Aug 26, 2024
Must do - Neither my wife nor myself have visited a tea plantation and processing plant. Fantastic experience. We had the pleasure of meeting the plantation owner and staff. It was great. Also there are no snakes as the clim ate is too cool.
Review provided by Viator
Jun 16, 2024
10/10 Would Go Back - My husband and I had a wonderful morning/afternoon at the Riara Tea Farm. We booked a tea tour experience pretty last minute and they were able to squeeze us in. There are very kind and knowledgeable people at the tea farm, we truly enjoyed learning so much about the production of tea and touring the property. The organizers of this tour were very responsive, helpful, and kind. To Obed - who managed the trip, Tim - who was our driver, and all the folks we met at the tea farm, we thank you for the experience and appreciate the warm welcome (: what a great start to our trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 21, 2023
Excellent Tea Farm tour - Can honestly say it was one of the best tours I've taken in a long time. Highly suggest also seeing the plant as it is quite informative and it's nice to see the complete, field to end product. Beautiful farm with wonderful people, lots learn about, and a nice lunch. Thank you for the experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 21, 2023
Inspirational, Educational & Absolute Fun! - Obed of Safariport was my guide for the day. He was exceptional as was the experience. You’ll have a beautiful 35 minute drive the farm what’s you’ll meet Grace, the 85 year-young owner of the tea estate I visited today. Born locally in one of the native tribes, she went to England in the late 1950s to study nursing, met and married her Kenyan husband, then lived in the US for 4 years before returning home to join members of their families as leaders of the fight for Kenyan independence from the British. Dozens of family members were killed or held in detention camps until 1963 when Kenyan won its freedom.
Recognized for their role in the flight for independence, she and her husband were able to secure a low interest loan from the African Development Bank to buy their first land parcel. The country’s first tea plantation owned (owns) the adjacent property so they secured starter plants and education from its owners - a name you might recognize as I did - the Unilever family.
Their first small parcel grew over the years to now 80 acres of the most incredibly beautiful farm land - which she and her farm manager walked me over from top to bottom while together they explained how they plant and grow tea. It was clear that she is still very much in control of the operation and doesn’t miss a trick about her tea. In fact, I used that phrase with her when she waded into a field to pull some weeds - and then had to explain what I meant.
During the day, you’ll walk the farm, meet her manager and other employees and learn about te growing. And, you will enjoy a nice but simple lunch in Grace’s garden. Of course, you will sample tea!
Amazingly, she and 4 other growers (including 3 other women growers) have started a small cooperative to process the tea leaves by hand and send directly them to market under the “hand-processed” label. They’ve hired local unemployed and uneducated tribal young people to work in all phases of the process so that they can have jobs and a better future. What an inspiration!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 6, 2022
Meet 84 Year Old Grace and be Inspired - This was a fantastic activity! We had an extra day in Nairobi and booked this tour. Our driver took us about an hour away - up in the hills- to a 150 Acre tea farm owned and run by 84 year old Grace. Grace met us when we arrived and gave us a big bear hug. Grace and her farm manager gave us a tour of the farm, showed us ancient trees and we learned how to pick tea leaves from farm employees. Grace and her niece were so gracious and we learned about their impressive family history. They cooked us an incredible lunch with ingredients they grew themselves. We sat outside and ate as we talked. Highly recommend this tour and meeting this inspirational women!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 23, 2022
Anazing tour of the Kenyan tea estates - Excellent tour to the Raira tea estate. We visited the Koinabge family and learned of their proud heritage in the struggle for independence and were treated to a tour of the tea estate. We learned how tea was grown and how it was picked - and the whole process from tea plant to the cup. Grace and Ida were marvellous hosts and lunch was delicious. Obed, our tour guide and driver was very enthusiastic and helpful. An excellent trip - thoroughly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 27, 2021
Memorable - The tea farm was amazing! I had two wonderful tour guides. Moses and Obed, The farm felt like my second home from the United States.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 12, 2020
Great time and very insightful. - This is a newer tour, which basically turned into a private tour for me and my partner. The guide were extremely knowledgeable, accommodating and relaxed. Nothing like spending a day on the warm Kenyan countryside. Highly recommended activity for a day trip from Nairobi. Only about 40 minutes from the city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 2, 2020
Excellent day of tea - Really loved my day. We visited the tea factory to see how the tea pickings are processed and sorted and tasted the tea then went to the farm where we had a snack before learning about the planting, seeing the farm and getting to pick some tea and coming back to their lovely garden for lunch. Obed was a great guide and the tea farm owners were so knowledgeable and welcoming. I'd definitely recommend for any tea enthusiasts.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 10, 2019
Tea farm - Great visit to the tea farm!! Started with light breakfast then on to the tour! How the tea plants are started to planted to picking the tea leaves while visiting. I love tea-sampled some of the teas they had available. Wonderful lunch with relaxing afternoon visiting and tour through the country side to tea factory and first planted tea plant (tree now) planted in Kenya. Obed was very informative and wonderful guide!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor