Kipipiri, Kinangop, Ol Kalau, Ol Joro Jok, Ndaragwa—names that begin to tell the tale of Nyandarua. Nyandarua was the original name of the Aberdare Ranges, which run for kilometres along the eastern edge of the county. The range was called ‘nyandarua’, meaning ‘drying hide’; a reference to their silhouette. The renaming was in honour of Lord Aberdare, president of the Royal Geographical Society.
County 018 has a story in each of its corners. Shall we tell you about Kinangop Plateau that hosts the Malewa and Karati rivers that eventually feed into Lake Naivasha? The area, at 7900 feet, is so chilly it has regular hailstone showers that blanket the earth, covering it in tiny ice that would make one think that snow has finally come down from Mount Kenya.
Perhaps we should go back almost a hundred years and tell you of the original jet set – the settlers of Wanjohi Valley? The British aristocracy, American and European millionaires who took a shine to the beautiful fertile valley and sought to become farmers but instead became known for their excessive love of “funtimes” and debauchery that led to stories flying around the globe of the notorious Happy Valley? The houses that they built in the 1920s stand as aging sentinels to the history of the white highlands – a place where an African could be legally shot on sight during the Emergency in the 1950s.
Then again we could share with you the beauty of Lake Ol Bollosat, a small lake in the county that hosts magnificent bird life. Just remember to carry a warm coat for your stay as the winds come whistling down the valley—they can be extremely cold!
We couldn’t leave county 018 without telling you about the cabbages. Yes, the cabbages… and potatoes, and maize and beans… but especially the cabbages. The soils of Nyandarua provide the deep nutrients that manifest in the enormous, blue-green cabbages synonymous with Nyandarua. Want to see markets in action fed by produce that emerges from the ground almost without trying? Check out Nyandarua – literally the home of food!
Have you read the shocking raucous tales of the Happy Valley set or finally figured out who killed Lord Erroll? Have you read The Bolter, by Frances Osborne, detailing the escapades of Lady Idina Sackville, under whose influence the Happy Valley gained infamy? Have you experienced the hailstones that look like snow?