Kitengela Hot Glass Day Tour

Kitengela Glass & Croze’s Hot Glass Blowing factories are located about 10 km in the Kitengela plains, southwest of Nairobi city and across the Nairobi National Park.

Taking a Kitengela Glass & Croze's Hot Glass studio tour is a fun experience, where you can see how glass recycling is transformed into beautiful kitchenware or decorative items for homes and hotels.

The Kitengela Glass & Anselm Hot Glass factory tours start from Nairobi in the morning or the afternoon. Mornings are better, as you can see the glass being moulded since the furnaces are mostly turned on during morning hours.

To get to the Kitengela Glass studio, you will drive along Uhuru Highway and turn right at the Nyayo Stadium roundabout into Lang’ata Road. Upon reaching the Bomas of Kenya interchange, turn left onto Magadi Road towards Ongata Rongai.

Just before Rongai and after the Mbagathi River, turn left onto the road that leads to African Nazarene University and follow the signs to Kitengela Glass all the way. The tarmac road goes up to the Nazarene University, after which it becomes a rough and bumpy road.

The Kitengela Hot Glass & Melt Glass factory specialises in making recycled glass mosaics, uniquely designed and colourful bejewelled chandeliers, murals, mosaic window panes, glass furniture, and many other decorative and uniquely shaped glass animals.

The Kitengela Glass & Anselm’s Glass Studio has created some well-known large glass masterpieces, such as the 12 m high mosaic wall at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi and the 4 m x 5 m glass wall at the Nairobi National Museum.

They have a large red-brick dome built by Anselm Croze, which houses several furnaces used to melt recycled glass for blowing and creating uniquely designed chandeliers, decorated mirror frames, glass lampshades, glass wind chimes, exquisite beadwork, kitchen glassware, Dalle de Verre furniture, panels, and sculptures, among other items.

The Kitengela Glass tour also features a lodge visit to the Maasai Lodge via a swaying suspension bridge over a deep gorge into Silole Sanctuary. For the heart-stopping experience of crossing the bridge, you are rewarded with fresh, cool refreshments, meals, and drinks at the Maasai Lodge on the other side of the ravine.

Kitengela Glass & Anselm Hot Glass Tour Charges Include

Transport to and from your hotel
Services of a driver-guide
Entrance fees to Kitengela Glass
Bottled drinking water

Kitengela Glass & Anselm Hot Glass Tour Charges Exclude

Items of a personal nature
Tips for guides
Any detours from the itinerary

Kitengela Glass Information

Kitengela Glass, a long-time neighbour of Nairobi National Park, is a hidden gem. Before entering the main gate, be prepared for a myriad of sculptures, glass art, and a variety of animals along the rough and wildly entertaining road to “Nani’s” Kitengela Glass.

Upon arrival, experience the magic of Kitengela by following the secret mosaic pathways leading to niches of busy artisans transforming recycled glass, scrap metal, and an assortment of other materials into beautiful artwork, jewellery, and home décor. Undoubtedly, it is a treasure trove for all to behold!

Kitengela Glass, founded in 1981 by Nani Croze, provides a lively training centre for over fifty artisans, offering ongoing training and employment in various artistic disciplines. In addition to helping individuals make a living through their artistic abilities, Nani is committed to maintaining the natural landscape by planting trees, promoting renewable energy sources, and minimising waste.

Additionally, Nani and her husband Eric, are strong supporters of access to education for all. This includes funding and promoting grant programs for children’s school fees, as well as providing space and guidance for adults in need of literacy training.

At Kitengela Glass Art, you will also find recreational activities to brighten your weekend and offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Activities include horse riding, swimming, glass mosaic classes, and felting.

Beginning

Kitengela Glass has developed over the last 34 years. It started with stained glass, which Nani—who used to be a muralist—learned at Goddard and Gibbs Glass Studios in London in 1979. After some years, she developed this craft in Kenya. Upon realising that importing coloured glass was very costly, she decided to produce recycled glass locally. Broken window glass and unused bottles are now used to create new glass.

With the help of Finnish glass artist Mikko Merikallio, she and her son Anselm started the first furnace and trained the first Kenyan glassblowers.

Today, everything from vessels to coloured glass and glass blocks (Dalle de Verre, faceted glass) is produced at the Kitengela Glass Studios.

Many Kenyans have learned and worked here, creating everything from church windows to installations for hotels, government ministries, embassies, and private houses.