Itinerary

Day 1

Nairobi - Maasai Mara.
Depart from your accommodation in Nairobi after breakfast for a journey along the floor of the Great Rift Valley with a stop over at the View Point to have a glance at the Breathe taking Escarpment with Panoramic View of Mt. Longonot. Picnic lunch enroute, and then enter Maasai Mara in the afternoon to enjoy a game drive before proceeding to the camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2

Maasai Mara Full Day.
Full day will be spent in the vast Maasai Mara in search of its renowned plain game; Black manned Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, and migration of Wild Beast and Zebras. The ride will take you to the famous Mara River where we have the Hippos and Crocodiles. This section also boasts of many species of Bird life. Dinner and overnight at the camp. Note: You can enjoy Balloon ride very early in the morning at an extra cost or a visit to a Maasai village or Nature Walk in between.

Day 3

Maasai Mara : Kilgoris - Awendo.
After an early breakfast, depart the Mara to Lolgorien to Kilgoris where we have maize and sugar plantation and the beautiful landscape of the Nandi people and on to Awendo the town which is known for its high production of sugarcane with a visit to Sony sugar factory to get to learn the process of crushing sugar before we drive to Awendo town to check in at a budget hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4

Awendo : Gogo Falls : Thim Lich Ohinga.
Depart Awendo after breakfast through beautiful Gogo falls into Thim Lich Ohinga. Thim Lich Ohinga the unique architectural stone structure situated in Nyanza province 181kms South of Kisumu in Migori district to pitch your tents and get ready for the wonder. The site lies on a gentle sloppy hill some 46kms North West of Migori town near Macalder's mines. Its exact geographical location on map is at grid reference 019 474 on sheet number 129/4. Thim Lich Ohinga is believed to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in East Africa and only compared to Great Zimbabwe ruins and the modified Great Wall of China in terms of architectural achievements. A dry stone enclosure of zigzagging walls some 150m in diameter and 1.0 to 4.2m in height built on lose stones and blocks without any dressing or mortar. Archaeological record of material found within the site goes beyond 500yrs ago. Since the present inhabitants of the area arrived probably some 3 centuries ago, it seems most likely that Bantus who initially occupied this region prior to the arrival of Luos first built the stone structures. Abundant rocks on the hilly areas provided them with building materials to meet their security requirement to drive away the wild animals and protect them from the warring tribes around that area.
Thim Lich Ohinga literally in dholuo language means “frightening dense forest or scary jungle” was occupied after the Bantus by Kabwoch Kochieng clan who drove away the Bantus then followed by Kanyamkago clan whom also subsequently were driven away by Kadem who are the present occupants of the area around Thim Lich. However, the Kanyamwa clan came also to settle here but most of them decided to move to Lambwe valley around Kakaeta in Ndhiwa. The small number remained behind around Thim Lich Ohinga. Further story is that the famous Gor Mahia who was the youngest son of Ogada who was the grandson of Ogalo the most feared wizard in Luo Land and beyond drove away his elder brothers by killing their offspring's because he was a powerful wizard which he inherited from his grandfather Ogalo although all of them were wizards. This forced Ochieng his brother to go back to Kadem and request for shelter from their cousin the chief of the small clan of Kanyamwa in Kadem, because of lack of land, Ochieng was told to settle and hide from the wrath of Gor Mahia in Thim Lich Ohinga which he also tried to repair and modify. Having seen the safety of the place, he invited his other brother Akuku who also came and settled next to Ochieng, then came Okech, then subsequently Oluoch and all this people had their homesteads next to Ochieng's. These are the last people known to have occupied this historical place before the National Museum came in to make it a great monument under its umbrella. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 5

Thim Lich Ohinga : Macalder Mines : Thim Lich Ohinga.
After breakfast, we will drive to Macalder Mines, have a walk in the compound and get to learn how the Gold processing was been done by local people before driving back to Thim Lich Ohinga for lunch, then spend the afternoon at leisure taking your notes with an optional guided Nature walk to the villages to meet the people and get to learn much more about the rich culture and tradition of the Luo people and especially the Kadem clan at a cost not forgetting the panoramic view of this virgin land and its natural status. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.Note that you can be entertained by the professional Thim Lich Traditional Dancers after dinner at a cost.

Day 6

Thim Lich Ohinga : Sori : Nyamgondho site : Sidho : Mbita.
After breakfast in Thim Lich Ohinga, drive up to the junction of Lwanda Magwar, then on to the highway dirt road to Sori, have a stop over to have a glance at the mythical stone which disappeared with no trace. Then to the right further to Karungu then to Gwasi, turn left at Kiabuya shopping centre then drive and meander over to the vintage hill to have a glance at the most scenic panoramic view of Kiwa Island which is the most busiest Island and very rich in fishing activities and also to wonder at the view of the peninsular almost 2km inside the lake pass through Nyandiwa shopping centre, then turn left to reach Nyandiwa beach where we will stop and leave the car. Walk to the legendary site of Adikinyi Nyamgondho (connoting the time and the type of fishing in dholuo) the wife of Julu son of Ombare. The legend here is there was a poor fisherman from Kamuela in Tanzania who came to sojourn in Kachwodho clan in Nyandiwa next to the present Nyandiwa fishing beach called Julu son of Ombare, grandson of Omae whom like other fishermen used Migondho kind of fishing to catch fish. Migondho was made from the fiber of sisal which was spined into a rope attached to a hook with crab as the bait to lure fish to be caught. One day, when Julu son of Ombare went to fish as usual, as he was pulling the rope, suddenly an ugly one eyed woman appeared and requested Julu son of Ombare to take her home and lit fire to make her warm as she was feeling cold. Julu son of Ombare was a very brave man and as per her request, she was taken home and apart from the fire, she lived with Julu son of Ombare and he gave her the name of Adikinyi Nyamgondho (connoting the time and the type of fishing in dholuo). Not knowing that this was luck, they started having cattle and multiplying them day by day. Julu son of Ombare became a very rich person and forgot that he was poor and hence he took to drinking and abusing the woman every other day until one time he decided to fight the woman and even said that he doesn't want an ugly woman like Nyamgondho as he had already married another woman. The lady decided to go back to the lake. Then animals in the compound started following her to the waters that even Julu son of Ombare could not stop them. The foot prints where they stepped on before jumping into the water are still there and can be seen when there is no much water on the shore.


The cowshed which was built for the cattle using the dry stone walls which has no mortars just like the ones in Thim Lich Ohinga and the ones in Lianda Tuwi can also be visited. The big tree which people believed was Julu son of Ombare watching in dismay when his wealth was going into the lake can still be seen to date. Water from this site is regarded sacred and most of the local denominations e.g. Legio Maria sect, Roho Israel e.t.c use it to sprinkle on their congregations to be blessed. After this amazing story, we return to the car pass through Nyandiwa shopping centre, turn left and drive along the beautiful scenic Lake shore to Sindo shopping centre .Drive further, still along the Lake through Gingo the shopping centre which is known for its Dagaa (smallest type of fish in Lake Victoria which is usually netted using pressure lamps at night) to reach Mbita early evening, pitch your tents, the rest of the day at leisure or an optional trek to Gembe Hills to view the Islands in Lake Victoria. Dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria safari village at the shore of the Lake.

Day 7

Mbita : Rusinga Full day.
After breakfast, leave the campsite with your picnic lunch and drive past the course way to enter the famous Rusinga Island. Rusinga is an austerely pretty island with high crags dominating the desolate goat-grazed landscape. A single dirt road is running around its circumference. Life here is difficult, drought commonplace, and high winds a frequent torment. The occasional heavy rain either washes away the soil or sinks into the porous rock, emerging lower down where it creates swamps. Ecologically, the island is in very dire straits: almost all its trees have been cut down for cooking fuel or been converted into lucrative charcoal. These conditions make farming highly unpredictable and most people rely on some fishing to make ends meet. Yet the islanders, in common with their mainland cousins, remain unfailingly friendly and cheerful bunches, who are more than happy to make contact with wayward visitors. Drive towards left from the junction, stop somewhere and then walk on foot to visit the site where Dr. Mary and Louis Leakey found the skull of Proconsul Africanus which is believed to be approximately 18 million years old and was a man earliest ancestor and so was taken to National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi where you can view it when time allows and at an extra cost. It is also believed that this is one of the first important hominid finds of this two famous people.
Besides Ligongo, a visit to sacred rock Kiangata on Rusinga Island is an avoidable. The legendary story about this rock is that, the mother of the sub clan of Wakiangata who are occupying the area went to fetch firewood around the rock and she disappeared and so it is believed that she is leaving inside this sacred rock and whenever you shout, the unique eco sound which comes out of the rock is believed to be the sound of the mother of the Wakiangata sub clan and so the common question asked in Abasuba language here is Kiangata ufubreki (Kiangata, what have you prepared for us to eat today?) then there is an echo sound which comes out of the rock. After this experience, walk back to the car and further move to Tom Mboya's mausoleum which lies on family land at Kamasengere on the north side of the island, about 7km by the dirt road from Mbita, or roughly 5km directly across the island. The mausoleum (open most days to visitors) contains various mementoes and gifts Mboya received during his life. Tom Mboya, civil rights champion, trade unionist and charismatic young Luo politician who was gunned down in Nairobi in 1969, sparking off a crisis that led to over forty deaths in widespread rioting and demonstrations.
You don't have to know anything about the man to be impressed. In any other surroundings his memorial might seem relatively modest, but on this barren, windswept shore, it stands out like a beacon. Mboya's family live right next door and are happy to see foreign visitors, who rarely come here. After the sad painful story and readings about Mboya, we will drive further past Kaswanga through the Tom Mboya memorial hospital and Tom Mboya secondary to stop at Wanyama to have a glance at the legendary rock portraying the bulls which fought into the lake and turned into two rocks facing each other. The legend about this rock is that long time ago when young men went to look after the herds, there was one common place where they could water their herds and after this, each clan could identify a bull to fight in between the clans and hence the two rocks were two bulls from Nyama and Ware clans. After this, we proceed to Lianda tuwi, the vintage point to have a glance at the central Nyanza with its Islands and then walk to the dry stone enclosures which resembles the ones at Nyamgondho's site and Thim Lich Ohinga which were portraying the houses which are believed that were used by the first settlers in this area. Also get to learn the difficulties the local people face in terms of farming as they can not use the normal tools like any other African style because the whole area is dominated by sedimentary rocks which is believed that there must be hot springs underneath which might one time erupt. Then drive back to Lake Victoria Safari Village for dinner and overnight.

Day 8

Mbita : Takawiri - Mfangano : Mbita.
After breakfast, with your picnic lunch, enjoy a ride on traditional boat with horse power engine past the two smallest Islands called Mbasa Namiyolo to reach the beautiful Island of Takawiri with very white sands and get to know how they survive and live with the traditional fishing style. This Islands of Lake Victoria are settled by Abasuba tribes who are Bantu speakers and believed to have come from Uganda more than 200yrs ago. Some of them went first to Tanzania before settling here. The name “Suba” means “the people who are always wandering”. The arrival of the Abasuba displaced the Nilotic cattle handling Luo people who moved further north. We ride further to Mfangano Island where we have the geometric rock paintings at Mawanga cave and Kwitone in the Island. It is believed that the rock art pre-dates the migration of both Nilotes and Bantus and is thought to be the work of ancestral Twa, a forager-hunter people who may have been originally related to the pygmies of Eastern Congo. Meanwhile the Abasuba long ago embraced the Art as part of their own ancient heritage. The paintings are thought to have been made between 1000 and 4000yrs ago and may have been used for rain making purposes. It is known for instance those similar paintings in Eastern Uganda only 200kms North of Suba district were used for this purpose. Rock engraving site in the area include “cupule” sites, where cup-shaped depressions have been ground into the rock surface, as well as a rock gong. Although cupule's often resembles a Bao game their original use is likely to have been for ritual purposes, such as initiation. Cupules are found all over the world and are thought to be amongst the oldest form of rock art probably predating paintings such as those Mawanga and Kwitone by thousands of years.
Rock gongs are normally free- standing boulders balanced on the living rock which have a natural resonance, and often bear a number of cupules. When the boulders are struck with a stone, they emit a ringing tone like a bitten gong. Rhythmic striking produces a series of tones that carry great distance. A number of rock gongs are found in the Lake Victoria basin and in the Moru Koppies in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park as well as in the Mt. Kenya region. Ones we reach the shore of Mfangano, we will have 5 minutes walk from the boat and then reach Mawanga. Although they were painted as part of a vanished mythology, the cave, the paintings and the surrounding area retain powers in the traditions of the Aba

Day 9

Nairobi - Maasai Mara.
Depart from your accommodation in Nairobi after breakfast for a journey along the floor of the Great Rift Valley with a stop over at the View Point to have a glance at the Breathe taking Escarpment with Panoramic View of Mt. Longonot. Picnic lunch enroute, and then enter Maasai Mara in the afternoon to enjoy a game drive before proceeding to the camp for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10

Maasai Mara Full Day.
Full day will be spent in the vast Maasai Mara in search of its renowned plain game; Black manned Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, and migration of Wild Beast and Zebras. The ride will take you to the famous Mara River where we have the Hippos and Crocodiles. This section also boasts of many species of Bird life. Dinner and overnight at the camp. Note: You can enjoy Balloon ride very early in the morning at an extra cost or a visit to a Maasai village or Nature Walk in between.

Day 11

Maasai Mara : Kilgoris - Awendo.
After an early breakfast, depart the Mara to Lolgorien to Kilgoris where we have maize and sugar plantation and the beautiful landscape of the Nandi people and on to Awendo the town which is known for its high production of sugarcane with a visit to Sony sugar factory to get to learn the process of crushing sugar before we drive to Awendo town to check in at a budget hotel for dinner and overnight.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Use of a professional English speaking driver/guide.

Exclusions -

Beverages,Laundry and Bottled Mineral water.

Extras -

{italic}{-italic}This trip is done carefully to give a participant an insight of the interior of Africa and the daily activities of the people whose civilization is improved on from their culture as they rely on their suroundings for thier daily survival. In this connotation,we encourage better tips and donnations to the locals to empower them economically. We also encourage the buying of local hand made souvenirs from the locals to make them earn a living.{-italic}