OKEY TOURS AND TRAVELS
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P.O.BOX 9061
KISUMU,KENYA
Mobile Phone: 0721-595953
Email: cdc_owino@yahoo.com
Most True Adventurers prefer to wander about the wilderness on thier own.
Contact us to rent a vehicle to visit all the tourist locations in the western kenya tourist circuit.
Western Kenya, can be accessed from Nairobi using the Nairobi-Nakuru-Kisumu road or by air by landing at KisumuAirport.
1. Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria, the largest of all AfricanLakes, is also the second widest freshwater body in the world. Its extensive surface belongs to the three countries; the northern half to Uganda, the southern half to Tanzania, and part of the northeastern sector to Kenya. The lake occupies a wide depression near the equator, between the East and West Great Rift Valleys, but its drainage basin is relatively small, being slightly less than three times the lake’s surface in area. The lake water is drained at a rate of about 600 m3 sec-1, at Jinja on the northern shore, into the Victoria Nile which flows northward via Lake Albert and the White Nile forming the uppermost reaches of theNileRiver.
The lake shore is highly indented, and there are many isles in the lake, some of which, especially the Sesse Group, are known for their beautiful landscape, health resorts and sightseeing places. Abundant prehistoric remains found around the lake indicate the early development of agriculture. There are a number of coastal towns such as Kisumu (Kenya), Entebe (Uganda), Bukoba, Muwanza and Musoma (Tanzania), connected with each other by ship routes and also to the cities of the Indian Ocean coast by railways. The dam constructed in 1954 atOwenFallson the Victoria Nile supplies electricity and water for various uses inUgandaandKenya.
2. Lwanda Magere Stone
The Lwanda Magere Stone inWestern Kenyathat is very popular with the visitors. This stone is named after Lwanda Magere a Luo warrior that is said to have turned into a stone after he was pierced in battle by his enemies. The Luo myth states that two warring communities, the Luos and Kipsigis, went into a fierce battle where Lwanda massacred many soldiers.
After the war a peace treaty was established and Lwanda was given a woman from the Kipsigis community whom he married. The myth continues to add that on one occasion, Lwanda fell sick and he asked his wife to put medication on his own shadow because that is where he existed. The woman passed this discovery to her community secretly and when another war broke out, a warrior took a spear and thrust it into the shadow of Lwanda and he fell and became a stone which can still be seen today.
The stone is located along theChemelil-Nandi Rd.The local people further believe that hunters who sharpen their spears on the stones wont fail to kill an animal.
3. Ramogi Hills
Ramogi hills is another popular attraction in the same region. The Luo community believe that the father of the Luo tribe (Ramogi) settled on the hills after a long, hard and tiresome journey fromUganda. This settlement region is now a forest and a big rock that lies here is believed to have been a bull that turned into a rock.The hills which are located near Kisumu city give visitors a good view of the Western Rift that includesLakeKanyaboliand the Yala swamp.
4. Kit Mikaye
Kit Mikaye, a big rock that is located offBondo Rdin Kisumu that is said to be the place where the mother of all the luo community (Mikaye) rested after a long journey from theNile. The massive rocks appear as huge columns that are piled together into huge columns that seem to defy gravity.
This place is legindary in the sense that its believed that anyone who has any problems chooses to visit this place are instantly sorted out so long as the elders sacrifice a goat at the place. The Kit Mikaye Rock Development Group manages this site and part of their plans is to create a place where visitors can refresh themselves.
5. Crying Stones
Another unique attractions inWestern Kenyaare the Crying Stones. These rocks are situated at Khayega district and have a long history with the community as they were used for conducting religious ceremonies.
6. Bullfighting in Kakamega
The Western Region inKenyais famous for the Bullfighting sport. This is an all year round event that takes place in Sigalagala near the thick Kakamega forest. The two different camps lead their bulls into an open field where the two animals lock horns and square it out for five to thirty minutes. Local jeer and cheer as they witness this event and at the same time blowing traditional horns.
Before the fight, the bulls are fed traditional beer and the two communities cheer their prize animal. This provokes the animals and they lock horns in a deadly combat to the cries and taunts of the locals until one is overpowered and the victor taken on a victory lap. The owner of the bull that wins the fight is given a cash prize. After the fight, communal celebration follows and this is an exciting spectacle to behold inKenya.
8. Kisumu museum
KisumuMuseumis located in Kisumu town along the Kisumu – Kericho highway. It was opened to the public in 1980.The museum stores and disseminates information on cultural and scientific issues with emphasis on Western Kenya. Exhibits include cultural history. The museum provides educational services to schools in its neighbourhood.
Striking features of the museum include a diverse collection of flora and fauna species. The most notable animals are reptiles and amphibians, collected from Nyanza and neighbouring provinces. A traditional Luo homestead and other traditional Luo artifacts constitute part of the exhibits the museum keeps.
Research activities also feature prominently. In recent years, the Kisumu museum has participated in multinational investigation on limnology (a scientific characteristic of fresh water lakes) of Lake Victoria conducted from the InternationalCenterfor Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) at Mbita in Kisumu.
Kisumu museum is also a gravity point for seminars and workshops both international and local.
Attached to Kisumu museum are a number of sites and monuments of historical significance including Fort Tenan, Songhor, Thimlich Ohinga andRusingaIslands.
It was built in honour and remembrance of the late Tom Mboya. This is a burial place of Tom Mboya. It has information on the family, and Luo history. Tom Mboya’s role as an international agent of Kenyan government is also presented. The transfer of this mausoleum to the care and protection of the National Museums of Kenyahas led to its proper management and conservation.
The Mausoleum will form an infrastructure of the greater museum to come on theRusingaIsland.
Kanam is situated along the shores of Lake Victoria on Homa Peninsular aroundHomaMountain. The site was gazzetted in August 1933. In 1932, Louis Leakey’s expendition discovered a fossil human mandible together with Pleistocene fauna and pebble tools in the early Pleistocene Kanam beds at Kanam West. Initially, it was thought to be australopithecine. Doubts were thrown against this specimen, and Leakey suggested that the fossil was that of Homo sapiens but later Leakey supported Sir A. Keith’s view of australopithecine. Today, they are seen to be Neanderthaloid. Recently, researchers found palaeontological bones dating between 1 and 6 million years ago at the site.
11. Obama home
Since Obama’s 4th presidential election triumph, many visitors local and international coming from all over the world have been flocking his father’s home in an attempt to understand his cultural backround in what has been known as Obama circuit
Okey Tours and Travels 