Discover Kabaru

Those considering Kabaru as a travel destination will find a distinctive connection to Mount Kenya: the focus is on a trail activity for mountain and rock climbers, as well as completed work on hiking trails. These topics give your choice of destination a concrete direction, but describe different ways of getting around. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether you would like to include climbing, hiking trails, or cultural and historical sites in your trip.

Trails, mapping and clearance

A post dated August 22, 2014, names the Mount Kenya Canopy Nature Trail as a visitor activity of the Rocky Hyrax tourism group in Kabaru Ward for mountain and rock climbers in the region. The trail’s name provides a specific point of reference for the climbing connection. If this activity interests you, you can take it into account as you continue planning your trip. Since it was mentioned in 2014, check current access before planning a visit.

GPS mapping of hiking trails to Mount Kenya was completed in Kabaru Ward. As a community effort, clearance work on the marked Kabaru route was also completed there. The mapping of hiking trails and the clearance of the marked route represent different kinds of work: one concerns GPS mapping, the other clearance. Before setting out on a specific hike, check the current condition of and access to your chosen route.

Cultural history in the wider Nyeri District

The wider Nyeri District adds a distinct cultural and historical focus. The historic garden with St. Peters Cemetery in Nyeri County covers about two acres; the cemetery occupies nearly half the area. Robert Baden-Powell is buried there, and the ashes of his wife, Olave Baden-Powell, are interred there. Stones bearing the values and promises of the Scouts and Girl Guides line the path to Baden-Powell’s gravesite. The gravesite and inscriptions give the place a clear connection to Baden-Powell and the values of the Scout movement.

Another connection to Baden-Powell is Paxtu at the Outspan Hotel. Paxtu was built in 1937–38 as Robert Baden-Powell’s cottage. Room 45 at the Outspan Hotel is part of Paxtu and was Baden-Powell’s bedroom. An account based on fieldwork from 2018 notes that the cottage’s living room and other rooms were converted into a museum displaying materials about Baden-Powell as well as donations from Scouts and Guides. The same fieldwork reports annual visits by Scouts and Guides from around the world, especially on February 22 for Founder’s Day.

Another story of remembrance is told by Memorial Church: it was built in 1952 in memory of Italians who died as prisoners of war. The Nyeri District thus brings together different cultural and historical themes—the Baden-Powell and Scout connections, as well as remembrance of the Italians who died in the war.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental, you can easily distinguish between the different travel themes: Kabaru offers a connection to activities around Mount Kenya and completed trail work; the cultural history of Nyeri District offers a different focus. If you are mainly looking for active pursuits, you can give greater weight to the trail and hiking connections. If remembrance is important to you, St. Peters Cemetery, Paxtu and Memorial Church offer specific names to guide your further planning.

Discover more destinations: Ndathi, Nyeri.

Back to the wider travel overview: Nyeri District.