Rondo Retreat

Top choice in Western Kenya

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To arrive at Rondo Retreat is to be whisked back to 1922 and the height of British rule. Consisting of a series of wooden bungalows filled with a family’s clutter, this gorgeous and eccentric place is a wonderful retreat from modern Kenya. The gardens are absolutely stunning and worth visiting even if you’re not staying.

Make sure you're around for the afternoon tea and cake on the verandah. Dinner is a fairly formal affair and you're expected to dress accordingly (no shorts). Profits go to a Christian charity.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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Nearby Western Kenya attractions

1. Lirhanda Hill Lookout

0.96 MILES

Depending on where you're staying, it can be about a five-hour return hike to Lirhanda Hill. Being there for sunrise or sunset is highly recommended.

2. Kakamega Forest Reserve

2.67 MILES

Kakamega Forest Reserve is the more degraded area of the forest, yet it's the more popular area with tourists. The five-hour return hike to Lirhanda Hill…

3. Kakamega Forest National Reserve

6.7 MILES

All that's now left in Kenya of the massive Guineo–Congolian rainforest that once covered much of western Kenya, the Kakamega Forest National Reserve,…

4. Buyangu Hill Lookout

8.24 MILES

It's a 4km drive or walk from the park entrance to Buyangu Hill, from where there are uninterrupted views east to the Nandi Escarpment.

5. Crying Stone of Ilesi

9.02 MILES

The Crying Stone of Ilesi is a local curiosity perched on a ridge 3km south of town. The formation, looking like a solemn head resting on weary shoulders,…

6. Market

9.85 MILES

It's worth poking your nose into the town’s municipal market. It operates every day but is at its loudest on Saturday and Wednesday mornings when, as if…

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24.22 MILES

Kisumu’s main market is one of Kenya’s most animated markets and certainly one of its largest – it spills out onto the surrounding roads. If you’re…

8. Kisumu Museum

24.45 MILES

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