Bahati Forest Nakuru. Photo: Ben Omwaka

So many people ask what Twenderaundi truly is. The answer is simple. Twenderaundi is community. The name itself means let’s go around, and for the past decade, that is exactly what we have done, moved, explored, wandered, and connected. But Twenderaundi has never been just a plan, a route, or a destination. It has always been a way of experiencing Kenya with intention, humility, and humanity at the centre.

Hiking through farms in Dundori. Photo: Ben Omwaka

Enjoying evening views by the lake side. Duara Flamingo Camp Elementaita. Photo: Ben Omwaka.

For over ten years, the movement has proved that some journeys are measured in kilometres, yes, but the journeys that matter are measured in conversations, shared moments, small acts of kindness, and friendships that outlast the trail or trip. Twenderaundi’s true distance is found in the connections that keep people returning, year after year.

Sleeping Warrior Hill, Elementaita. Photo: Ben Omwaka.

Whenever the community sets out for a trail, it has never simply been about reaching a viewpoint. There is a quiet philosophy behind every outing: observe deeply, take only what you need, leave the land better than you found it. It sounds simple but simplicity is often the most radical form of care. In a world rushing toward the next big thing, we choose to walk. In a world trying to monetize every moment, we choose to share. Every trip becomes a reminder that time moves slower when it is respected.

Photos: Ben Omwaka

This humble way of moving aligns naturally with what the world now calls responsible, conscious, sustainable travel. While researchers, policymakers, and the travel industry search for frameworks, Twenderaundi has unknowingly practiced them for years: low-impact exploration, community engagement, support for local economies, and nature appreciation grounded in respect. It is the kind of travel our elders lived without ever calling it sustainable. A way of travelling that prioritizes learning, honouring, and connecting.

Every trip has carried its own unique energy. Some hikes, camps, trips have been loud, full of laughter and wild stories; others have been quiet, slow, reflective. Some camps exploded with music around the fire; others were gentle evenings under peaceful skies.

On the long climbs like Longonot, people have discovered parts of themselves they didn’t know existed. That moment halfway up the crater, when someone is so close to giving up but is psyched up by the company, that is where bonds form, where strangers turn into friends through shared struggle and shared victory.

Photos: Ben Omwaka. (Photo 2, hikers pushing each other up Mt. Longonot).

Forest walks like Bahati Forest have offered something different  a softer rhythm, an invitation to listen more than speak. Nature has its own language, and Twenderaundi learned to listen.

Camps around lake Elementaita have built their own kind of magic. Cold mornings. Deep conversations. Quiet moments that stay long after people pack up and head home.

Every trip has taught something  joy, patience, identity, resilience, freedom, humility. Twenderaundi trips may follow similar routes, but no two experiences have ever been the same. The land changes. The weather changes. The people change. That is the beauty of movement.  A hike to the same place feels different each time.

Photography has always been at the heart of the Twenderaundi story not as performance and certainly not as a showcase of aesthetics, but as memory, documentation, witness. The lens became a way to honour landscapes, celebrate human connection, and preserve the spirit of each adventure. Photography allowed nature to speak. It helped travelers notice beauty they might otherwise walk past. It turned ordinary moments into shared history. Through the camera, we witnessed and shared many magical moments. The camera didn’t just record  it connected. It made people feel seen. It created identity.

And as global conversations shifted toward climate awareness and the SDGs, Twenderaundi unknowingly became a visual archive of climate related issues, biodiversity, culture, and responsible travel  proof that photography, in its simplest form, becomes advocacy, storytelling, education, and memory all at once.

A photo of Ben Omwaka taken by James Wakibia during a clean up exercise at Lake Nakuru National Park.

Twenderaundi did not grow in isolation. Over the years, the movement has formed partnerships; organic, simple, human partnerships with event organizers, fellow creatives, tour companies, campsite owners, local guides, transport providers, and other destinations. These collaborations expanded the circle, broadened impact, and allowed more people to access nature safely and affordably.

There were partnerships with artists who brought music to lakeside gatherings. Collaboration with photographers. Support from camping brands that helped create memorable overnight adventures. Transport providers matatu saccos, car hire operators, drivers who ensured that no destination was ever too far for a group seeking fresh air and fresh perspective. Local communities who opened their spaces and shared their stories. Every partnership strengthened Twenderaundi’s identity and confirmed that community grows when people share their strengths.

Some of the most iconic Twenderaundi moments were born from these partnerships: curated outdoor meetups that blended art and nature, themed events that showed how travel can intersect with culture and creativity. Partnerships revealed something powerful, that dventure expands when shared, and community becomes movement when people bring their gifts together.

Indie by the Lake. Themed event in partnership with Redpanda. Photo: Ben Omwaka.

Twenderaundi’s journey unintentionally mirrors global sustainability goals. SDG 13 (Climate Action) appears in the photos that document shifting water levels in Rift Valley lakes, and changing seasons. SDG 14 and 15 (Life Below Water & Life on Land) show up in the birdwatching trips, lake explorations, and forest walks that nurture respect for biodiversity. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) is reflected in urban explorations, local heritage, and inclusive outdoor access. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) is embodied in budget travel, shared transport, minimal waste, reusables, and simple living on the road. SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) is alive in the guides, homestays, markets, and local services supported through each adventure. SDG 17 (Partnerships) stands tall as the backbone of everything Twenderaundi has built. The movement has become proof that sustainability is not only policy, it is culture, behaviour, and community memory.

There is a big misconception that budget travel is low-quality travel. Yet Twenderaundi has spent ten years proving otherwise.  You don’t need luxury itineraries to feel the heartbeat of a place. Simplicity unlocks authenticity.

Every Twenderaundi outing begins with strangers, but rarely ends that way. People arrive alone and leave with new travel buddies, creative partners, collaborators, mentors, and sometimes new family. These connections have lasted through years, cities, jobs, and life seasons. Many people who met on a hike many years ago are still moving together today. The destination has always been the excuse. Community has always been the point.

Nakuru is the heart of this story. The flamingos, the crater, the beautiful landscapes, the birds.   Nakuru shaped Twenderaundi’s identity. It is home. The origin.  For anyone curious about exploring more of what Nakuru offers, I put together a simple guide here. Even though Nakuru is the heart of the story, Twenderaundi has grown far beyond its starting point. Over the years, the community has carried its spirit into new spaces, new roads, new horizons each one adding something different to the journey. What began as a local idea naturally expanded, not because of strategy, but because people kept showing up eager to explore together. The movement has become bigger than any single place; it’s the way we travel, the way we connect.

Nakuru City. Photo: Ben Omwaka

Twenderaundi represents a style of movement that is gentle and reflective. As the world shifts toward eco-conscious travel and regenerative tourism, Twenderaundi remains a living example of what happens when people explore with humility and intention. Twenderaundi stands as a reminder that exploration can be sustainable. That the old-school joys of simple travel still matter. That adventure is strongest when shared.

A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of the Twenderaundi community in any way. Your energy, curiosity, and friendship have made this journey possible and unforgettable. Every story shared, every step taken together, has shaped the #Twenderaundi story.