February is the best time for coffee roasters to visit Kenya. The high season ends mid-January and all prices drop, from plane tickets to hotel fares and even tours into the savannah. You can cup the main Central Kenya crop plus lots from Western Kenya, Rift Valley and Eastern Kenya. If you are lucky, that is. Most roasters stay close to Nairobi, where the large exporters are based, and travel a couple of hours to visit factories in Nyeri.

The fact that trade rarely leaves Central Kenya is what ends up making this coffee-growing region so popular among buyers and consumers. But the internal production map is changing in Kenya. The central parts of the country are becoming more and more sought after by real estate developers and coffee farming is in decline. This creates a great opportunity for coffees from other regions to surface. But first, you need to know where to find them.

When visiting Kenya, venture out the cosmopolitan Nairobi and plan time for some long hours on the road towards the more distant parts of the country (don’t worry: the infrastructure is better than in Ethiopia). Also, save time to visit at least one of Kenya’s nearly 50 national parks and reserves. The country is famous for wildlife spotting, especially the wildebeest migration at Masai Mara in the Rift Valley region. And don’t forget the coast.

“Even if you are going for a coffee trip you should end your visit at the coast. We have beautiful beaches. Visit Lamu Old Town, a world heritage site, to cleanse your soul after visiting producers and listening to their struggles”, Vava recommends. A 12th-century town with Arabic influence, it is the oldest Swahili settlement on the coast of East Africa and is located on a small island on the Northern coast of Kenya. 

As 2022 is an election year in Kenya and the voting is set to take place in August, this is a month to avoid this year. “There might be insecurities in some counties but we are a very capitalist country. We don’t waste time not making money. There might be noise for a few weeks but we just want to go on with our lives”, says Vava. According to her, the political atmosphere will become clearer in March, when politicians usually move from one party to the other.

Regardless of when you visit, “don’t be afraid to interact with locals but respect their space”. Vava always recommends asking for permission before taking photos, to avoid discussing politics and talking about tribal differences. Also, be mindful that communities “expect you to contribute something to the village when you visit” and enjoy their hospitality. Kenya is a country that welcomes those who are open-minded. You get bonus points if you don’t shy away from eating raw meat on the savannah with the Masai.