Plizio Visual Lab
Kericho
ℹ️Practical info — Kericho
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Take a guided tour of a tea estate to learn about the picking and processing of Kenya's famous tea.
- The region receives reliable rainfall (which keeps it green!), so pack an umbrella.
- Mornings can be chilly due to the altitude, so a light jacket is highly recommended.
- Private taxis are better than shared matatus for reaching specific tea tours outside the town center.
🍽 Food
A hearty and authentic local staple meal with collard greens.
Roasted meat best enjoyed at local eateries on the edge of town, often paired with kachumbari.
Available everywhere; the local tea is incredibly fresh and robust.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Buy directly from the factory shops or local supermarkets for the best quality.
Occasionally found in souvenir shops and make great gifts.
The central market provides excellent, spirited fruits and vegetables.
Wander along the designated paths through the endless green bushes.
A deeply peaceful spot just outside town with ancient trees and monkeys.
Water temperature…
Kericho is the undisputed 'Tea Capital' of Kenya, situated in the fertile highlands of the Rift Valley at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters. The town is world-renowned for its vast, rolling tea estates, which rank among the largest plantations globally and are managed by major multinationals like James Finlay and Unilever. The modern settlement was established in the early 20th century by British tea pioneers who found the cool climate and consistent daily rainfall well-suited for the crop. Kericho is the cultural and spiritual heartland of the Kipsigis people, a sub-group of the Kalenjin ethnic group, whose history is deeply intertwined with these highlands. The town's architecture still reflects colonial influences, most notably the iconic Kericho Tea Hotel, originally built to serve the tea industry elite. Beyond tea, the local economy is supported by forestry and large-scale grain farming. The town also serves as a strategic gateway to the Mau Forest, East Africa's largest water tower. Kericho stands as a symbol of agricultural productivity and emerald-green beauty, remaining an essential pillar of Kenya's international trade and identity.
- Location: Kenya
- Top sights: Roman Catholic Diocese of Kericho · Kericho District
- Nearby: Litein (18 km)
- Population: ~53.804 (2023)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Jul.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Rain mm | 66 | 46 | 122 | 221 | 160 | 88 | 67 | 90 | 95 | 121 | 163 | 112 |
Geography
Facts
- Located at 2,000 meters in the Rift Valley highlands.
- Home to some of the largest single tea estates in the world.
- Cultural capital of the Kipsigis (Kalenjin) people.
- Named after a legendary Kipsigis medicine man, Kericho.
- The landmark Kericho Tea Hotel was built in the 1950s.
- Receives rainfall almost daily, essential for tea cultivation.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Kericho (2)
Frequently asked questions
What is Kericho most famous for?
Can you visit the tea plantations in Kericho?
How is the climate in Kericho?
Where is Kericho located?
Are there attractions in Kericho town?
Kericho: where is it located?
Kericho: what is there to see?
Kericho: when is the best time to visit?
Kericho: why is it worth visiting?
























