Introduction
Kisumu is Kenya’s third largest city after Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, and Mombasa, Kenya’s coastal city. It is majorly populated by the Luo tribe, the third most populous tribe in Kenya after the Kikuyus and Luhyas.
It is, however, multi-cultural as you’ll see a lot of white settlers and Indians who are known to have businesses in the city.
It is also known as the lake city being next to a section of Lake Victoria. Here are a few facts about the lake:
- It is Africa’s largest lake by area
- It is the world’s largest tropical lake
- It is the world’s second-largest fresh water lake by surface area after Lake Superior in North America
Kisumu town is also quite clean.
How to Get to Kisumu
You can either drive to Kisumu, take public transport or fly.
Kisumu is about 360 Km from Nairobi and takes about 7 to 8 hours while driving after making a couple of stops to eat lunch and stretch.
Major stop over points include view point, where you get to enjoy beautiful views of the Rift Valley escarpments, another popular point is Naivasha, where you can have some snacks, refuel and stretch, and we also have Nakuru where you can stop at the Westside Mall to grab lunch and use the facilities.
If taking a flight, you’ll spend about 40 min aboard and land at the Kisumu International Airport.
Where to Sleep
If you compare Kisumu to the other two cities, that is, Nairobi and Mombasa, then there is definitely room for improvement (Get the pun 🙂)
Note: Kenya has 4 cities, the fourth one being Nakuru
It’s important to have in mind that most of the hotels in Kisumu are quite old.
With that said, let’s look at some of the hotels you can consider:
- Sarova Imperial Kisumu
- Best Western Kisumu
- Imperial Hotel Express
- Pinecone Hotel
- Victoria Comfort Inn
Things to Do in Kisumu
If you are spending a couple of days here then there are a few activities that we can recommend for you to do.
They include:
Kisumu Museum
The museum shows the history of the Luos, Kalenjins and Luhyas. You get to explore how the Luos lived, how they fished as well as the tools used during battles.
Another interesting thing you get to experience is how smart they were and how they developed tools to aid their day to day lives.
You also get to see the setup Luos lived in, that is, the houses they built, where the first wife slept as they were polygamous, as well as how the wives decided where the man slept.
Opening time: They open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There is ample parking
Prices: Ksh 100 ($0.8) for Kenyan residents and Ksh 500($3.5) for non residents so it’s quite affordable. You can get a guide who you’ll pay based on your preference.
Dunga Hill Camp
Dunga Hill Camp is a popular destination not only for tourists but also for the locals. They serve great food and have great entertainment either through a DJ or a live band.
You also get to experience amazing views of Lake Victoria as well as go on a boat ride.
One person will probably spend about Ksh 1,500 ($12) to Ksh 2,000 ($16) on food and drinks.
Kisumu Yatch Club
Kisumu Yatch Club is a members club abut also allows non-members to access the place except on weekends.
Non-members pay an entrance fee of Ksh 750 ($5).
They have great food but be wary of the waiting time, especially during holidays. One can wait for 2 hours. So if you would like to get your food a bit faster, get there a bit earlier.
The irony is that you cannot experience a boat ride from the club. You would have to go to Dunga Hill Camp for that.
You can also visit malls in Kisumu, where you will find eateries such as Java, KFC, Galitos, Pizza Inn among others.
Conclusion
Kisumu is definitely a city worth visiting. From it’s stunning views of Lake Victoria, to rich showcases of heritage and culture to the amazing fish, fresh from the lake.
If you are a local, spare a few days to visit the city and if you are planning to visit Kenya, add this trip to your itinerary.
