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| Rusinga Island Lodge |
Kenya Tourism -- Kenya has very few competitors when it comes to diversity
and natural scenic beauty. There is so much within the country’s geographic borders
that hardworking Kenyans and visiting foreign tourists always find it difficult
to choose where to spend their limited holiday cash. Many tend to narrow their choices
between the white sand beaches at the coast and the remarkable inland game
reserves and national parks on the floor of the Great Rift Valley.
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| Photo: www.rusinga.com |
Tourism is part of
the Kenyan experience. Even riding a bus from one city to another always feels
a leisurely excursion. But if you mean to tour in the strict sense, there are
thousands of options for you. You can just decide to fly north, right into the
middle of Lake Turkana, the largest permanent desert lake in the world, to
sample what the UNESCO listed breathtaking Islands Parks have to offer or go to
Lamu Island, also UNESCO listed, to enjoy Swahili food and donkey rides in the culturally
rich narrow streets.
Mad Rush
A good number of
those living in the land-locked Nairobi County often flock to the resort city
of Mombasa to swim in the Indian Ocean and lounge at the public Jomo Kenyatta
Beach. Beer lovers always find themselves going to Naivasha and Nakuru to watch
the rift valley and its animals during the day and to drink and eat Nyama Choma
when the sun sets. Or better still, go for swimming expeditions in the hot
springs of the saline Lake Bogoria. Some of us just end riding buses back and
forth between Nairobi and Nakuru, watching the scenic Rift Valley escarpments,
valleys, and mountains.
The routine is likely to be repeated this year, save for the
few skeptics who will be swayed by the unfortunate events that have bedeviled
Mombasa for the past few months.
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| Rusinga Island Beach Front: www.theeastafrican.co.ke |
Rusinga Island
For those still undecided I will offer some help.
Instead of assigning numbers to favorite tourist spots and
rolling a dice to help you make a choice, I will ask you to accompany me to
Rusinga Island for a very special Christmas treat.
Yes! Let’s go to Rusinga Island – The little
beautiful Island in Lake Victoria…
What?
The pictures of beautiful Rusinga haven’t
convinced you?
No problem.
Here are the solid reasons
why you should join me on Rusinga Island this Christmas.
Rusinga Island is one of the few best kept tourism secrets.
For
the budget Nairobi traveler, getting to the Island means enduring long hours on
the road. Even if you took a flight to Kisumu, you will still be required to
travel by Road to Ko’otieno, passing through Ko’ogello (Obama’s ancestral village)
and spending an hour on a boat to get to the Island.
But it’s worth it.
If you
have money you may want to charter a flight from Wilson Airport or Kisumu airport
to the private airstrip on the Island. The strip is owned by World class Rusinga Island Lodge.
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| Photo: www.rusinga.com |
The 16 KM long island is located at the mouth of Winam Gulf,
along the Eastern stretch of Lake Victoria. There are several things you can do
while on the Island. For those in love with bird watching, this is the place to
be. The Island boasts of more than 369 species of birds, and most of them are
unique to the Rusinga and the adjacent bird’s island.
You are likely to be drowned in flocks of
beautiful birds – some nesting, some hovering above and others fishing and
playing in the lake.
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| Photo: www.rusinga.com |
From Rusinga you can hop to Takawiri Island which will offer
you a Diani experience with its white sand beaches and palm trees. You may want
to swim in the sky blue waters or bask on the beach front – the choice is yours.
There are several islands here,
including the scenic Mfangano which constantly reminds you of its presence.
For those interested in knowing who Tom Mboya was and how his
life came to a tragic end, you will find his Mausoleum on Rusinga Island and a willing
guide to take you through everything Tom Mboya. This include souvenirs, and
particularly the briefcase he was carrying when he was shot four decades ago in
Nairobi.
There is much more you can do on the Island. After all, fun
is what you make it, the Island will provide you with the devices you need.
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