About Us
Welcome to Kip's Eco Resort your home away from home!!
Kip's farm dates 30 years since it was first acquired by Kipkurgat and Chemutai as their family home. Tea has been the main activity in the farm. In 2006 the farm stay concept was born where we would provide accommodation within our private residence to paying guests who enjoy staying in the comfort and security of a family home and visitors who are looking to experience and learn about local lifestyle and culture in a very relaxing and homely feel.
What makes us unique, our customer service is exemplary, Kipkurgat and Chemutai meet you at gate as you arrive with a very warm welcome. You benefit from serene environment, secure, and private away from the hustles and bustles of the city/town. the property has thatched roofs, country styling, eco friendly facility that offers you an opportunity to connect with natural environment. Come visit us soon!
ntry styling, eco friendly facility that offers you an opportunity to connect with natural environment. Come visit us soon!
Our dream is to position the resort by the year 2016 as a fully fledged eco lodge.
Sustainable tourism is a meaningful part of Kip's resort, 100% of our staff come from the community around, 80% of our supplies come from the local. We have partnered with the surrounding community households to develop and manage nature based income generating activities such as wildlife protection, bee keeping, as one way of conserving the common wetland.
Corporate Story.
By J. Chemutai Sawe Founder and Co-Director
In the high altitude with clean air of Nandi Hills, Kenya, thrives the famous green tea. In this land of internationaly succesfull marathon runners, there’s one small tea farm that has been transformed to a cozy and comfortable eco restort: Ketbarak Cottages Ltd christined “Kip’s”. Kipkurgat and Chemutai and their dedicated staff welcome you to experience all the beauties and wonders of the Nandi Hills area. It will be a holiday you’ll never forget.
Enjoy the mild climate and get the best out of your trip to Kenya. Kipkurgat and Chemutai will show you the secrets and exquisite taste of the natural tea. You can pick your own tea leaves, experience the proces of drying and – the next day – enjoy your selfpicked tea. In the wetlands on the grounds of the resort, you’ll encounter a spectacular well kept garden grounds and a surprising variety of indegenous trees and plants. In the last two years more than 500 indigenous trees have been planted. You can watch the fine art of bee keeping,sight a variety of birds, get close look of a rare antelope ‘Sitatunga’, fish in the natural pond or just let this beneficent environment work for you as a luxurious wellness treatment.
The Nandi Hills area is the home of some of the fastest runners in human history such as Kipchoge Keino,Wilfred Bungei, Henry Rono, Mike Boit, and most recently Janeth Jepkosgei and Pamela Jelimo. The high altitude, the training methods and the athletes diet of the Nandi champions are there for the guest of Kip’s Eco Resort to discover. You can have an early morning jogging experience with one of the champions through the tea estates, numerous earth roads and trails available or even join them in their training programme for an altitude training for marathons to come.
Agriculture is the main source of income in Nandi Hills. Tourism is quite new for the area, so you can experience the simple, natural and serene environment the way it has been since time immemorial. Kipkurgat and Chemutai lived in the neighborhood all their lives. They will show you all the treasures Nandi Hills has to offer you, connect you with local people and tell you everything you want to know about this special place. We work together with the local community to develop and manage nature based income generating activities such as, wildlife protection sanctuary, bee keeping, and fish farming to protect the common wetland.
Kip’s Eco Resort is a perfect base for exploring the surroundings. Visit the mausoleum of Koitalel, the man who spearheaded a decade-long rebellion against British colonists and learn about the young history of Kenya as an independent country. Learn more about the tribal history on a visit to Morobi Hills through expansive tea plantations. Travelling through the zigzag roads on the steep lush green escarpment one is presented with a spectacular view of sugarcane fields below and tea above plus beatiful mountains overlooking jungle-like ravines and the Nandi Rock with it’s great cultural significance to both the Nandi and Luo tribes.
Sustainable tourism is a meaningful part of Kip’s Eco Resort. We have combined economic prosperity and environmental quality and social justice. One of our greening strategies is avoid, reduce, re-use and re-cycle. For the lodges environmental friendly building materials like cured earth stabilized blocks and locally grown bamboo timber have been used. The water comes from a natural source. Rainwater is harvested and re-used. The central heating system uses fuel briquettes made from waste materials. A biogas installation to transmute organic waste into an alternative source of fuel and a bio degradable solid and liquid waste management system will be installed in the near future.
Kip’s Eco Resort is an oasis in a country with lots of overwhelming impressions and experiences. Use it as your temporary home during your visit. A natural and relaxing place where you leave the travel and city stresses behind and enjoy the everyday things in the life of a small, cozy and comfortable tea farm.
Corporate Responsibility
Sustainable tourism is a meaningful part of Ketbarak Resort. We have made an effort to embrace the three Ps: Planet, People and Profit in our day today business operations. We have combined economic prosperity and environmental quality and social justice. One of our greening strategies is “avoid, reduce, re-use, re-cycle”and re-sell.........
Corporate Social Responsibility
We realize many of our brothers and sisters go through a lot of challenges in life and as a company we have dedicated 5% of your payments to these needy causes.
Building materials
The construction was done by the local craftsmen and laborers, using the locally sourced materials including earth soil, clay, sand ,stone, bamboo, thatch grass cow-dung, poles and cured bricks.
Energy
Use low energy light bulbs, use of solar lamps, natural ventilation, low wood-fired water heating system. A bio-gas installation to transmute organic waste into an alternative source of fuel. No TV’s, air-conditioners, or microwaves.
Water
Rainwater is harvested and re-used, more water from a natural spring is pumped via gravity and filtered using simple locally made filters. Installed low-flush toilets and shower heads.
Wetland management.
Together with the community we have developed nature based activities to protect and conserve our common wetland.
Waste
Cooking oil containers are re-used or sold, plastic bags are collected, disinfected and and used to make tea picking baskets. Organic waste is composted and used in the vegetable gardens. In organic waste collected and bagged to be transported to the nearest recycling point. A bio degradable solid and liquid waste management system will be installed in the near future.
Cultural events
You are encouraged as our guests to take lessons in language, cooking, hiking through the villages and attending local ceremonies.
Support us as one way of contributing to reduction of carbon foot print "TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE OUR PLANET EARTH"