It’s a cool Nairobi morning when the idea strikes; you don’t want the usual café hangout or city mall stroll. You want something active, something outdoorsy, something that leaves you tired but happy. That’s how you find yourself heading 40 minutes out of the city, windows down, watching the landscape shift from concrete to rolling green as you drive toward Brakenhurst in Tigoni.
By the time you arrive, the air feels fresher, the pace slower. It already feels like you’ve stepped into another world.
The Café
The first stop is Muna Tree Café, a cozy corner where the smell of fresh coffee greets you warmly. Mug in hand, you wander over to the bike shop, where mountain bikes wait, ready to carry you through Tigoni’s famous tea country. At just Ksh 500 an hour (or Ksh 800 for two hours), it feels like the perfect way to start the day.
Things To Do
Cycling through Tigoni’s tea country
And then you’re off pedaling past endless rows of tea bushes that ripple in the breeze like green waves. The trail takes you through dairy farms and quiet paths, where the only sounds are your tires crunching gravel and the occasional bird darting across the sky. It’s self-guided, but that’s the charm. Two hours of freedom, two hours of countryside magic.
A lazy lunch on the lawns
By noon, hunger pulls you back to Brakenhurst, where the lawns spread out like a natural picnic blanket. Lunch here isn’t rushed; it’s the kind of meal where you stretch your legs on the grass, laugh with friends, and watch the clouds drift lazily by. Tigoni invites you to slow down, even when the day is packed with activity.
Friendly matches on the tennis courts
But rest never lasts too long. By mid-afternoon, you’re swapping pedals for rackets on the tennis courts. The energy shifts, now it’s laughter, competition, and playful banter as balls bounce across the net. For just Ksh 250 per person, you’re sweating, smiling, and maybe even discovering a hidden talent.
A sunset forest walk
As the day softens into evening, there’s one last adventure waiting, a walk through Brakenhurst’s forest reserve. The trail winds through tall trees that filter the sunlight into golden streaks, the air filled with the earthy scent of damp leaves. Each step is slower than the last, not because you’re tired, but because you don’t want the moment to end.
Back to Nairobi,
And yet, it does. By 5 p.m., you’re back on the road to Nairobi, muscles a little sore, cheeks sun-kissed, heart wide open. It’s hard to believe you’ve packed in so much cycling, tennis, lunch on the lawns, and a forest walk, all in a single day, all so close to the city.
Why Brakenhurst is the perfect weekend escape
Tigoni has a way of making you forget the city exists, even if just for a few hours. And Brakenhurst? It’s the perfect base to discover that sporty, adventurous side of yourself you didn’t know you were missing. So next weekend, skip the mall, grab your sneakers, and head out to Tigoni. Trust me, this is the kind of day Nairobi dreams of.
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