Kilima Gardens

One of the best reasons to visit Nanyuki is the year round agreeable climate. Expect 25 degrees during the days and 15 degrees during the night. The house stays warm and there is an outdoor fireplace by the dining table. It's a bit colder in June-July and warmest around Christmas but no major difference. Bring a really warm sweater and summer clothes and you'll be all set!
In March and November we expect rains but it typically rains a few hours per day maximum which makes for good opportunities to play cards, make a fire or cozy up with a book. Sadly, the rains are increasingly unreliable in favor of dry weather.

Most mornings and sundowns you will see the bizarely shaped peaks of Mount Kenya from most parts of the plot. During the days the mountain is covered with clouds and seems to vanish from the earth. Luckily we have the Lolldaiga hills and the Aberdares in plain view as well so no need to worry about the scenery!
If you want to climb the mountain you should count on 3-5 days depending on speed etc. If you simply want to trek on the mountain you can go for a day trip which is highly recommended. From the Naro Moru gate you quickly drive up to 3000 meters and walk around for 1-2 hours in the bamboo forests and higher up the "bearded forests". Note that height sickness can occur already at this level and that it's quite steep. 
You need to go with a guide and we highly recommend Eric who lives just a few minutes from the plot. Whatsapp him and ask him to come by to plan your excursion or simply tell him what you want so that he can help you with the arrangement.
Eric's contact: +254711290610

Please check out the relevant pages on the website for information on activities and food in the area. Nanyuki is around 15 min away by car and the local shopping center for local produce is just down by the main road. 

It's impossible to give any one reason. Some of the things we fell in love with:
The people - everyone we've meet in the area is loving, friendly, proud and honest.
The views - with our position on a hill (hence the name Kilima) we have three mountain ranges surrounding us in the distance. Never a dull moment.
The lifestyle - waking up and going to sleep with the sun gives a rare feeling of truly being part of the natural order.
The surroundings - within one hour we have endless great restaurants, activities for every tast and most importantly, every type of vegetation and landscape one can imagine.
The vibe - there's just something magical in the Nanyuki vibe. Be it the mix of tribes and peoples, the entrepreneurial mindset of people, the political stability in Laikipia, the year round perfect climate or something more mysterious but we love it.

Google maps has a pin for "Kilima Gardens" that is easiest to follow. If you prefer the analog way:
1. Head towards Nyeri
2. Turn right 15 min before Nyeri when you see sign to Nanyuki
3. Pass Naro Moru and continue for 5-10 more minutes
4. On your left hand side you will see a sign "Mount Kenya Walldorf school" and a bunch of painted flower pots. This is your exit.
(If you come to the Trout tree restaurant sign (big wooden fish) you've driven 1 min too far.)
5. Keep directly left when getting off the highway past the flower pots.
6. The road turns instantly and ends after 1km. Turn left.
7. After 100 meters, turn right. On the left side when turning there is a church.
8. Keep driving until you have "Kilima Gardens" gate on your right side. 

You can take Matatus on the highway for less than 1000KES and if you are patient you can take the Sunday train which takes 6-7hrs but is scenic and comfortable (google it).

Our recommendation is to go by taxi. To arrange this, whatsapp CJ who is a very reliable taxi fixer in Nanyuki. His number is +254721746178. They typically charge 10.000KES +/- depending on gas prices. The trips is around 3 hours depending on number of stops and traffic.

If you feel like stopping on the way we can recommend Savage Wilderness in Sagana where you can swim in the river and get some food. Make sure to call them beforehand and order food as it typically takes a long time to wait for food pretty much anywhere you stop. For faster food stops there are full service petrol stations along the way and plenty of nyama choma (grilled meat) shops by the road.

At Kilima Gardens we have staff helping you out, cleaning, making beds and looking after you so the only thing you need to bring is food. The houses typically have spices and some dry goods and you're free to use whatever you find as long as you replace it. The tap water is potable so no need to bring that. If you want, you can also ask Wambui to stock up the kitchen with fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and eggs from the local surroundings. She has a price list for these items and you can download it below. To make it simple you can download it on your phone, mark out which things you want and send her a picture of the shopping list over whatsapp. Note that the products are seasonal so not everything will be available and that she needs time to source all items. You can pay Wambui directly. 
Wambui's number: +254726731788

Depends if you arrive before or after sunset. The staff you will meet during your stay are:
Wambui - your main point of contact. Helping you out with everything around the house and can also help you get local groceries (see previous point).
Steven - our nightguard who starts working around 6pm. He will open the gate for you at night and can help you make a fire when it gets cooler in the evening.
Richard - our manager who is all over the place but more than happy to help you if there is anything you wonder.
Felix, Yasmin and Isabelle - we are always a message away and work in the background to make sure your stay will be fantastic. Feel free to write us at kilimagardens@gmail.com if you have any questions!

The local road is good enough for any car. If it's raining a lot it can get slippery so just drive carefully in that case. 
If you're coming without car - CJ is a great taxi organizer in Nanyuki and can take you around. See "Getting from Nairobi without car" for his details.

While tipping remains at your entire discretion, your tips are highly appreciated. Leave any tip in the tipping boxes in either house and it will be distributed fairly between the staff. 

We provide 4G internet from Safaricom including up to 3GB per day in the Cottage. In the Triangle house we hope you can take a few days off. Most days, this is more than enough for work meetings, netflix and surfing but with the growing demand of connectivity in the region there are times during the day when it can feel slow or unreliable. If this is the case we always recommend Dorman's Cafe in Nanyuki where connection is stable and food is great!