West Coast of Kenya

Lake Victoria offers the West Coast of Kenya. This is the least visited part among the tourist sites in Kenya. From Kisumu City, along the Winam Gulf, Kit Mikaye, Ndere island, Kamito Beach, Kogelo Village, Jaramogi Odinga Mausoleum, Got Ramogi, Usenge Beach and Osieko Beach, Uhanya Beach and Mageta Island and Consequently to Mbita point, Mfangano Island, Rusinga Island, Mbasa and Mholo Islands, Ruma National Park and back through Homabay,Pala Hot Springs, Simbi Nyaima Crater lake, Kendu Bay and past the Odino Falls - Soundu Miriu Hydro Electric Power station and back to Kisumu through Kisii and Ahero Rice Irrigation Plantations, one will have explored the West Coast of Kenya

This part of Kenya is least visited by tourists but at the same time is more touristic than most visited tourists circuits. The West Coast of Kenya – The Lake Victoria Gulf;encompasses the Kisumu City, The Mbita and The Kendu Bay and Homa Bay areas, not to mention Kamito Beach, which is well-known for fishing and other excursions.

Victoria Safaris has since discovered this virgin touristic circuit – The West Coast of Kenya – and is booking various tourists to these rich touristic areas. The most visited in this region is the Mbita Area, which is now open for tourists who would want to do surfing, swimming, boat riding, bird watching and having an exclusive beach resort stay without beach boys. From Mbita Point we have the magnificent Lake Victoria Safari Village, which is a tourist resort owned and managed by a Norwegian by name Odd Bredo, who fell in love on his first visit, never to return to Norway, due to the natural resource, untapped virgin touristic circuit as others call it.

Activities

Sport Fishing on Lake Victoria is great in this region. Boat Riding and Surfing, Cultural Community Visits, Community Volunteerism among other activities for tourists is great in this area.

Mbita

The area is rich in bird life which are found on the two main islands from Mbita Point, thus, Mholo and Mbasa Islands. These are the bird islands and on these islands, there are millions of birds of different species well admired by those who visit them. The view of these birds is by boat and clients are instructed not to step on the island due to conservation of the ecosystem, but view the same from their seats in the boats. The Mbita Lake Victoria Safari Village offers several rooms with luxurious accommodation facilities, fine cuisine which includes local and western dishes. Lake Victoria Safari Village has been chosen by Victoria Safaris to be its launch pad for the West Coast of Kenya activities.

This place is also good for corporate team building activities, sport fishing the famous Tilapia and Nile perch, hippo hunting by camera, night fishing expeditions accompanied by local residents when they are fishing the famous “omena” which is the fingerlings caught by night using floating lanterns. Tourists can have night fishing as they do have night game drives in the Kenyan wilderness. Cultural visits can be arranged for those who want to enjoy cultural experiences without having a cultural shock. These includes staying overnight amongst the inhabitants while sharing with them their daily chores. From this place, one can also visit the famous Abasuba Community Peace Museum on Mfangano Island which is famous for rock paintings. One can also visit the famous “Thimlich Ohinga” Heritage Site which is a cultural stone wall in the nearby where you will be told the folklore of why the rocks were arranged on line.

From Mbita Point, tourists are able to access the famous Ruma National Park which is a few kilometers away. This park is famous for the endangered Roan Antelope which is found in this park alone in Kenya among other animals.

Daily luxury boat rides can be arranged by Victoria Safaris for the use of the only luxurious motorboat powered by 200 horsepower engine driven by none other than the owner of the Lake Victoria Safari Village.

The Sandy Beaches
The West Coast of Kenya offers perfect honeymoon vacation for honeymooners since the beaches are exclusive and not polluted. The sandy beaches have soft white sand better than what you see in Mombasa or other coastlines since the water of Lake Victoria is fresh and has no salt at all. Lake Victoria Safari Village Resort offers a magnificent honeymoon suite in its lighthouse facing the Lake shore and this offers a fantastic sunsets. The beaches have no beach boys as such safety is guaranteed. In other parts of this West Coast, the sandy beaches are cropped with the Palm Trees and in the neighborhood, you will locate the defunct Takawiri Island Resort which has not been in operation for about 10 years. At its shore, the sandy beach at this resort offers a fantastic walking and swimming experience.

Reaching there
Victoria Safaris will take you to the West Coast of Kenya. A journey to the West Coast of Kenya starts from Kisumu City by either road, Lake or by Flight.

By Road
This starts from Kisumu City through to Ndori and consequently to Lwanda K'Otieno Beach where you will have to take the famous Mbita Ferry for 45 minutes before you reach Mbita Point. The other route by road is from Kisumu City past Katito Junction through to Kendu Bay then to Homa Bay and consequently to Rongo and then to Mbita Point. The former is fully tarmacked anew while the latter is under construction.

By Air
For up-market clients, flights are taken from Nairobi, Masai Mara or elsewhere and the airstrips are at Mfangano Island and Rusinga Island. There are two luxury lodges in each of these two islands which can take the up-market clients.

By Lake
From Kisumu City, Dunga beach, one can take a boat ride across the Gulf to Mbita Point which offers a boat adventure trip. The trip takes at least 3 hours depending on the horsepower of the boat engine.

Visitors are urged to venture into this virgin tourist circuit for discovery. Victoria Safaris offers escorted trips to this area since we know it better.