Journal · Published
Tigoni is a working landscape. The tea fields are people's farms and livelihoods, the villages are homes, and the roads are shared with tractors, tea lorries and boda bodas. A few simple habits make your visit better for the people who live here, and for you.
Respect the farms
Stay on paths and tracks, and do not walk through tea fields unless you are with a guide or have permission. Never pick tea leaves, fruit or flowers. Close any gates you open, and keep away from farm machinery and animals.
Respect the people
Greet people you meet; a simple 'habari' goes a long way. Ask before taking photographs, especially of tea pickers and children. Remember that the people picking tea are working, often to tight targets.
Spend money locally
Buy vegetables and fruit from roadside stalls, eat at local cafés and farm restaurants, and use local guides. Spending locally keeps more of the benefit of tourism in the area.
Reduce your footprint
- Carry a reusable water bottle.
- Take all your rubbish home with you.
- Share cars or choose public transport for the trip from Nairobi.
- Explore by bike or on foot once you arrive; an e-bike covers a lot of ground without a car.
Travel safely on rural roads
Lanes are narrow and shared with tea lorries, tractors, pedestrians and motorbikes. Drive slowly, especially on bends and in rain. On a bike, ride in single file and follow your guide.
