Strictly speaking, Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret are the only cities in Kenya that receive international travelers to Kenya arriving by air. They are the only locations with international airports. However, “from a tourist point of view”, only Nairobi and Mombasa receive tourists. The town of Eldoret will come later. That means most tourists and other wildlife safari enthusiasts enter Kenya and start their safaris from Nairobi or Mombasa. Kisumu is not mentioned.
However, with a large number of international travelers active in and around Kisumu, it has become necessary to consider Kisumu, Kenya’s third largest city, as a possible safari base. Many of Kenya’s popular wildlife safari parks and cultural safari sites are also accessible from the town of Kisumu.
Safaris to the Masai Mara Reserve
Masai Mara, the world famous game reserve, is only 260 kilometers from Kisumu. You can enjoy the splendor and beauty of the Masai Mara if you have at least 2 nights off from your busy schedule. Then return to Kisumu or drop off in Nairobi if your safari is the last element of your Kenya visit and you intend to fly from Nairobi.
Safaris to Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria
From Kisumu and the surrounding areas such as Rongo and Migori, you can also visit the Rift Valley and enjoy the great scenery, wildlife, and culture. Approximately 4 hours of driving takes you to Lake Baringo. This is a 130 square kilometer freshwater lake that is located in the semi-desert district of Baringo. You can enjoy a boat trip across this lake and have a chance to see great wildlife, including crocodiles and hippos. Fishing is also possible in Lake Baringo. There is also a snake park in Baringo from where you can get a close up on the reptiles.
Further down, you can visit Lake Bogoria, located on the Ngendelel Escarpment, and marvel at the hot springs. You can boil corn or eggs in these springs. There are many birds and wildlife, including the great Kudu.
Lake Nakuru safaris
Another interesting site accessible from Kisumu and the surrounding areas is Lake Nakuru National Park. Just 200 km from Kisumu, it is home to millions of pink flamingos, fish-eating pelicans, and more than 450 species of birds. It is also a good place to see game animals such as black rhino, lion, antelope, buffalo and antelope. It is one of the best places to see the endangered Rothschild leopard and giraffe.
Safaris to Serengeti, Tanzania
Visiting the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is also an option for visitors to Kisumu. A 1-hour drive to the Sirare border post followed by another 2-hour drive to Musoma town and then drive to the Serengeti National Park. Serengeti is the oldest and most popular park in Tanzania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is famous for the annual migration when 6 million hooves, not just wildebeest, but also zebras and gazelles, march in search of fresh grass. And when the migration doesn’t take place, the Serengeti offers a spectacular display of animals: large herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephants and giraffes, and thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impla, and gazelle.
Visit to the roots of Barack Obama
Barrack Obama is the President of the United States. Can you say more? Still, it was said that the Barack Obama presidency would bring many tourists from the United States and possibly other countries to visit Kogelo. Kogelo is THE town where Barrack Obama’s father, Barrack Obama Sr., came from. Barrack’s father is buried in the village and some of his relatives, including the president’s paternal grandmother, Sarah Onyango Obama, still live in the village. You may want to visit the village of Kogelo.
It is a rural town where most of the residents still live modestly through small-scale agriculture. The village has an elementary school – Senator Obama Elementary School and a high school – Senator Obama High School. Barrack Obama Snr donated the land for both schools.