The Nandi Hills’ lush green scenery just signals that you’ve arrived in the heart of Kenya’s tea country! Kericho’s undulating hills, located in the southwest, are carpeted with green tea plants as far as the eye can see, so green that the blue sky making the backdrop on the horizon makes it look surreal, like the popular Windows Computer desktop wallpaper. The environment is ideal for growing tea because it rains every afternoon. Kericho is a peaceful village where you may relax while touring the plantation or trout fishing in the neighboring river. The adjacent Nandi Hills provide breathtaking views of the Kenyan landscape! If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to glimpse Lake Victoria while playing golf or strolling around the park to observe monkeys and owls.

Nandi Hills is a highland area of lush green undulating hills on the outskirts of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya’s southwest. It lies about 303 kilometers (188 miles) northwest of Nairobi, the country’s capital and largest city, via car. Nandi Hills, Kenya is located at 0°06’01.0″N, 35°10’35.0″E. (Latitude:0.100278; Longitude:35.176389). Nandi Hills rises to a height of 2,047 meters (6,716 feet) above sea level.

Nandi Hills Town the home of Athletics Kenya

Nandi Hills, a tiny village in Kenya, is known as the “cradle land of Kenyan running.” Kipchoge Keino, Wilson Kipketer, Janeth Jepkosgei, Augustine Choge, Wilfred Bungei, Henry Rono, and Mike Boit are just a few of the world-famous athletes from the region.

The Nandi constitute the majority of the population in the region. The climate of Nandi Hills is chilly and moist, with two rain seasons at the equinoxes. Temperatures range from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, which, along with the area’s rich volcanic soils, makes it perfect for producing tea. Tea estates abound in this picturesque location. There is also a golf course, Nandi Bears Club, where various yearly events, including the Gill Trophy, the Kenya Ladies’ Golf Union, and the famed Kenya Breweries Festival of Golf, as well as rally and cross country races, are conducted annually. [4]

It is a vital part of the Kalenjin community and the Rift Valley province.

It was a battleground between the Luo and Luhya peoples, as well as the final resting place of the great Nandi seer Koitalel Arap Samoei. He was laid to rest beside a symbolic tree. Samoei, with its red dirt, is atop the Nandi Hills. Some say the ground glowed crimson at the location where Koitalel was slain by British officer Richard Meinertzhagen.

Iten – Rift Valley

Iten, dubbed “Kenya’s Home Of Champions,” is a tiny hamlet in Kenya’s highlands. It’s located in the Rift Valley province, around 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Eldoret and 94 km from Nandi Hills Town. Iten, located at an elevation of 8,000 feet above sea level in Kenya’s Elegeyo – Marakwet county, in the Great Rift Valley between Eldoret and Kabarnet, appears to be a town built for champions and is known as the center of Kenyan middle and long-distance running.

Iten Athletics and Marathon Highlands Tour

Kenya is popular on the global stage for Athletics, more so, long-distance running thanks to athletic stars and icons like Eliud Kipchoge of the “No man is limited” INEOS challenge. Below is a brief tour of Iten, the Kenyan highlands in the Rift Valley region of this East African country.

Day1: Arrive in Nairobi on the first day.

Kenya welcomes you! Diverse animals, magnificent lakes and savannas, hilly regions, and the famed Great Rift Valley with its volcanic crater mountain may all be found in the country. Some of the world’s best marathon runners and sportsmen call it home.

The journey will begin in Nairobi. You can relax in the afternoon and evening or visit one of Nairobi’s famed flea markets before dining in a traditional Kenyan restaurant. There are various museums worth seeing, including the National Museum and the Railway Museum.

Day 2: Visit the High Altitude Training Center (HATC) in Iten

Take a one-hour flight to Eldoret, Kenya’s largest city, followed by a one-hour drive to Iten. Iten is a small, isolated village best recognized for being the home of Kenyan middle- and long-distance running. Years ago, Colm O’Connell, an Irish missionary known as the “Godfather of Kenyan Running,” established a training camp here. He has coached a number of young athletes to Olympic gold medals.

You’ll go on a tour of the High Altitude Training Center after lunch (HATC). The facility, which was founded in 2000 by professional long-distance runner Lornah Kiplagat, attracts top and leisure runners from all over the world. As you acclimate to the altitude, you can swim a few laps, do weights in the gym, or simply rest.

Day 3: Visit Kamariny Stadium on the third day.

Join a local running group for an early morning jog. You’ll then go to Kamariny Stadium to see athletes train on a dirt track next to an elementary school. At work, see if you can spot the Olympic medalists and marathon champs!

Day 4: Go for a Run at a High Altitude in Iten

Start your day with an early morning run, taking advantage of the altitude, pleasant weather, and excellent trails to perfect your running abilities. You’ll stay immersed in the HATC’s training culture while you learn about the psychological aspects of training that contribute to athletes’ success, such as discipline and a good attitude.

Consider visiting a neighbouring hamlet in the afternoon if you have time to see more of the Rift Valley region. Try ugali, a hearty cornmeal-based dish paired with sautéed veggies like kale. Mursik, a famous fermented whole milk beverage preserved in a unique gourd, is another local specialty to try.

How to get to Iten

First and foremost, let’s figure out how to get there. There are several options for getting to Iten after arriving at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Local airlines that fly to Eldoret include Fly 540 Jambo Jet Skyward Express and Fly 540 Jambo Jet Skyward Express.
It will take you 45 minutes to get from Nairobi to Eldoret airport.
You may either take a cab to Iten from the Eldoret airport or go just outside the main gate and board the matatus (public transportation vehicles). The matatus will transport you to Eldoret town, from where you may board another vehicle to Iten.

It may be more expensive to take a cab all the way to Iten (expect to pay at least $25), but it is more convenient, especially if you are new and have luggage with you.
To go to Eldoret via Matatu, you’ll have to spend 50 Kenyan shillings (USD 0.5). When you arrive in Eldoret, ask your Matatu conductor to assist you in finding the next matatu to Iten. The cost of the second bus should be 100 shillings (about $1). Once you arrive in Iten, you may hire a local motorbike or boda-boda to drive you to your accommodation for 50–100 Shillings, or you can walk because it’s a tiny town.

For roughly 1000–1500 shillings (USD 10–15), one may take a public transport vehicle from Nairobi to Eldoret. The Haile Salassie Avenue is where the majority of the cars traveling between Nairobi and Eldoret may be located. For roughly 1000–2000 shillings ($10–20), you may take a taxi from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to where the buses pick up passengers. Some of the firms that operate vehicles traveling that road are the North Rift, Eldoret Sacco, and the Great Rift Shuttle. Other public service vehicles travel the Eldoret — Iten route from Eldoret. The driver who brought you from Nairobi will once again lead you to where you may locate them.

Nandi Hills Tea Estates

Nandi Hills’ economy is mostly based on the nearby tea farms. Pluckers, managers, field maintenance, factory service works, official tasks, and business are only few of the jobs available on tea plantations. Despite a large amount of taxes collected from tea fields, Nandi Hills town has only one tarmac roadway.