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The most common mistake visitors make in Tigoni is dressing for Nairobi. At over 2,000 metres the air is cooler, the weather changes quickly, and the farm tracks are red earth that turns to mud after rain. This list covers what to bring for a day out, whatever you plan to do.
Clothes: think in layers
Mornings can be cold, middays warm and late afternoons chilly again. Wear a T-shirt or light top with a fleece or jumper over it, and carry a light waterproof jacket. From June to August, add a warmer layer; misty mornings can feel properly cold.
Long trousers are more comfortable than shorts on walks through tea, where the bushes brush your legs.
Shoes
Closed shoes with some grip are essential. Trainers are fine in dry weather; in the rainy months, walking shoes or boots are better. Red-earth mud stains, so leave your best white trainers at home.
For an e-bike ride
- Comfortable clothes you can move in; avoid long, loose skirts or wide trouser legs that can catch in the chain.
- Closed shoes with flat soles.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
- A small backpack for water and a layer. Helmets and bikes are provided on our tours.
For a hike or tea walk
- Water: at least a litre per person for a half-day walk.
- A snack.
- A hat and sunscreen; the highland sun is strong even when it feels cool.
- A rain jacket in March–May and October–December.
Money and phone
Carry some cash for roadside stalls and small shops, and have M-Pesa ready; most cafés and farm shops accept it. Phone signal is generally good around Tigoni. Save your guide's or driver's number before you set off.
Nice to have
- A bag for fresh vegetables from the farm stalls on the way home.
- A camera; mornings and late afternoons give the best light on the tea.
- A change of socks if rain is forecast.
