Itinerary

Day 1

Nairobi - Kisumu:
Leave Nairobi in the morning driving through the Great Rift Valley, having a stop over at the View Point to have a breathetaking glance of the Escarpment dotted with Mount Longonot and both Lake Naivasha and the Flamingoe home - Lake Nakuru. We will drive further past Narok the Capital town of the Maasai tribe passing through the region of the famous Maasai Mara game reserve and the fertile Nandi Hills having lunch on the way to reach Kisumu City in the evening to check in at a hotel in Kisumu before you proceed to the Museum which have the Artifacts of the Luo tribe and is the second largest tribe in Kenya and the inhabitants of the Western part of Kenya. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Day 2

Kisumu:Kit Mikayi:Kisumu:
After an early breakfast, depart from Kisumu city to reach Kenya's most dramatic archaeological sites, a vast granite rock tower called Kit Mikayi. The rock is situated in Kisumu district, Maseno division, East:Seme:location,Kit:Mikayi sub-location,Kangeso village,Kadol clan. The rock which is about 70 to 80 ft tall is located 30kms Far East of Kisumu city and 1km from of Kisumu Bondo road. The sign board is on the gate of Kit Mikayi primary school then you enter through N'gop-Ngeso primary school.The legendary story behind Kit Mikayi which in Luo means the stone of the first wife is that: Long time ago,there was an old man by the name Ngeso who was in great love with the stone. He could wake up in the morning and walk in to the cave
inside the stone and stay there the whole day which could force his wife to bring him breakfast and lunch everyday. The old man became passionately in love with this stone to the extent that if somebody could ask the wife the whereabouts of the old man, the wife could answer that he has gone to his first wife (Mikayi) hence the stone of the first wife (Kit Mikayi).More further explanation about this unique stone is that according to its feature and components, the structure represents the Luo cultural polygamous family which had the first wife's house (Mikayi) built further in between on the right hand side was the second wife's house (Nyachira) while the third wife's house (Reru) was built on the left hand side of the homestead.This rock also is seen to have a nuclear family whereby the father (Ngeso) being the middle stone followed by the bulky Mikayi (first wife),then Nyachira (second wife) followed by Reru (third wife) and further in front they have the child which is representing Simba (which is the house for the first born boy in the homestead).The site since time immemorial has been a worship place and is usually being used by the Legion Maria sect and you can see the remains of lit up candles in several colors inside the cave. Inside the cave, it is believed that there is a hole in the middle of the cave which was co-joining Lake Victoria and one time an Asian dropped in and was found dead in Lake Victoria and hence the late
Dr.Robert Ouko who was the Member of Parliament for the area by then and also the former most respected Foreign Affairs Minister in Kenya ordered for the closure of that dangerous hole. After this,we will drive back to Kisumu for lunch followed by an excursion tour to nearby, Impala Wildlife Sanctuary which was opened in October 1992, to protect a herd of impala and provide safe grazing grounds for hippo from the lake. It is used as a holding point and sanctuary for 'problem' animals, such as leopard, hyena and baboon. It is close to Kisumu town and occupies less than one square kilometer.Then proceed to Dunga beach to get acquinted with the local fish trade and the repurcussions it has in Luo society and fishermen in general in regards to their social and economical empowernment. You will have an opportunity to interact with the local traders and time allowing, we can have a quick snack of fresh fried Tilapia direct from the Lake before driving back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3

Kisumu-Kakamega:
After breakfast,drive to the largest open Air Markets of Kibuye and "Chiro Mbero" to get to learn the tactics of survival among the traders and also the effects of the open Air type of Markets to the environment. Although the trade is a source of livelihood, it has an adverse effect on the environment because the City Council who are supposed to work on the clean up are not working effectively for whatever reason. Whatever the conclusion you may derive from this experience,we will depart from Kisumu to the Agricultural town of Kakamega where we will admire on the way beautiful Maize plantations, Bananas, Sweet Potatoes and Cassava e.t.c. Kakamega town is a busy trading town whereby the common means of transportation and the vibrant trade is by bicycles called Boda boda. There are numerous Boda boda traders which we would like you to have time with and get to learn the advantages and disadvantages of this trade and how the bicycle trade has brought the development sustainability for the local community although it has its adverse side effect especially in the family level. We advise you to have a ride on the boda bodas to visit the open Air Markets in Kakamega which are renown for their fresh fruits e.g Majengo, Mbale, Vihiga and Chavakali where you can buy some fresh fruits before driving to the famous Kakamega forest National reserve checking in at the Bandas for dinner and overnight.

Day 4

Kakamega full day:
Kakamega Forest National Reserve is the only tropical rainforest in Kenya, left over from past millenia when dense rain forest stretched from West Africa, across Central Africa and into the highland areas on the west and eastern walls of the Great Rift Valley. The forest has been a protected area of Kenya since its vital role in the eco-system was first recognised in 1933. The sheer size of 240 square kms and grandeur of these rainforest trees, some over a hundred years old, is impressive. The trees create a complete environment for the birds, insects, butterflies and wildlife, so plentiful in the area. The forest lies in the Lake Victoria catchment, about 50km north of Kisumu and just West of the Nandi Escarpment that forms the edge of the central highlands, the two small Nature reserves, Yala and lsecheno were established within the forest in 1967. The forest includes some of Africa's greatest hard and soft woods: Elgon teak, red and white stink woods and several varieties of Croton and Aniageria Altisima. Splendid orchids sit amongst the branches of the larger trees. Walking beneath the lush forest canopy the deep shade is pierced by flashes of colour, exotic birdcalls, the scents of wood, flower and moss. The best time to visit is all year round. There are 7 kilometers of trails with a team of ranger guides to escort visitors through the forest. The walk to Buyango Hill, the highest point in the forest, is a must for visitors. The indigenous trees lining the trails are identified on signs with their local and latin names. Butterflies and snakes normally only found in West Africa can also be seen, although visitors need have no concern about meeting them round every corner. Forest mammals include bushpig, grey duiker, civet, Sunni, clawless otters and some fascinating nocturnal game: Ground Pangolin, porcupines and the occasional leopard.Kakamega offers excellent primate viewing: Black and White Colobus are plentiful and the De Brazza Monkeys (known as 'Karasinga' in Swahili, thanks to its distinctive white beard) can be found in the adjacent Kisere forest area. Many rare species of primate are common here such as the Blue Monkey, frequently seen near the Ishiuki Falls, the Olive Baboon and the Red Tailed Monkey. After this tiring experience, we come back to our Bandas for a heavy dinner followed by a sound sleep.

Day 5

Kakamega-Kericho:
After breakfast in Kakamega at your Bandas, we will drive through to Kericho town with a drive to Kericho tea hotel/similar which was built in 1950's by Brooke Bond Tea Company and has an old World airstrip, pitch your tents, enjoy your lunch and then go for an escorted walk in the Tea Plantations. Kericho is a Tea country which has put Kenya to be the world third largest Tea producer after India and Sri Lanka. There are beautiful rolling hills carpeted in neat, bright green tea bushes as far as you can see. The climate here is perfect for Tea with rain falling almost every afternoon. Kericho was named after Ole Kericho,a Maasai Chief who was killed in the battle by the Gusii in the 19th Century.The hotel also has an optional trout fishing activity at a cost. Dinner and overnight in your tents.

Day 6

Kericho - Nairobi:
After breakfast, depart from Kericho with an overview of the beautiful Tea Plantations, the rolling hills and the breathetaking landscapes stooping on the way to interact with traders selling roasted maize, tomatoes and live domestic chicken. Picnic lunch on the way arriving in Nairobi at around 04:00pm with a transfer to the Airport for your onward flight home to end your working trip in Kenya.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Exclusive use of safari mini-van with photographic hatched roof.

Exclusions -

Visas.

Extras -

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