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Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria Safari Village

LAKE VICTORIA SAFARI VILLAGE - LAKE VICTORIA - KENYA:
Lake Victoria Safari Village is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria in quiet and nice surroundings, 3 km from Mbita town and just inland of Rusinga and Mfangano islands.

Balmly tropical weather and the clear cool waters of Lake Victoria, make Mbita an ideal place for relaxing on the shores. Wide warm sandy beaches, perfect for swimming the fringe of the lake, surrounded by quiet fishing villages and lush green hills. The lake is ideal for exploration by boat and is regarded as Africa's finest fishing grounds. The place is a paradise for birdwatchers.

LAKE VICTORIA SAFARI VILLAGE ACCOMMODATION:
The village consists of attractive round traditional huts thatched with papyrus reeds. Each double room has its own bathroom with shower and a private veranda overlooking the lake. It is a comfortable place with a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. The perfect place to sniff the breeze, while gazing out on the lake and the islands beyond.

The Village also has a Lighthouse - a Honeymoon Suite - built on rocks next to the lakeshore.

LAKE VICTORIA SAFARI VILLAGE ACTIVITIES:
Western Kenya is one of Kenya's least known and visited regions. The area has a lot to offer visitors and is an undiscovered world of wonders. The west coast is endlessly diverse and has lush green highlands, tropical rainforests, the great expanse of Lake Victoria - the legendary source of the Nile, and much, much more. The region is home to fascinating cultures, mythology and a history that lives and breathes in sacred sites and thriving traditional festivals. Stunning landscapes, wonderful wildlife, adventures, bird watching and more all await the visitor to Kenya's west coast.

Take a safari west and embark on a journey of discovery...

The area’s birds, mammals and flora provide a wealth of interest for the visitor. Whatever your particular interest, this incredibly diverse region will be sure to provide a world of discovery.

- Fishing Trips
- Bird Watching
- Wildlife Safari
- Adventure Safari
- Specialist Safari
- Sightseeing by Boat

Fishing Trips
The lake is famous for its fishing. There is plenty of tilapia (local name is ndege), a sweet tasting local favorite caught along the lakeshores. But the real draw here is the Nile Perch (local name is mbuta), the world's largest freshwater fish. The Perch reaches massive proportions and is a formidable fighting opponent. The lakes current record is a 90 kg trophy.

Fishing trips on the lake in traditional canoes powered by an outboard engine or modern speedboats can be arranged. Local, English speaking fishermen, who know the area well, operate the boats. The chances to catch a record breaking Nile Perch, 20- 60 kg should be good. Lunch and drinks can be provided if you plan a whole days safari on the lake.

Bird Watching
For birdwatchers, the west is one of Kenya's richest regions. Visit Mbasa Islands for bird and reptile viewing. These twin islands are about an hour's boat ride from the Village. In the compound of Lake Victoria Safari Village more than 150 different species of birds have been recorded per March 2002, so the area is a heaven for birders.

Wildlife Safari
Kenya is known worldwide for its great wealth of wildlife, and western Kenya is no different. The lakeside Ruma National Park is a refugee for two very rare species of antelope, the large Roan and the tiny Oribi. The Park is about 1 - 1 ½ hours drive away. Guided tours for those who do not have a four wheel drive vehicle on their own can be arranged.

Adventure Safari
If you're looking for an active safari, western Kenya is the ideal place to mix exploration and relaxation. For the trekker, there is plenty of opportunity to strap on a pack and head for the hills.

The Gembe Hills, in the vicinity of Safari village, is ideal hill walking country, gently rising to a peak of 3957 m. There are extensive series of tracks and paths that wind through a varied landscape of semi-arid scrub, farmland and open fields. There is excellent birding and stunning views. There are no set routes, just the freedom to explore in wild, tranquil surroundings. Experienced and knowledgeable guides can be made available.

On the nearby, Mfangano Island, a high plateau towers high above the beaches. Visitors can climb a winding path that leads its way through tiny villages and rocky slopes to a magnificent viewpoint across the lake. But the reward for this relatively tough climb is more than just the view. In the shelter of a high curved overhang, a series of cave paintings, are ranged along the length of a wall.

Specialist Safari
The nearby islands offers plenty of opportunity for special interest travel. If prehistory is your interest, the islands of Lake Victoria are a treasure trove of fossils. Work on Rusinga Island has uncovered plenty of prehistoric insect, reptile and human fossils. Rusinga was the scene, in 1948, of Mary Leakey's discovery of the scull of a man's earliest ancestors- Proconsul africanus. On Mfangano Island, on one of the viewpoints in the shelter of a high curved overhang, a series of cave paintings along the length of a wall can be seen.

Sightseeing by Boat
The waters of Lake Victoria are a natural wonder, filled with shimmering shoals of tropical cichlid fish and massive Nile Perch. The green shores and islands are alive with birds and monkeys. Hippo and crocodile wallow in the shallows while the air rings with the haunting cry of the majestic Fish Eagle. There are several interesting places to visit such as bird islands, fishing villages etc. Visit local fishing villages on the islands where you can have a chat with the local people on the beach or over a drink in the village bar.

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LAKE VICTORIA:
Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world and covers 67,483 sq km. The lake is not part of the rift valley system and, at only 100 meter deep, is very wide and shallow compared to other bodies of water. Lake Victoria acts as a boundary between Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, yet international water travel between the countries is no longer possible. The only lake excursions available occur between Kisumu and ports farther south. Kenya actually owns only a tiny 3,785 sq km corner of the lake.

The lake attracted great interest from Europeans after its discovery. In 1858, John Hanning Speke was the first European to cite the vast lake as the source of the White Nile. The assertion was ridiculed until H.M. Stanley eventually proved him right in 1875. The colonial powers had hoped to open a navigable route along the Nile to the Mediterranean. Their attempts to reach Uganda across the lake were also responsible for the creation of the East African Railway and the colonization of the Kenyan Highlands.

Kisumu is the third largest town in Kenya with a population of approximately 160,000. The town was originally founded as the inland railhead of the East African Railway in 1901. Kisumu had been a busy port town since its early days, but the break up of the East African Community in 1977 coupled with the cessation of international ferry services on the lake substantially slowed the town's once bustling pace.

Kisumu boasts some interesting sites in addition to Lake Victoria. Impala Park is a game sanctuary and animal orphanage and home to the rare sitatunga antelope. Hippo Point is famed as an exceptional vantage point for viewing hippo, not to mention Lake Victoria's spectacular sunsets. Also of interest is the Kisumu Museum which features a display of local traditional customs and crafts. Outside there is a Luo homestead consisting of the husband's mud and thatch home and separate houses for each wife. The Kisumu market, one of the busiest and largest in Kenya, provides a fascinating glimpse into the day to day existence of the peoples of Western Kenya. Kisumu is probably the best place to buy Kisii soapstone carvings and the Wanachi Craft Shop near town, a local cooperative, features crafts made by local women.

There are numerous small villages around Lake Victoria of interest to the traveler. Ndunga Beach, a fishing village near Kisumu, is a wonderful place to experience the traditional lifestyle of the lake fishermen. Local villagers can be hired to provide canoe tours through the papyrus reed beds to see hippos and birds. Mfangano Island has some obscure rock paintings and a small fishing village. Ndere National Park, a 4.2 km island game park features snakes, hippos, crocodiles, sitatunga and numerous species of water bird.

Near the small town of Homa Bay is the volcano shaped Mt. Homa and Ruma National Park. This 120 sq km park encloses the Lambwe Valley. Most of the animals found here have been imported, including Kenya's only herd of roan antelope. Rusinga Island is home to an exclusive fishing camp and the tomb of Tom Mboya (1930-1969), the nationalist leader assassinated in Nairobi during the political unrest of the late 60's. Mary Leakey first put this tiny island on the map with her discovery of a 3 million year old skull belonging to Proconsul Africanus. Additional fossils were also found dating back 17 million years.

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