This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
On a sunny Sunday morning, I joined a group of hiking enthusiasts outside Hilton Hotel in Nairobi for an adventure through Kenya's oldest train tunnel, Buxton Tunnel, in Limuru.
Completed in 1899 by Indian coolies hired by the British, the tunnel was part of the Kenya-Uganda railway line, nicknamed the Lunatic Express, which began in Mombasa and ended in Kisumu.
Our guide, Mr. Alex Kamau of Let's Drift, led us to the Administration Police (AP) camp to pick up three officers to accompany us through the tunnel, as it can be unsafe at times.
As we walked along the railway line from Limuru, we passed through tea plantations and a small forest, hearing voices raised in praise and worship in the many churches built close to the railway line.
Approaching the tunnel, we spotted a small light at the end, but it was pitch-dark inside, with some people using torches and others using the flashlights on their phones.
On the walls, we noticed messages left by previous visitors, including love messages that made us wonder if this was the tunnel of love.
We completed the 950-metre walk in less than 22 minutes, relieved to feel the sun's warmth after the cold, damp atmosphere.
As we took group photos and congratulated ourselves for conquering the tunnel, we were told that it is used by cargo trains from Nairobi to Malaba a few times a week.
Our walk ended with a breathtaking view of sunset from Lakehouse as we had snacks and discussed future adventures.
