Kisumu City
Kisumu is the third largest of the Kenyan cities, the principal city of western Kenya, the capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu District. It is also the second most important city after Kampala in the greater Lake Victoria basin. Kisumu literally means a place of barter trade "sumo". Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
Attractions in this Kenyan city include Kibuye Market, the Kisumu Museum, The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Hippo Point, and the nearby Kit Mikaye and Ndere Island National Park. Flights to Kisumu leave twice daily from Nairobi.
Ndere Island National Park
Fact File
Altitude: 1,200-1,300 meters above sea level.
Area: 4.2 sq km.
Location: Kisumu District, Nyanza Province.
Distance from Nairobi: 350 km from Nairobi.
Gazetted: November 1986
Kenya city climate: Hot and humid.
Vegetation: Forested shores and grassy interior.
Fauna/reptiles: Impala (introduced) hippo, baboon, vervet monkey and Sitatunga antelope. Reptiles: crocodile.
Birds: The papyrus swamps around Lake Victoria contain a unique selection of papyrus endemic birds.
Open: Daily 6.00am - 7.00pm. Note: Visitors will not be allowed entry after 6.15pm.
Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
What to see
An island wilderness floating in the waters of the relatively warm Winam Gulf, a part of Lake Victoria, this beautiful little island is rarely visited and pristinely peaceful.
Thickly forested, it is home to a colourful abundance of birds as well as a thriving population of hippo while the rare Sitatunga aquatic antelope has been spotted here. The shores are also home to growing numbers of spotted crocodile, a lesser-known cousin of the larger Nile crocodile. Grazed by a few (introduced impala), the island is only accessible by boat from Kisumu, and the bay is often afflicted by rampant water hyacinth. Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
Lake Victoria
With an area approaching 70,000 sq km, Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world (after Lake Superior). Unlike the lakes further west, Victoria is not part of the Rift Valley system and is wide and shallow (only 80m deep) with shores spanning three countries. Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
Altitude: 1, 149 meters above sea level.
Area: Less than 1 sq km.
Location: Kisumu District, Nyanza Province.
Distance from Nairobi: 350 km from Nairobi.
Gazetted: October 1992
Climate: Hot and humid.
Vegetation: Remnant indigenous forest dominated by African sausage tree and fig tree.
Fauna: The sanctuary is a holding area for problem animals, which have been the cause of human v wildlife conflict in this densely populated area.
Birds: Over 115 species have been recorded. Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
Kisumu is situated on the gently sloping shore of Lake Victoria and is Kenya's third largest town. More of an educational facility than a Reserve, The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary features 3 kms of nature trails and 2 picnic sites. The focus of the wildlife is a small herd of impala and some vervet monkeys while the animal orphanage contains a collection of caged leopard, baboon, hyena, jackal and ostrich. The Sanctuary also provides important open grazing for the local hippo population while the threatened Sitatunga antelope is believed to exist in the nearby swamps. Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
Hippo Point
Hippo Point is a 600-acre viewing area on Lake Victoria. Despite its name, it is better known as a viewing point for its unobstructed sunsets over the lake than for its occasional hippos. Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
Kit Mikayi
In Kisumu District too, there is the enigmatic Kit Mikayi , a massive granite rock over four storeys high that hides an ancient burial chamber and tells a timeless tale of love and betrayal. There was once a woman called Aber who married a man called Onam and together they lived in love and happiness. Until, that is, Onam married a second wife and deserted Aber who died of a broken heart. Justice was done when an enormous storm broke over her grave causing her bones to hurtle out and kill the faithless Onam and all his family; who were turned into the rocks of Kit Mikayi . Travel Guide to Kisumu , a Kenya Safari City on the shores of Lake Victoria .
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