Top 12 Reasons For A Safari To Kisumu

1. The Town Clock

On Oginga Odinga street, a tall clock stands on the roundabout of the road. It was unveiled in 1938 by the then Commander-in-chief and governor of Kenya, HE Chief Marshall Sir Robert Brooke Popham.

The Town Clock was erected in memory of Kassim Lakha, who came to East Africa in 1871 and died in Uganda in 1910. It was built by his sons Rahimtulla, Hassan, Alibhai, and Mohamed Kassim, as the writing on the clock reads.

2. Lake Victoria

Africa’s largest lake and it will be a sacrilege if you don’t visit the lake while you are around. Visiting Lake Victoria isn’t just for anything else, remember the fact that Lake Victoria ranks highly in plenty of Lake Statistics even on a global scale. Amongst others, it is the world’s largest tropical water body and the largest lake by surface area in Africa. With these mentions, visiting Lake Victoria should come with some prestige and appreciation to geography and history.

In Egypt, the talk about the Nile River is big yet Nile waters come from Lake Victoria that seems to be our ordinary backyard. In Kenya’s former western province lies the beautiful Lake Victoria. This vast lake is twice the size of Wales and creates a natural boundary between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. 

The lake is the engine of the African continent and the origin of the amazing Nile River. This considerable body of water is full of fish, with shimmering shoals of beautiful cichlids and large Nile Perch. 

Fishing brings many people to this lake, primarily to search for Nile Perch, a world-class game.

3. Kisumu Museum

Is situated along the Kisumu – Kericho highway. Opened in 1980, the museum disseminates and stores information on scientific and cultural issues, emphasizing Kisumu County and the neighbouring Western Kenya.

The primary features of the museum include a collection of fauna and flora species from the western region.

The main notable animals include amphibians and reptiles collected from western Kenya. You also experience a traditional Luo homestead and other traditional artefacts from the Luo and other communities within the region.

Kisumu museum is also an excellent destination for local and international workshops and seminars. Attached to the museum are a few monuments and sites of historical importance, including the Kanjira, Rusinga Islands, Fort Tenan, Thimlich Ohinga, and Songhor.

4. Rich History and Culture

Kisumu city has a rich history, with ‘Port Florence’ dating back to the start of 1900. The communities living around the lake have maintained aspects of their culture and learning about it all is an interesting experience. Points of interest where you can learn about the culture include the Kisumu Museum where attributes of the people including dressing, housing, food and farming, fishing and hunting tools are exhibited. Further afield, a visit to Kit Mikayi, Luanda Magere Site and Grave and Kogelo Village (birthplace of President Barack Obama’s father) are also quite popular day excursions. The prehistoric sites at Fort Songhor and the Kanjira Prehistoric site and hot springs (Bala Rawi) where you can boil eggs might also be of interest to you if your time permits.

5. Conference and Business Meetings in Kisumu

MICE tourism has grown in popularity because conferences and some business meetings are more effective away from their usual locations. Different environments inspire people to focus and be more productive, and Kisumu isn’t an exception when it comes to offering such an environment. With plenty of hotels and affordable conference packages the lakeside city welcomes you not only for the business, but also on accommodation, excursions during and after your business, and finally on a well-planned lake Western Kenya Safari.

6. Beaches, Swamps and Water

Kisumu being a lakeside city with Lake Victoria at its backyard offers many cool waterfront points, although most are undeveloped but this shouldn’t be used as an excuse for not enjoying Kisumu city attractions. The tranquillity that you deserve will find you on most of the beaches whether in the city or on the outskirts. A cool refreshing breeze from Lake Victoria will help you rejuvenate and unwind and you enjoy some local activities around. While in Kisumu, Hippo Point has a great-open viewing area that is perfect for picnics and the awesome sundowners by the lake. In the same neighbourhood, Dunga Beach is another great spot from where you can go for bird watching, boat riding, view hippos, interact with the Luo fisher folk community and spend some time learning more about bird species.

7. Luo Cuisine by the Lakeside

For your cuisine indulgence, you are at the right place. Kisumu gives you plenty of reasons to pack up and explore the culinary spectacle and it’s not just about fish… All the best food that you love and other food that you might not have tried or known from home will be on your menu too, but made with passion and a delightful lakeside twist. Remember, you can’t miss the lakeside city’s signature meal, the unusual fish, often accompanied by ugali (maize meal) alongside green vegetables. It is only natural that you will get plenty of fish and other seafood, made in different ways close to the Lake, but as a foodie, it will help to know where to go. While with limited time and you can’t go wrong with the Sarova Imperial Hotel Kisumu, Jalil’s Grill, Acacia Premier, Ciala Resort, Mill View Hotel, Sovereign Hotel, Vic Hotel, Wigot Gardens Hotel, The Grand Royal Swiss and the lakeside restaurant at Dunga beach. The choices are unlimited!

8. Ruma National Park

Away from the city, Western Kenya’s only terrestrial park, Ruma hosts plenty of animals including Roan Antelope, Black and White Rhinos, Rothschild’s Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and Oribi, Vervet Monkeys, Burchell’s Zebra, Topi, Impalas and over 300 bird species amongst others.

Ruma park is tucked away in a valley with the rolling savannahs on the base of the towering Kanyamwa escarpment and the magnificent Gwassi Hills. Back to Kisumu, Ndere Island National Park is popular with nature lovers thanks to the good network of nature trails. On a guided nature walk, it’s possible to watch hippos, impalas, crocodiles, Burchell’s Zebra, Impalas, and plenty of birds both by boat and on foot.

9. Accentuate Your Night

Kisumu has an active nightlife that starts as soon as the sun goes down. The well-equipped clubs and lounges are modern and hip and their décor, food and drinks selections are impressive. The big names in the clubbing business change over time, but some cool spots include Club Signature, Buccaneer, Samba Marina, Buddy’s and Latitude. Major hotels like the Sarova Imperial Hotel Kisumu, Acacia Premier, Ciala Resort also have an in-house lounge where you can have a drink with friends or colleagues after a long day

10. Special and Romantic Occasions

The lakeside city is first becoming an all-time wedding destination. For those who fancy every moment, weddings are the norm nowadays and thankfully, the lakeside city of Kisumu has some ideal spots where you can enjoy your special big day in the most trendy manner. After your wedding, we can help you to be safely transferred privately for a private retreat at Rusinga Island Lodge or even to the most idyllic; Mfangano Island Lodge both nestled on the islands of Lake Victoria.

11. Inland Holiday Getaways

Kenya’s only lakeside city of Kisumu is a great holiday destination to go with small groups, families or friends. Kisumu City pace of life is much slower and well paced, and after weeks of work in the bustling cities, you will want to make the lakeside city to be your getaway for relaxation. With a very inviting tropical weather, that makes Kisumu city irresistible to any holiday goers. On the other hand, Kisumu City offers plenty of daytime activities for families that range from city excursions to learning a thing or two on the lake region’s ethnography, wildlife viewing and local lakeside cuisine.

12. Kang’o Ka Jaramogi

Jaramogi Mausoleum is an iconic place located deep in Bondo sub-county, Siaya County, in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi. From the outside, one can easily dismiss it as another ordinary building. However, in this building – there is more than meets the eye. The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum is a place that has extremely valuable information that tells the rich history of Kenya.

Jaramogi was Kenya’s first Vice-President, a man whose name crops up whenever Kenya’s political story unfolds. The site is not only home to the rich legacy of the independence hero, but could also be described as a tribute to the Luo people beyond Kenya’s border.

An excursion to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum for many years has remained so dear to the opposition chief Raila Odinga that he personally takes all his important visitors on a guided tour of the place.

A tour of the mausoleum lasts more than one hour as your guide explains in detail the pictures that captured key moments in Kenya’s history. The museum and monument serve as a cultural center, a historical and national monument of great importance. Here one will see stuffed animals and other Luo cultural equipment and learn about famous traditional medicine men of the Luo community have ever had.