Hike to Kessup Falls

On our first Sunday in Eldoret, we decided to go on a hike to explore our surroundings. We called up 'Taxi Max' (full-service taxi dispatcher and IU's personal travel guru) who recommended a short hike to Kessup falls near the town of Iten. This town happens to be the location of the high-altitude training center - where all the best Kenyan marathoners train to be elite athletes. Iten, only 45 minutes away by car, is located on a ridge-line overlooking the Kerio valley and is quite picturesque. 

View of Kerio Valley from Kessup Falls

We stopped on the side of the road and met our 'guide' (really the local farmer) who led us straight up through terraced fields into a river valley. Though huffing and puffing (still not used to the 8,000 ft elevation gain...but looking forward to that sweet polycythemia!), we had great views along the way. Several times we had to entice free-range cattle and goats off the trail.

Ngombe (cow) friends on our hike

After about an hour of climbing, we reached the picturesque Kessup falls...and a short distance further reached a panoramic viewpoint over the majestic Kerio valley.

Kessup Falls

hike crew's selfie of a selfie along the kerio valley ridgeline

All-in-all a great hike to start off our adventures in Kenya!