Eldoret is a lively town where you can experience Kenya through a local lens. Wandering around the streets of Eldoret, you’ll find gems such as the Open-Air Fruit & Vegetable Market. Step inside to admire towers of colourful mangoes, passion fruits and papaws.

A visit to the Eldoret Nature & Culture Centre gets you up close with lions, crocodiles, hyenas, peacocks and other African animals. Explore the nature trails and take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool. A short drive from Eldoret is the town of Iten, which is home to the High Altitude Training Centre. The centre is perched 2,400 metres above sea level and has produced some of the top athletes, runners and Olympians in the world.

Just out of town is the excellent Doinyo Lessos Creameries Cheese Factory, a local institution where you can sample more than 20 different types of cheeses. In addition to its famous Highland Cheddar, other specialties include deliciously creamy milk, yoghurt and ice cream.

Eldoret is dotted with lively restaurants where you can sample tasty Kenyan cuisine. Save your appetite for local specialties such as “nyama choma” roasted meat, “ugali” corn porridge and “kachumbari” salad. Wash down your meal with a cup of zesty Kenyan ginger tea.

Getting there

Eldoret is located in the Rift Valley, a three-hour drive from Kisumu and six hours from Nairobi. Parking is available in the town centre and trains call at Eldoret Railway Station while Eldoret is also well-serviced by local buses. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is a six-hour drive away.