first is a walk through to the tea field and then a short walk through the forest with an informative talk on the way through. Genius in the heat of the midday sun as in the forest there is great shade. Even the several small children were sufficiently entertained. Then its back to the tables on the lawn for a home made buffet lunch of soup, multiple main course choices and to top it off home made ice cream. Fiona has been doing this 16 years and her mother before her another thirty so they know what works. And at 3000 ksh per head including food and drink it's an absolute bargain.

SteveFelder

A lovely place to visit. Interesting to learn about the tea industry, pleasant walking tour, followed by a tasty homemade buffet. Perfect day out.

shelVVV

Very easily reached from Nairobi (about half an hour from Runda), Kiambethu farm is a delightful place, quite suspended in time.Fiona welcomes her visitors so warmly that she makes you feel like an old acquaintance. The house and the garden are full of charm and very well taken care of. The tea talk is very interesting, as Fiona knows a great deal of this family transmitted business, that dates back to her grandfather's era. (Her family first settled in Kenya in the early XXth century.)The tour of the plantation is followed by a delicious and plentiful home-made buffet, in the garden that bursts with colour. We felt like we had spent half a day in "Out of Africa", in the XXIst century... and it was really worth it!

km130

Had a friend recommend we visit Kiambethu Farm, and it was such a great afternoon. Emailed ahead of time to reserve space, and we arrived at 11am (left around 2pm) for the farm tour and introduction/historical background from Fiona - you really are welcomed as a familiar guest into her family home. The food was great, and the views spectacular, you get a glimpse into what life was like when the farm first started. Hired a taxi in Nairobi to drive us out, and was fairly simple (but explain directions before heading there).

ursvdo

We spent an absolutely beautiful and unforgettable day at Kiambethufarm. The introduction by Fiona about tea planting and the produce of tea was excellent. Afterwards we toured the farm and were enchanted by it. The old English style garden was in full bloom and we took many amazing pictures. We were overwhelmed by the delicious lunch which was served outside in the garden. Home-made delicious ice cream - a treat for everybody.

TravelBuggy2

We were here for a friend's baby shower and the location was perfect. The house is privately owned and they manager/owner Fiona Vernon welcomes guests into her home with a home cooked meal cooked with food from her garden. They also have cattle so the ice cream and mousse we had there was homemade. I didn't make it for the tour, but they give you one of the team farm and the indigenous forest nearby. The one off fee caters for tour, food and drinks. The hosts were welcoming, the space was beautiful old colonial, and the location serene and a feast for the eyes (beautiful gardens and wonderful tea-carperted hills). Please make this a stop on your visit or tour of the country. Its about 40 mins or so from Nairobi.

KenyanFoodCritic

We arrived bright and early for the tour on the tea planation which started off with a fantastic introduction from Fiona on the farm's history. The tea we drank with the home made cookies was fresh and full of flavour. The walk through the farm and then the nature trail was not only informative but calming to the spirit. Lunch was laid out simply and was also very well done. The variety especially for meat lovers left a lot to be desired but all in all, the food was tasty. The much raved about home-made ice-cream did not disappoint though the vanilla seemed rather popular and ran out quick. The fruit salad also ran out but that was not replenished.The wooden, stiff, classroom-like chairs that are put out for lunch for the guests could do with some upgrade.If you are looking for a nice way to spend your Sunday, this is one of the things you can consider. Temper your expectations a little bit and the fresh air under the Kenyan sun will do you some good.

C3428LVjohnm

Had a wonderful time at this tea plantation, touring the tea fields and nearby forest stand where monkeys still roam freely. The old colonial house remains in excellent condition with many family photos/paintings of yesteryear adorning the walls. The large old English style flower garden was in full array of colors and varieties. The lunch was wonderfully served by house staff. There were several courses and large amounts of delicious food served with lunch. Our hostess (5th generation) was very gracious and gave us a quick primer on everything you would ever want to know about tea...and then some. Highly recommend as a leisurely outing. The panoramic views from the lawn and nearby driveways were spectacular.

Traceyvh

We have just spent a lovely morning at Kiambethu Farm with the gracious Fiona on her family farm. The sprawling garden in front of a house full of love and history welcomes one to an informative, yet relaxing time learning about various teas, the processing thereof and the tea history of the area. The talk, complete with excellent tea and home made biscuits was followed by a walk through the forest where Julius, who has been with the family for 24 years, gave our group informative and humorous information on the various medicinal plants. Lunch back at the house, 3 courses, followed by either tea or coffee. A good trip out of the city.