I had the unique experience to travel to Eldoret (the village of Champions) and then on to the village of Kapkoi to visit a friend’s family, where I was welcomed with open arms.

I flew on JamboJet from JKIA in Nairobi to Eldoret-a short 40 minute flight. JamboJet offered several flights throughout the day which is why I chose it for this destination. First stop was to see a waterfall in the area. It was a relatively short walk down to the falls and there were other people along the route. There were some rickety bridges and a pretty amazing view of the Rift Valley. The waterfall traversed through rocks and created pools with ravaging tubs below.

I left Eldoret and headed to Kapkoi. Between the two, you will pass the President’s farm-it was quite massive and beautiful. Then through the forest-it was approaching dusk and the darkness in the forest was menacing and encompassing. Onto the clearing and the quiet village-there was not much light left at this point-Kapkoi was peaceful and waiting for me, it was a home that called to me. A birthday party, supper, tea, and some shooting star sightings before sleep found me quickly in the absence of light.

The next day saw a walk through a tea farm-black tea and purple tea are grown here. The process of picking the tea and knowing which leaves to pull was interesting to learn. I stopped and admired the people who were there gathering. The countryside was made up of rolling hills and it was so green-such a difference from being in Nairobi.

On to the top of Torok Falls and the top of the escarpment. The view from the top is breathtaking. I couldn’t actually see much of the waterfall, but I could hear the thunderous roar coming from the bottom.

The beauty of Kapkoi surrounds you; from the landscape to the people. They are happy to teach you about their village and their culture. I left Kapkoi with my stomach satisfied, my heart overflowing with joy, and my mind calm.

Back to Eldoret where I toured a dairy farm and saw all different kinds of cows. A second sleep in the upcountry of Kenya soon followed.

The flight back was coming too soon-I wished to stay longer there. One last tour of an old railroad bridge-the scenery was almost too much to take in at one time. The bridge itself is a feat of engineering that it is still passable by train, vehicle and foot.

If you haven’t explored outside of Nairobi, take the 40 minute flight to Eldoret and breathe in the fresh air, feel the cool breeze on your face, and find yourself in a slower pace.