Elgeyo Marakwet: Highlands, Water and Running Culture

Elgeyo Marakwet offers several distinct themes to consider when planning a trip: the highlands of the Cherangany Hills, Torok Waterfall, the Marakwet irrigation furrows, as well as running and mountain sports.

Highlands, Waterfall and Views

The Cherangany Hills reach elevations of up to 3,500 metres. Afro-alpine vegetation grows above 3,300 metres on their highest peaks. The Elgeyo Marakwet region of Kenya has four tropical mountain forests named Kapchemutwo, Kipkunurr, Embobut and Lelan.

Torok Waterfall is 200 metres high and lies between steep, ring-shaped rock walls. Iten View Point, by contrast, offers views of the Kerio Valley and complements the waterfall theme. When deciding which landscapes to prioritise on your trip, you can distinguish between the waterfall, highlands and viewpoints.

Marakwet Irrigation Furrows

The Marakwet irrigation furrows carry water from the Embobut, Embolot, Enou and other rivers down from the high Cherangany Hills, across the steep escarpment slope, to the Endo plains around Tot and to the fields of Arror.

Local guides can lead visitors up the slope to see how an irrigation furrow channels water into an artificial canal. If you would like to include this insight in your plans, check in advance whether such a guided visit is possible.

Running Culture and Activities

Local and international athletes train in the Elgeyo Marakwet area, in the locations of Iten, Kapsait and Kapcherop. The Lornah Kiplagat’s High Altitude Training Centre in Iten combines a world-class training location and expert coaching advice with the opportunity to gain insight into the lives of the world’s best runners and Kenyan culture. If you would like to visit the centre, check in advance whether a visit is currently possible. In Kenya, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests comprise ten separate forest areas stretching for around 200 kilometres along the coast and containing the remains of fortified Mijikenda villages. These Kayas were established from the 16th century onwards and were abandoned by the 1940s. They are sacred places and ancestral homes for the Mijikenda, and are cared for by councils of elders.

For travellers interested in paragliding, the town of Iten is described in the tourism profile as a suitable setting for this activity.

Hiking and Mountain Hiking Routes

The road and track route Kapsang’ar–Kamelei–Sina–Chepkorniswo and the Parua–Kochii–Sebit route connect the highlands with Marich Pass (A1) and offer opportunities for hiking and mountain hiking.

If you include one of these routes in your travel plans, check the current route conditions locally.

Discover more destinations: Nyaru, Singore, Baringo County, Embu District, Malindi District, Samburu, Narok District, Turkana County.

For the broader travel overview: Kenya.