Kitale

Agricultural highland town in Trans-Nzoia, used as a gateway to Mount Elgon.

Kitale is a busy agricultural town in Kenya's western highlands, sitting at about 1,900 metres in the fertile Trans-Nzoia County. Most travellers pass through on their way to Mount Elgon National Park to the west or as a staging point for the long journey north to Lodwar and Lake Turkana, but the town has a pleasant climate and a relaxed atmosphere worth a night's stay.

The Kitale Museum has a good nature trail through its grounds and an agroforestry demonstration project next door. The municipal market is the commercial heart of Trans-Nzoia County, one of Kenya's most productive farming regions, with maize fields stretching to the horizon in every direction.

Matatus run frequently to Eldoret, Kisumu, and other western Kenya towns. If you are coming from further east, change at Eldoret rather than waiting for a through-connection.

Guide

Getting There

Kitale is connected to the rest of western Kenya by matatu (shared minibus) services. Frequent matatus run to Eldoret (about 1.5 hours), from where there are onward connections to Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nairobi. Direct buses to Nairobi take around 7–8 hours.

Kitale Airport has a short runway and receives only occasional charter flights and some Kenya Airways regional services — check current schedules as these change frequently. Most visitors fly into Eldoret and take a matatu or taxi the remaining 60 kilometres.

The road north from Kitale toward Lodwar and Lake Turkana is paved to a point but deteriorates significantly. If heading north, a 4WD vehicle is strongly advisable, and confirm road conditions locally before setting out.

Guide

Things to Do

Kitale's main attractions are its regional museum and its position as the gateway to Mount Elgon National Park to the west. The town itself is pleasant enough for an evening walk and a market visit, but most travellers are here to stage an ascent of the mountain or to break a long journey north toward Lake Turkana.