Gatunga

The wider destination of Tharaka Nithi adds its own cultural and landscape themes to the overview.

Reading and learning in Gatunga

The Gatunga Community Library & IT Centre offers general reading materials, including fiction, nonfiction and academic texts; it also lends books. The reading selection therefore ranges from narrative writing to nonfiction topics and academic reading. Digital learning resources complement the collection, as does basic digital literacy covering essential computer skills. Reading and book lending thus sit alongside digital learning content as distinct parts of the educational offering.

Activities include interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for all age groups. These include educational games for children, as well as activities for teenagers and adults. Unlike reading, these are practical learning formats; different age groups are explicitly included.

Landscape in the wider Tharaka Nithi area

The wider destination of Tharaka Nithi lies east of Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya’s volcanic activity shapes Tharaka Nithi’s topography, forming V-shaped valleys. The named hills include Kiera, Munuguni and Njuguni in Maara, and Kijege, Gikingo and Ntugi in Tharaka. Part of Mount Kenya Forest is also within the county and is described in the county plan as a tourist attraction. The valleys describe the topography; the hills add individual named features to the landscape.

The county plan describes tourism in Tharaka Nithi as still being at an early stage of development. Few tourists visit the area, and there are few tourist facilities. At the same time, the plan identifies mountains, hills, waterfalls, expansive landscapes, diverse wildlife and agritourism as features that promote tourism. The potential listed therefore sits alongside the stage of development described in the plan. The list combines natural and landscape features with agritourism, bringing together both landscape-related and agricultural themes from the county plan’s discussion of tourism.

Culture and events in the county

The cultural information also relates to the wider Tharaka Nithi area. The Chuka, Muthambi, Mwimbi and Tharaka people live in the county and belong to the larger Ameru community. The Ura Gate Tharaka Nithi Cultural Festival serves as a platform for cultural exchange and had reached its seventh edition by 2025.

Another event with a specific date is the Tharaka Cultural Celebrations, which took place from 21 to 23 May 2026 at Marimanti Nyangumi Stadium. The celebrations featured traditional dances and cultural exhibitions; indigenous cuisine was also part of the program. The dates differ: the Ura Gate Festival is described by the edition it had reached by 2025, while the Tharaka Cultural Celebrations are associated with specific dates and a venue in May 2026. The cultural communities provide a broader context; the festivals and celebrations are specific events.

Discover more destinations: Chuka

Go to the wider travel overview: Tharaka Nithi.