Launch: the main take-off is next to the Kerio View Hotel, 2,340m.
Landing: topland or drop down to the ‘shelf’ 200m below. Landing in the valley floor 1,300m below means a long retrieve.
Cloudbase: to 4,000m
Kerio Valley, in Kenya is your perfect free flying playground: step out of the lodge with the wing in your hand, take off at dawn and land with the sunset, just a stone’s throw from the hotel where you can then enjoy an excellent dinner along with a detailed debriefing!
The long ridge of the Kerio Valley, over 100 km long, is able to satisfy the needs of all pilots: from lovers of peaceful dynamic flights in the early morning and/or afternoon hours, to cross-country addicts, in search of setting new records.
Kenya’s Kerio Valley is located in the eastern side of the Rift Valley, about 300 km from the capital city of Nairobi, and is considered by many as the cradle of the human species. Thanks to its orographic peculiarities, the indescribable beauty of the area and, in particular, the welcoming local population, this area has become one of the main and most sought-after worldwide flight destinations. Hundreds of pilots visit the Kerio Valley in the spectacular month of January, when it is possible to fly every day
One of the launches is only 50 meters away from the Hotel Kerio View. The official landing place is 20 minutes by motorbike to the hotel but most of the landings will be near the take-off, making it an easy walk back home. Sometimes it also happens that you can land somewhere out, far from the take-off. But this is no problem - Kenyans are very friendly and they help you to come back to your place!
We will provide our pilots with a memorandum including all the most important info to arrange your trip in the best possible way!
This place is very popular with foreigners who jet in straight to the Eldoret International Airport. Kerio Valley launch: Located in the Rift Valley, offering stunning views and steady winds, making it a favorite among paragliders.
Soaring site, 60-70 foreign pilots coming and going. This is a marathon training site as its high altitude.
Kerio Valley or better - up in the Highlands of Kenya - here in this area you'll find many places to start - also ideal for beginners. The west side of Kerio Valley is the best part to fly (90% of the wind will come from east). Down to the bottom of the valley is a hight difference from about 1200 m. The ideal starting place is near the Hotel Kerio View.
Landing zone:
Most of the landings you will do near the starting place! Sometimes it also happens to land anywhere! But this is no problem - Kenyans are very friendly and they help you to come back to your place!
The cross country potential here is currently over 300km.
To get here you need to bushwhack your way out to the wilds of Kenya, to the Elgeyo Escarpment. The Elgeyo forms part of the western wall of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, and overlooks the 80km-long Kerio Valley over 1,000m below.
The result is a perfect flying ridge. In fact it is two ridges: an upper ridge with about 200m height difference leading to a shelf before the bigger ridge drops roughly another 1,000m to the valley floor.
Flying infrastructure is in its relative infancy here but since 2011, when a trio of German pilots arrived and bagged five tandem world records, there has been a steady flow of adventurous pilots that have come looking for fast out-and-returns and flat triangles that will put their names at the top of the online XC leagues early in the year.
For those who aren’t against the clock or tape measure the Kerio Valley also offers flying conditions that combine soaring and thermals over a big African landscape. Partners, family and non-flying friends will have plenty to keep them occupied, while you will get enough flying to ward off any amount of winter blues back home.
Hangglider Access
There are plenty of places to launch and topland, and some options in the valley floor. You can hire a car and driver to help with the retrieve. Customs at Nairobi will probably be interested in your hang glider.
