FASCINATING TOURIST CIRCUIT OF WESTERN KENYA

The swaying trees in the virgin forests, the breezy winds, cheeping of birds winding on the landscapes down to the waves of splashing , calm waters on the lakeshores is indeed the gem of Western Kenya. Western tourist circuit comprise of eleven counties namely Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Vihiga,Bungoma, Busia and Trans-Nzoia. Flourishing physical features in the region are marked by lakes, forested areas,mountains,hills,waterfalls and multiple rivers. Peak of mount Elgon is the highest whereas lake Victoria basin is the lowest in the Western region. The population occupational status is marked by the various tourist attractions, similarly because it is the largest contributing sector in the Kenyan economy. In the Western region fish and marine products have a presentation of the growing economy inclusive of the wetland animals. The climate is hot and tropical humid with abundance of sunlight and availability of rainfall throughout the year. Western circuit is marked with proper accessible roads, airport majorly, Kisumu International Airport, airstrips, banks, hospitals, police stations and well equipped hotels that offer accommodation services. Burrow and dive into splendors of Western Kenya....

The British explorer John Hanning Speke was first to find the lake in the 1850 and he named it after queen Victoria. Formerly known to the Arabs as 'Ukerewe' , known in Kenya as 'Nam Lolwe' meaning body of endless water and Uganda 'Nnalubaale' meaning home of the gods. The source is Nile river. It is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest in the world. The climate is humid and temperature is hot throughout the year and therefore esteemed travelers can visit at anytime. Though for the travelers who prefer the cooler seasons, it is best to visit in July to October. Lake Victoria is haven for wildlife with an array of attractions such as wetland animals(cichlid fish,sitatunga, African clawless otter and variety of birdlife. Dazzling waters of the lake is a key attraction with exciting view of the sunset along Takawiri beach. Outdoor activities are in abundance inclusive of birdwatching, fishing expeditions and an array of wildlife.

Kit Mikayi is situated in Seme village along Kisumu-Bondo highway. Behind the existence of the historic site, is an exciting tale of a man called Ngeso. He was in love with the stone that he could stay up beneath the cave of the stone whole day, and it forced his wife to take the meals to him. Instances when friends came asking out for him at home, the wife would refer them that Ngeso has gone to his first wife 'Mikayi' thus the origination of the name 'Kit Mikayi'. The stone depicts the cultural life of the Luo people that consists of the polygamous nature and the co-existent of the nuclear families. Apart from that ,the villagers consider the place sacred and when faced with hardship, they pour their woes and pray beneath the stones in order to find solutions to their problems. The site is open round the year and travelers can visit at any time.

It is known in local dialect as 'Ikhongo Murwi'. it is symbolic among the local community as natural and cultural representation of good omen. It is forty meters tall and a signification of a crying person. It is one among the major tourist attraction in Kakamega for adventurers and travelers. The site is open for visitation all year round.

Travelers best stop in Kisii is Tabaka soapstone. It is the main soapstone in Kenya. Watching and viewing carvers is the thematic attraction. The carvings are sold affordably both locally and internationally. The soapstone studios can be visited year around, however the mining sites can only be visited by the travelers during the dry seasons. The paths are slippery during the rainy season abiding by the fact that Kisii topography involve winding up and down the hills.

On the extension of lake Victoria, is a broad formation of peninsula on the Southern shore of Winam Gulf, referred to as Homa hills. It is located in Homabay county. Trails, waterfalls and hotspring are among the splendors along Homa hills. Beneath the hills is the Homa hot springs, a similar replica of Lake Bogoria, even though the evaporation leaves behind sodium , commonly known among the locals as 'bala' and it is used domestically. Best time to visit is either June to August or mid December to early April.

It is a unique landscape in Siaya county with scenery of flora and fauna at the base.Water falls from huge rock cliff to the lower ground base. It is a breathtaking scenery for trail and adventurous walks. The site is open all year around but most preferably to be visited during the sunny seasons.

Kisumu museum was officially opened in the 1980. It is the hub that stores the cultural and natural heritages of the Western Kenya. It is embedded with multiple outdoor views showcasing an array of animals such as venomous snakes, Luo homesteads,traditional clothing, and it provides educational services about the ancient times, it as well stores the magnificent site of the biggest Nile perch ever caught in Kenya. Kisumu Museum is open for visitation all year around.

Kisumu Impala Sanctuary is the only shore with impalas, that's the thematic slogan behind its coexistence. It was created majorly to keep threatened impalas, within the sanctuary is an animal orphanage to leopards, cheetah and giraffes. It offers safe grazing area for hippos too. The sanctuary offers an array of activities including bird watching, nature walk, glass bottomed boat, picnic sites embedded with camp sites, game viewing and drive. It is as well the hub for unique sitatunga antelope. The park is open for travelers all year around.

Hippo point is one amongst the epic places to engage with nature. It is the focal point for boat ride around lake Victoria and offers the best view for the lake shore. Hippos are the largest of the Africa's mammals and known to come out by night fall and graze on land, thus the rides are taken during the day. Other than the hippos, their is also an array of birds to watch at such as fish eagles and kingfishers. Hippo point is open all year around, coupled with that, the travelers who partake to enjoy the serenity, can ultimately visit the place in the evening.

Kenya's only sanctuary for roan antelope. It was established in 1966 to protect indigenous rare Roan antelope that exist nowhere else in Kenya. On the quest of the locals it was renamed Ruma national park in 1993 in remembrance of Gor Mahia, a powerful Kenyan wizard who lived on top of the hills. This park is situated at Lambwe valley in Homabay. Other wildlife animals found within the park include oribi antelopes, giraffes,water buffaloes, rhinoceros. Ruma national park also has a beautiful landscape with golden savannah, woodland and splendorous escarpment, besides that it has exceptional birdlife like the blue swallow. Ruma National Park is open for visitation all year around. Additionally for viewing an array of wildlife it is best to visit either during January to February or June to October, the dry seasons. This is because during the rainy seasons, the trucks get stuck amidst the mud thus difficulty in accessing the park.

El' Molo crocodile park is based at Uhanya beach Yimbo in Siaya county. It is an animal and nature park , it is a good destination for camping and family holidays. The park is open for visitation all year round.

It is a tropical rainforest entailing a nice scenic view for wildlife and exceptional birdlife. The forest's flora and fauna have many species related with the moist forest of the Guineo-Congolian region. It has in abundance different species of birds, butterflies, snakes like cobras and baboons. Kakamega forest is interactive in nature and it has always been mandated for walking safaris with an array of activities like birdwatching, hiking trails, trips to the falls and nighttime safaris. The forest is occasionally wet, the fact that it is a rainforest therefore the best time to visit is upon the decision made on how much rain you intend to experience, May and August are the wettest whereas December to February and April are the driest months.

Saiwa Swamp National Park is based in Trans-Nzoia county. It was created for the habitation of rare aquatic, sitatunga antelopes and preservation for De Brazza's monkey. It is the smallest national park in Kenya. The park offers splendid swamp and forest vegetation with an array of botanical safaris due to the dominancy of bulrushes and other aquatic plants. Visitation is done annually but passage problems is encountered during the wet seasons. It also offers an exciting bird watching experience amongst the Spotted Creeper birds.

Mount Elgon is the highest point in the Western Kenya circuit, situated in Bungoma county. It offers splendid wilderness. The unique aspect is that it is split by the Kenyan and Ugandan boundary. Common activities engaged by travelers include climbing ,biking and hiking. It offers an array of wilderness like buffalos, antelopes, monkeys and elephants. The best time for visitation is between June to August or December to March.

In North -Eastern corner of Lake Victoria, near Yala swamp lies Lake Kanyaboli National Reserve. It is a oxbow lake. It gives riparian sites around the shores of lake Victoria. It is also a home for papyrus birds such as papyrus canary, papyrus yellow warbler and papyrus gonolek. Major attractions at the reserve include dominancy in birdlife,vegetation,fish species and cultural sites like Ramogi hill. It is open to travelers for visitation all year around.

It is located on the shores of Lake Victoria. Historically it means' meeting point' in Luo dialect. This is because during the ancient times, it used to be stopping point for most migrants. The park is enriched with an array of wildlife, bird watching and beautiful vegetation. It also offers a splendid scenery of Homa hills, Mageta island and Kampala. The climate is humid and hot, thus it is open for visitation all year around.

Rusinga island is known for its well-preserved fossil catarrhine primates. In 1948 Mary Leakey discovered a Proconsul africanus skull on Rusinga island. It offers serene view and lawns on the shores of lake Victoria. It thrive in aquatic culture embodied with amazing birds and skies. It also hosts Tom Mboya mausoleum.

Takawiri island is located in Homabay county, and it is known for giving splendid coastal experiences by the lake. The valuables of palm trees and whitesands are all visible. It offers an array of activities like sport fishing and swimming.

Dunga beach is based in Kisumu. The core activity is boat riding. On the outskirts, it is the docking point for most fishermen and fishmongers.

It lies West of Rusinga island, Mfangano and Rusinga island are adjacent to each other. It is dominated by fishermen. It gives an inquisite attraction on fishing expeditions and variety of different species of fish.

Ramogi hill is the most adored cultural site amongst the Luo community, with the belief that the site is Holy. Ramogi hills is located in North Eastern shores of Lake Victoria basin. It was the first place that the Luo's settled in after their migration from Southern Sudan. The site got renamed after Luo's ancestral leader,popularily known for its historic attractiveness.

Thimlich Ohinga is an archeological site based in Migori county. It has a stone structure which resembles the structure of the Great Zimbabwe. It is testimonial for settlement patterns amongst the Luo community tradition along Lake Victoria basin. The stone structures signifies organized communal labor and mobilization of resources.

Simbi Nyaima is located in Homabay county,Karachuonyo area, behind its existence is a legendary story of once existed community called Simbi along the shores of Lake Victoria, it was renown for its immense wealth in fishery and available fresh waters. Amidst the wealthy community, greed and rivalry creeped in, once at a time in their festivity ewe wandered a moulnirished woman who walked hut to hut asking for food, but not a single a villager heeded to the woman's plea. Thus a curse bestowed upon the village, storm stroke the village and plunged it into a lake.

Luanda Magere was a famous warrior among the Luo community which means fierce rock', it symbolizes the mightiness of the once renown warrior. Legendary stories about his unmatched powers and stone skin has been narrated in generations. If spears and arrows were thrown towards him, the weapons bounced back. In the traditional times, Nandi's were Luo's enemies, and Luanda Magere together with his warriors defeated them over and over again. In conflict resolution terms the Nandi's gave him a beautiful wife. It was at untimely moment that the mighty warrior fell sick, being that the first wife was away from home, he called forth his Nandi wife to administer the drug to him, he ultimately unfolded the secret that she cut his shadow to administer the drug, to her surprise blood came oozing, the sneaky wife told her tribesmen the secret. On another attack, they fought relentlessly and on the verge of loosing, one of the Nandi warriors stroke the shadow and the mighty warrior fell on the ground and he turned into a rock.