Visit West Kenya!

Mbita

Mbita, or Mbita Point as you might hear the locals call it, is almost literally at the end of Kenya. West of Mbita is just a few islands and the enormous expanse of the main body of Lake Victoria, as good as an ocean.
Life here revolves around fish and fishing. Almost everybody is involved and you'll see cooling trucks drive in and out carrying the catch to the factories in Kisumu.

What is there to see?

Apart from the absolute excitement of the road to Mbita there is plenty to see there that warrants the trip.

Fishing - Experience the hustle and bustle of a busy fishing village in Africa!
Mbita is the best (only?) basis for visiting the two large islands Rusinga and Mfangano. The former is easy to reach: just walk over the causeway.
Boat trips: Mbita is a good basis for a boat trip as described here.
Have a drink on the shores of the Lake. While a stiff breeze (much stronger than in Kisumu) will keep the mosquitoes away you can enjoy the magnificent scenery. The sunsets are great here! Don't be surprised by the 'city' of lights you'll see out on the water after dark, where you first hadn't seen anything. Those are the lights of boats fishing for omenas, a small fish that is dried and eaten in the area.

Where can I stay

A few places exist to stay. try the guesthouse of the ICIPE research station and be surprised at the high standards of the station itself almost at the end of nowhere.

How do we get there?

For Mbita the question "How do we get there?" is a crucial and ever-changing issue. There are two ways to get into Mbita:
- through Homa Bay. Reaching Homa Bay will work in all weather conditions but the worst. The road from Kendu bay is being re-done in 2007, but the remaining zsection can be bad. An alternative is the road thru Kisii and Rongo, but that is long and also not great. However, from Homa Bay the road to Mbita is at best very rocky and bumpy and might cost you a shock absorber or two. In the wet season it is worse and can only be driven by 4WD and an experienced mud driver.
- by the ferry from Luanda Kotieno on the other side of the Winam Gulf. This trip has its own page, but it suffices to say that until the road to Luanda Kotieno has been completed (work is ongoing) it is difficult to do after heavy rains.

What else is there to see nearby?

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