5 DAYS WESTERN CIRCUIT SAFARI
Kitale Nature Conservancy
Kitale Nature Conservancy (Ndura Park ) is a private conservancy located 2 kilometers from Kitale town in Kenya along Kitale Kapenguria Road whichIt sits on a 200 hectares piece of land. This Conservancy has a botanical garden with over 800 species of indigenous trees. A biblical mountain- a unique feature that express the foundation upon which the conservancy was founded, 1.5 kilometer nature trail through a revering forest with 360 species of birds and 8 species of butterflies Also found here are De Brazza’s monkeys, a variety of caged wildlife, horses, and a collection of deformed domestic animals Kitale Nature Conservancy is excellent for camping activities, team building, hiking, bird watching, and much more. It is also a center of learning and research.
Kitale Museum
Founded on the collection of butterflies, birds, and ethnographic memorabilia left to the nation in 1967 by the late Lieutenant Colonel Stoneham, this museum has an interesting range of ethnographic displays of the Pokot, Akamba, Marakwet and Turkana people. There are also any number of stuffed dead animals shot by various colonial types, including a hedgehog and a cheetah with a lopsided face. The outdoor exhibits include some traditional tribal homesteads and a collection of snakes, tortoises, and crocodiles, plus an interesting ‘Hutchinson Biogas Unit’.
If big cats with funny heads don’t do it for you, the small nature trail that leads through some not quite virgin rainforest at the back of the museum will surely please you. It’s a good place for birdwatching, and there are lots of colobus monkeys.
Kakamega Forest
Stepping into the dense, dark jungle of the Kakamega Forest Reserve is like being transported to the Africa of ancient times. Moving through the thick canopy of this tropical rainforest, you’ll be met with the sounds of birdsong, chattering monkeys, and croaking frogs.Butterflies fill the air,creatinga feeling of intimate beauty in this hidden gem of Kenya.
The reserve, which is the last primeval rainforest in Kenya, is only a small part of a much larger forest system that once stretched across central and East Africa. Over the last few centuries, much of that forest was felled, and the land was used for tea plantations. But here in Kakamega you can still experience the abundance of the rich jungle and how it felt to walk these trails hundreds of years ago, with their immense trees, spectacular waterfalls, great mamba snakes, and giant forest hedgehogs.
This isn’t your usual safari, but an adventure into a dense and lush ecosystem where you can easily be transported by over 370 species of birds, their songs a soundtrack to guide your discovery here. In the rich forest canopy above, look for the blue-headed bee-eater, black-billed turaco, grey parrot, and hornbill with its distinct chopping sound as it soars above you. The thick groves of trees hold colobus, red-tailed and Sykes monkeys, and their cousins, the olive baboon. This is a place where you can spot Egyptian mongooses and giant squirrels. And snakes! Over 40 species, including cobras, vipers, and black and green mambas.
Filling the air all about you are about 400 species of butterflies. The Kakamega was created for walking safaris. The hiking trails here allow you to be intimate with the thick swath of nature up close. Rangers of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) can guide you on walks and activities such as birdwatching, nighttime safaris, and trips to the falls and lookout points. Another special opportunity is the chance to meet the people who have inhabited this last vestige of ancient Africa, the Luhya tribe. A cultural evening can be arranged for you to visit and learn about the legends that have sprung from this magical Kakamega Forest.
Saiwa Swamp National Park
“Sanctuary of the Sitatunga antelope’’. Nature lovers will find Saiwa Swamp National Park to be a forested paradise filled with exotic flowers, trees, and birds. The park is home to the rare and endangered semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope and serves as a preserve for the rare De Brazza’s monkey. The park’s tropical wetlands and mosaic of riverine forest, sedges, and acacia woodlands, with fringing dense rushes and grass beds, bird . Water birds such as the lesser jacana, grey heron, and African black duck can be found in the park, while the forest shelters the Narina trogons, collared and orange-tufted sunbirds, yellow bishop, Hatlaub’s marsh widow bird, and the Noisy Ross’s turacos, which are difficult to miss.
Kisumu Museum
Kisumu Museum,located in Kisumu town along the Kisumu – Kericho highway, was opened to the public in 1980. The museum stores and disseminates information on cultural and scientific issues, with an emphasis on Western Kenya. Exhibits include cultural history displays. The museum provides educational services to schools in its neighborhood. Kisumu Museum is also a hub for seminars and local seminars and workshops.
Dunga Bay
Effort has been made by the new County Government of Kisumu to reclaim the former Dunga wetlands and initiate some cool eco-tourism projects. One of the newest conservation initiatives in the area is the Dunga boardwalk, an expansive boardwalk, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism initiative funded by the French Embassy. It is the perfect destination to observe bird and marine life around the beaches of Lake Victoria. The Dunga beach area is an extensive marshland that stretches from Kisumu to the plains of Kano. It covers vast acreage, and it is encouraging to see that the county government is focused on the conservation of this ecosystem.You can see Sitatunga antelopes, birds, pythons, and in the evening while enjoying great sundowners. The boardwalk stands on top of a wetland swamp largely made up of papyrus reeds. It was built mainly from timber by a team of volunteers. You can walk on the boardwalk and experience the lushness of the marshland in a quiet and serene environment.
There is a small museum here that displays the wares and crafts made by various women’s groups around here. Many of these are traditional Luo artifacts, including musical instruments, various functional artifacts, ornaments, costumes, and many more. You can find eco-magazines and old newspapers. It provides a good window into the traditional artifacts and crafts made by the fishing communities around Lake Victoria.
The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
“A Lakeshore Walk with the Impalas”. Set on the shore of Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa, the Kisumu Impala Sanctuary is a peaceful and relaxing place to enjoy the natural beauty that abounds here. The sanctuary hosts impalas, the rare Sitatunga antelope,big cats, buffalos, giraffes, cheetahs, and several primate species. The sanctuary is also home to five campsites, all with spectacular views of Lake Victoria. Bird watching, nature walks, and glass-bottomed boat rides complement the activities available at the sanctuary.
The Saiwa Swamp National Park
“Sanctuary of the Sitatunga antelope’’. A veritable haven for nature lovers, the Saiwa Swamp National Park is the smallest National Park in Kenya covering 3 km sq. It is a forested paradise filled with exotic flowers, trees, and birds. The park is home to the rare and endangered semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope and a preserve for the rare De Brazza’s monkey. The park’s tropical wetlands and mosaic of riverine forest, sedges, and acacia woodlands, with fringing dense rushes and grass beds, are abundant with bird life. Water birds such as the lesser jacana, grey heron, and African black duck,while the forest shelters the Narina trogons, collared and orange-tufted sunbirds, yellow bishop, Hatlaub’s marsh widow bird, and the Noisy Ross’s turacos, which are difficult to miss.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Kakamega Forest
Start your tour of Kakamega Forest by taking a walk inside the vast rainforest. Experience various sightings and cool temperatures. Afterward, proceed to Kisumu. Check into your hotel, have dinner, and stay overnight.
Day 2: Kisumu Museum and Dunga Bay
After breakfast, set out to Kisumu Museum where you can experience history, wildlife species, and culture through monuments and traditional dances by the native people of the community. Then proceed to Dunga Bay where you can have a boat ride around Lake Victoria. After the boat ride, have lunch at Dunga Beach, then head to Dunga boardwalk and get to experience various sightings and visit the small museum. Afterward, head back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
After breakfast, head to Kisumu Impala Sanctuary to experience a walk around the sanctuary with abundant wildlife sightings. Spend your morning here and watch the lions being fed. Afterward, head back to your hotel for lunch and check out. Proceed down to Kitale where you will check into your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4 : Kitale Nature Conservancy & Kitale Museum
After breakfast,,ead down to Kitale Nature Conservancy to enjoy and learn about the various wildlife species and nature in which the conservancy has to offer. Spend your day here engaging in the various activities taking place. Have unch, then head out to Kitale Museum for an afternoon explorationuseum.Return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Saiwa Swamp National Park
After breakfast, check out from your hotel. Proceed to Saiwa National Park. There, you shall have a stroll and see the beauty of nature at raised observation points meant for the protection of Sitatunga, the rare swamp antelope. Afterward, you shall head back to Kitale town for your lunch, and this marks the end of your safari.
