Pic: Facebook/The Forest
When was the last time you had a rush of blood to the head? The kind that leaves you bright-eyed and feeling alive? That's called adrenaline and there's plenty for the whole family courtesy of the Flying Fox zipline tour at The Forest in Kereita, Kiambu County.
"It's the thrill of it. It's doing something you've never done before. It's going a bit beyond your limits. And the feeling after you've done it will be the highlight of your month" says joint owner of Patrick Simkin, when asked what makes their zipline tours special.
So far, most of the over 5,000 people who've taken the tour since the Flying Fox opened four months ago have been DINKY's (Double Income, No Kids Yet) but The Forest is an ideal getaway for the ultimate family bonding experience.
It's exhilarating to swoosh 80 metres over the forest canopy, feeling the fresh mountain air on your face and getting a bird's-eye view of the forest. And as an added bonus, "When a teenager sees their parent zip line, it creates a bond and gives the parent that 'cool' aspect," says Patrick.
With six separate ziplines measuring a combined 2,200 metres (2.2kms), Flying Fox is East Africa's longest zipline tour. A full six-line tour lasting approximately two hours costs Ksh 2,500 for an adult and Ksh 2,000 for a child. There's the option of a shorter two-line tour that's priced at Ksh 1,500. That one travels you 750 metres over 45 minutes. Riders must strictly measure 1.4 metres (most children meet the height requirement by 9 years of age) and weigh a maximum 120 kilograms.
Concerned about safety? The zipline installation and operations are kept to European Standards by UK's leading inspector and your group will be accompanied by two trained instructors who ensure your safety and provide a demonstration before your tour. Just be sure to wear long pants and trainers.
Ziplining is just one of a wide range of family-friendly activities offered at this extraordinary adventure getaway. Other activities include mountain biking, paint balling, fly fishing, archery, guided nature walks, tree planting and a children's playground. According to Patrick, one of the most popular activities for families is archery which costs Ksh 1,000 an hour per person. "It's something that families learn together, and quite often something that the kids do better than dad which makes them very excited."
The Forest has a fully stocked restaurant that caters to all visitors. Every weekend there's a kid's buffet offer at Ksh 800. Through the restaurants large viewing windows or from the balcony seating area, you get an uninterrupted panorama of the Kereita Forest dotted on the furthest horizon with the picturesque Aberdare Range, majestic Mt. Kenya, and Nairobi city lights to the extreme right. If you're lucky enough to be there in the early morning or on a clear day, the views are more breathtaking and rewarding.
At just 45 minutes' drive from Nairobi, The Forest is a fantastic day-long escape from the Nairobi smog and traffic. And with a planned Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, we think this may be just the right off-the-beaten track experience you've been craving to share with your tweens and teens this Easter.
