Ecotourism in Western Kenya and Lake Victoria

This exciting itinerary combines the highlights of Western Kenya with the wonderland of Maasai Mara Game Park giving the traveler one of the best tours in Kenya today. Luo folk lore including the story of Lwanda Magere and Kit Mikayi are told by the local people at the sites that are traditional shrines. 
 
 
Day1 Nairobi – Kisumu 
Leave Nairobi in the morning, pass through the Rift Valley via Nakuru with a short stop over at Merica hotel for tea or refreshments and have lunch at Kericho Tea Hotel. Walk in the tea plantations then drive via Lwanda Magere (the Luo warrior who was killed and turned into a stone) continue to Kisumu for dinner and overnight stay at Sunset Hotel. 
 
Day 2 Ndere Island National Park – Kakamega Forest 
After breakfast drive to Kaloka beach, talk to the fishermen and the women fishmongers by the beach before taking a boat to Ndere Island National Park see some game and bird life. Board the boat back to Kaloka beach. Drive via Kit Mikaye (This rock is where Mikaye the mother of Luo tribe sheltered herself after along journey down the Nile) have a chat with the local leaders about the history of Kit Mikaye, drive back to Kisumu for Lunch. Kisumu tour takes you to Impala park, Kisumu Museum, Kiboko Bay and Dunga beach are optional. Drive to Kakamega arriving late evening, dinner and overnight in Kakamega. 
A monument in Kisumu 
 
Day 3 Kakamega Forest – Kisumu City 
After breakfast, drive to Kakamega forest, full day exploration of Kakamega forest in search of birds, butterflies and animals such as debraza, colobus, blue and red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. Over 30 varieties of snakes including the deadly gaboon viper, Jamesons mamba and black mamba are found here among other animals. Great and very old indigenous trees, some are hundreds of years old. Drive to Kisumu past the weeping stone of kakamega. Visit Riat hills for panoramic view of Lake Victoria and Kisumu City. Dinner and overnight at Kisumu Hotel. 
 
Day 4 Kisumu City – Homa Bay 
Leave Kisumu after breakfast, drive southwards through Ahero rice plantations in Kano plains to Odino falls, view the developments around the power generating complex. Continue to Kendu bay for lunch. Proceed to lake Simbi Nyaima for bird viewing, continue to Kanjira and Kanam hot springs and on to Homa Bay. Dinner and overnight stay at Homa bay Tourist Hotel. 
 
Day 5 Homa Bay -Rusinga Island – Mbita Point 
After breakfast, drive to Rusinga island, do a tour of the Island to the historical places including the museum (where the remains of Early man were found) by Doctor Louise Leakey, Tom Mboya Mausoleum where this accomplished nationalist cum politician was buried after his assassination on a Nairobi street in 1969. Return to Mbita for dinner and overnight stay at Lake Victoria Safari Village. 
Lake Victoria 
 
Day 6 Mbita Point- Ruma National Park – Awendo 
Depart after breakfast drive through hills and meandering road to Ruma national park with a picnic lunch, do game drive then drive out to Thim Lich Ohinga onto Gogo falls then to Awendo for dinner and overnight stay at Sony Sugar Company Guest House. 
 
Day 7 Awendo – Maasai Mara National Park 
Depart Awendo, drive through sugar plantations via Lolgorien to Maasai Mara national reserve, dinner and overnight at the lodge / campsite on the northern part of Maasai Mara. 
 
Day 8 Maasai Mara National Park 
Early pre-breakfast game drive, after breakfast with packed lunch whole day game drive to the other side of Mara to Mara Sopa lodge for dinner and overnight at lodge / campsite. 
 
Day 9 Maasai Mara National Park – Nairobi 
After breakfast, depart for Nairobi, enjoy your lunch en route, arrive in Nairobi in the evening.