Trips- Visit to Kisumu
Kisumu was once known as Port Florence, which was named after the chief engineers wife, when the railway reached the lake in 1901. Kisumu was the main trading port in Kenya during the colonial era. It is Kenya’s third largest town, after Nairobi and Mombasa. However it was only given city status in 2002 during the railway centenary celebrations. You will notice that the weather in Kisumu is much hotter and more humid than Kimilili. The locals rely on sugar cane, hydroelectric power and extracting limestone for its main income as well as trading. The city is directly next to Lake Victoria on the west, the Kisii and Kericho highlands to the south and to the east you will find the Nandi escarpment . Half way between Kimilili and Kisumu are the forested highlands of Kakamega, however sadly there is becoming less forest.
Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world, covering 69,485 sq km after Lake Superior at the Great Lakes, North America . Lake Victoria is divided up into three countries, these are Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It was a very important place in the explorations of the 19th century. Although the lake is very large Kenya only owns 3,785 sq km, which includes the Winam Gulf together with several islands. Ndere Island is a national park, located in the Winam Gulf, while Rusinga Island lies off Mbita Point. Takawarir Island is to the south of Rusinga, while west of Takawiri is Mfangano Island, the largest island. Lake Victoria is well known for the fishing . First Day- Morning
On the first day at Kisumu after arriving at 10:00 am we’ll go to Hippo Point, which is around 3 km from town, this is a great opportunity to see the hippos, however if its too late in the day, the chance of seeing hippos is reduced, but you’ll certainly see them on the second day. We’ll hire a traditional Kenyan Boat from this point and sail up the lake past Dunga Village. You’ll see the local women washing their clothes, the children splashing and playing around, and the local fisherman. All along the lake side you’ll see the Kingfisher, hovering at around 5 meters, spying on the Omena, which are tiny, silver fish, a staple of the people around the lake, and once the King Fisher has spotted a fish it goes into a nose dive into the water, picks the Omena using its beak and takes it off to its nest, hidden in the Water Hyacinth. Water Hyacinth is the vegetation which is found around Lake Victoria, which the locals use to make baskets and to thatch their homes with. After having sailed up and down part of the lake, we’ll drive to Dunga Village, which is about 2 km away from Hippo Point. Here you’ll see the traditional canoes being made, which are used on the lake to transport goods, locals and for fishing. You’ll notice that a lot of the boats are painted depicting a well known football team. The long and narrow boats are about 8m long, with a large out board engine, these are known as a 'Yie’ and the boats with sails are called ‘Yie Nanga’. First Day- Afternoon
During the afternoon after Hippo Point and Dunga Village, we’ll have lunch at a small café in town. This is another chance to taste real Kenyan food. We strongly recommend that you would choose the fish which had been caught the same day from Lake Victoria with ugali and cabbage. Once we’ve eaten, you’ll be taken to the market, this is a well known market in the region and is meant to be one of the best markets in Western Kenya. You don’t need to buy anything, you can just go to get a feel of the Kenyan culture. This attracts people from many areas and you’ll find anything ranging from beds to second hand trainers.
After embracing one of the best markets in Western Kenya, you’ll be taken to the hotel, where you’ll be staying for a couple of days. You’ll be given the time to unpack and relax. Once you have spent time in your room, organising your things, you’ll be driven to the top of the hill near the hotel to watch the spectacular sunset. Once the sun has set, the stars will start to appear one by one and you’ll look down to the lake and see the whole lake lit with floating lanterns and the dark figure of Rusinga. It’s a breathtaking view. When we arrive back from viewing the lake at sunset, you’ll be taken to the light house, and climb to the top where you’ll have the chance to see the bouncing lanterns on the lake shore and the stars above. You’ll then have dinner, at the hotel. After experiencing Lake Victoria during the day and night you’ll probably want to go to bed and rest as the next day will be another busy day.
Second Day
The next day we’ll get up, have breakfast, and set sail to the Mfang’ano Island, passing the twin islands of Mbasa. This is where you notice the wildlife, branches full of cormorants (these are birds that live along fresh water and live on fish), egrets, huge monitor lizards sunning themselves and fish eagles flying above.
The Mfan’gano Island is not far from the Ugandan boarder. You’ll notice that compared to the Rusinga Island and the mainland Mfang’ano Island is lush and green. Once we’ve arrived at the island we’ll climb uphill through the vegetation to the cave. When you are close to the cave you'll be able to feel the coolness of the air. This area is called the Mawanga rock site. In the cave you’ll see the geometric rock paintings on the cave walls which are aged between 1,000 to 4,000 years old. These paintings were done by the Twa people, a hunter gatherer group related to the pygmies of the Eastern Congo.
After sailing back to the mainland you’ll have lunch at the hotel, and have a relaxing evening at the hotel and rest for another exciting day at the lake.
Third Day
On the third day you will be given you a choice of two places to visit, you can either go to Ndere Island National Park or Ruma National Park. The Ndere Island National Park is located in the Winam Gulf about 50 km away from Kisumu Center. It has only been given National Park status since 1986, mainly to protect the bird life and vegetation. It is 4.5 sq km. The name Ndere means meeting point in the Luo Language. If you decide to choose this National Park you’d have the chance to see hippos, the spotted crocodiles and a herd of Impala in the woodlands which were introduced to the park. You’d also see the swifts and the fish eagles.
The second option which you have is to see the Ruma National Park, which was created as a reserve in 1966 to protect the only remaining habitat of Roan antelope. The Park is in the Lambwe Valley in Southern Nyanza, 140 km. from Kisumu town. The 120 sq km park is a mix of rolling savannah, woodlands, rivers and hills. It’s main attractions are game-viewing, bird watching, hiking and walking and fishing in the rivers. Game in this park include Bohor's reedbuck, Rothschild's giraffe, Jackson's hartebeest, Roan antelope, buffalo, leopard, serval cat and hyena, as well as diverse bird life.
