rhythms of Olepangi farm
Magical Kenya 2021 - 2026
Signature Experience:
Life on a Small Kenyan Farm Stay
Activity at Olepangi is not about staying busy or filling your days with diversions. Here, we prioritise discovery, self reflection and a deep awareness of your place in the world, all of which mean different things to different people.
Your agenda might include nothing more than sitting on the verandah, staring at the long view, waiting for an elephant to wander past. If you are yearning to get active in the foothills of Mount Kenya, Olepangi offers plenty of ways to join the daily rhythms of the farm.
Below is a glimpse into how our days are spent, and how you might join in with our team. Whatever tickles your fancy at Olepangi, we are here to fill your stay with an abundance of farm delights.
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Begin each day with a morning yoga class, or help the farm team milk the cows. Join us for bread making, or the daily ritual of gathering flowers, vegetables, herbs and fruit. Fancy a horse ride, or a walk with the legendary Mr. Kariuki? Ease into the evening with a cocktail and a sunset view. It's all up to you.
This is more than simply flying in and flying out of a wildlife reserve for a few nights. It is a broader connection with Kenya, away from the busyness of ordinary city life or the rigours of game safaris.
Young Farmer's Club
Enroll your children to the Young Farmer's Club and they will learn about agriculture, life on a Kenyan farm, how to milk cows and much more!
The Young Farmer’s Club is all about getting the children learning and experience the rhythm of farm life in a fun and hands-on way. They will participate in daily activities all around the farm and be able to create new friendships with our animals by milking the cows, riding the horses, playing with the dogs and collecting eggs from the hen run. Together we will also engage in the daily duties around the vegetable gardens, how to make bread, butter and jam and of course nature adventures, building dens, enjoying picnic, playing sports and having a lot of fun!
Join us in milking the cows
In the stables, experience something unique with the traditional method of cow-milking. We have our own small herd of pedigree Jersey cows, famous for the quality of their cream and butter. This takes place at 8 am and 4:00 pm each day. You are welcome to come along and observe on of the team, or maybe even have a go yourself?
The milk you collect is likely to go in to tomorrow's ice cream, butter and homemade yogurt.
Time out with a massage and yoga
Join us in our tent down by the river where Joy our Olepangi masseuse will pamper you with locally grown oils and lavender grown on the farm. Then relax in the shade of our trees by the Ngishishi river. Bliss.
We have regular visiting yoga teachers from around the world. Join for asana and pranayama classes before breakfast or lunch or an evening meditation under the stars. If this is a particular interest, contact us for availability and if we don’t have one in residence, we can arrange local instruction from one of the wonderful local instructors (for extra charge.). Or join Joy using Down Dog.
Gathering our fruit, vegetables and flowers
Join the joyful garden team as they begin the day gathering fresh organic produce from our garden, which will miraculously appear on your plate at lunch and dinner. Along the way, the garden team will share how we use manure from the stables and food waste from the kitchen to créate our own compost. We make our own organic insecticides as well, using natural plants from the farm and animal waste; sprayed twice a week this keeps out most pests. We also grow our own flowers for the rooms and common spaces. We believe you can never have too many flowers.
Bread making in the kitchen
Join our Chefs in the heart of the farm . . . the kitchen . . . and his team for their daily bread making. Be the first to taste the fresh bread as it comes out of the oven. Sometimes we even bake it in the Big Green Egg which is a different experience.
Be sure to leave some for other guests!
Fancy a horse ride?
Horses are our passion and we have many horses to suit the various skills of our guests. We’ve got fast, slow, easy and slightly more lively horses . . . who all love to go out and about on the farm. Ride out with our experienced syces and enjoy the beauty the neighbouring community. Or a little farm ride along the river? Perhaps polo on our bush pitch? Has it been some time since you rode a horse? Never mind; there are easy options for lessons in our arena.
Our horses are mostly thoroughbreds raised in Kenya, though some come from South Africa. We also have a few cross-breeds especially well suited to the terrain of Laikipia. Several of our horses are bred right on the farm for which we are particularly proud.
Take a walk in the community
Our local guide, Mr Kariuki is a legend amongst our guests. He is the little gem and surprise of Olepangi Farm. Everyone says so. The man is a genius and is deeply knowledgeable about most things in the world. He's engaging, fun and funny. If you're like most guests, you'll find yourself deeply caught up in an interesting conversation on politics, philosophy and current events happening in the world.
Mr Kariuki will take you on a magical walk to the waterfalls and around thecommunity, introducing you to neighbours along the way. Take as long or as little time as you like. Many of our guests go out with him everyday. It's up to you!
Be aware, we charge a small $20 charge for each guests per walk as a contribution to Mr Kariuki and the community
