Anyone visiting Embu on a Medical Elective or to volunteer with the Moving Mountains Trust will spend time in our Adventure Alternative guest house, located in the quiet suburbs of Embu. The guest house is about 10 minutes walk from the Embu Provincial Hospital where Elective students are placed and about 15 minutes walk from the town centre, in fact most of Embu town is walking distance and there is a young and friendly feel to the area with a number of different University and College Campuses located in the region.
Our Rescue Centre for Street Children is in the town centre, and from here it is about another 10 minute walk to the likes of Embu County and Urban Primary schools, which have also been developed by the Moving Mountains Trust and are located next to the slums which surround most of the town centre.
Photo above: Dining Area of Embu Guest House
Embu is also on the lower slopes of the southern side of Mount Kenya, so if you are ascending or descending Mount Kenya on the Chogoria route then you're more than welcome to spend a few nights with your host, Gilbert Njeru, who is the Chairperson of Moving Mountains Kenya, one of the Directors of Adventure Alternative Kenya and the self-proclaimed King of Embu! Gilbert oversees all our projects in Embu and lives in the guest house with you.
Inside there are a total of 5 different sized bedrooms, some of which are en-suite and some with a shared bathroom but all are spacious with comfortable beds which are covered with mosquito nets. The large living area is comfortable with TV, DVD, play-station, music systems and high speed internet and the self-catering kitchen has everything you would expect in a modern kitchen The ground floor is open plan and next to the living area is a large dining area. The balcony on the 1st floor or the garden are the perfect place to relax in the evenings, watching the sunset over the hills and farms which stretch out for as far as the eye can see.
Photo above: Gilbert Njeru with some of the kids from the rural Gatwe Primary School
You'll never be stuck for something to do in Embu when you've finished your day volunteering or on placement in the hospital. The Isaak Walton Hotel, which is less than 20 minutes walk from the guest house has an excellent restaurant, nightclub, quiet garden bars and an outdoor swimming pool, in fact Embu has a number of outdoor swimming pools dotted around the town, one of which is attached to Mini Inn bar and restaurant, just across from the guest house (about 1 minute walk!).
There are also options for horse riding on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, some stunning waterfalls and viewpoints to visit on the outskirts of town and great coffee! Gilbert also runs the Eureka Coffee Shop in town. Many people immerse themselves with our Black Cats Football Club for the street boys and girls on the weekends, training with them and supporting them during their competitive games or if sport is not your thing then you can help out at our sustainable Car Wash, which provides a regular income and life away from the street for about 16 former street children.
Photo above: The swimming pool at the Isaak Walton Hotel
Embu is just over 2 hours drive from Nairobi in minimal traffic, a drive which takes you past Mwea National Reserve and at an altitude of just under 1,350m the temperatures in Embu are comfortable all year round.
Contact us for further information on the Guest House and booking accommodation (if you are booking a volunteering or elective placement in Embu accommodation is already included).
Photo above: Living Area in the Embu Guest House