Kiambethu Farm, Limuru
Kiambethu Farm was established in 1918 when Arnold Butler (aka AB) McDonell first bought the 350-acre piece of land from the British. He soon became the first person to commercially plant tea in Kenya, selling by 1926. The farm is currently run by AB’s descendants who give tours of the farm and estate which hasn’t changed much since it was first built. AB also built the All Saint Church and Limuru Girls School, both minutes away from the farm and are certainly worth looking at.
A tour of the farm includes a guided walk around the estate, the tea farm, the gardens where they grow their abundant produce, and the rest of the grounds. They offer lunch on the lawns overlooking the Ngong Hills on the edge of one of the last remaining indigenous forests in Kenya. During your lunch (or cup of tea, if you’re saving your dining experience for Brown’s) you will be immersed in sunshine, abundant birdlife, and a probable sighting of a colobus monkey. There are numerous varieties of teas and home-grown/made spa products available for sale.
Brown’s Cheese, Limuru
Brown’s Cheese was established in 1979 and is currently being operated by the second generation of owners. Brown’s produces 17 varieties of cheese using the milk from over 3,000 small hold farmers, plus milk from their own small hers. They’ve received worldwide recognition, including seven recent awards at the South African Dairy Championships.
Brown’s offers a few different types of experiences for visitors. Whichever option you choose, you’re guaranteed that everything you eat has been grown and prepared on the grounds. Standard tastings include a wide variety of homemade bread, cheeses, jams, chutneys, and salads. A standard lunch is a gourmet 3-course meal with up to 3 glasses of wine or beer included. If you’re traveling as a family, there are special kids’ menus available as well as opportunities for the kids to try their hand at milking the cows. There are also wine and cheese pairing experiences and the chance to make your own mozzarella!
Both places offer lunch, so we can work together to figure out how to divide your time between the two locations. Whatever you choose, you really can’t go wrong!
