Kenya is part of what is referred to as The Great Lakes region, whose lakes are fundamental to the region's biodiversity. The lakes are found in several countries that surround the Great Lakes that include Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, and Malawi.
Of these Great Lakes, Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana are partly located within Kenya. Outside of these lakes, the country is home to 64 lakes, which constitute 9.5 per cent of Africa's lakes. A chain of eight of these lakes is found within Kenya's Great Rift Valley. None of the eight has a clear outflow.
There are other small lakes found in the country such as Lake Ellis, Lake Eyasi, Rutundu Lake, Lake Jipe, Lake Chala, Lake Kamnarok, Lake Mukunganya, Chew Bahir, and Lake Solai.
This makes travel interesting because you could plan an itinerary for visiting some of Kenya's lakes, better still, the little-known lakes of Kenya.
Kenya's lakes are to be found in almost all the 47 counties, so including them on the travel itinerary, would be an added experience. However, a lake trip, like any other travel, calls for planning to ensure that you get the best out of the trip.
Visiting some of Kenya's lakes may not be as straightforward as you might think. Some (like Lake Turkana) might need you to plan for a whole week, because seeing and enjoying the lake's key attractions, the culture of the people living around it, and its ecosystem among others might need some time - and still, you might not see everything.
On the other hand, visiting others like Lake Ellis, might cost you just a day. So before you decide to take your lake trip, do a background check, and with this information, it will be easy for you to decide how long you will stay at your destination.
Another thing you need to consider and plan for is how to get to your destination. Some lakes are found deep in forests, inaccessible terrain, bad weather, and other topographic challenges.
Some destinations are only reachable with a professional guide, while others need security planning.
For the larger lakes like Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana, two to three days are recommended, especially for a first visit. This will give you enough time to explore and see some of the key attractions in a more relaxing way.
However, if you want to see Lake Victoria from different locations - Kisumu, Homa Bay, and other shoreline towns, you should plan for at least four to five days.
If you are making your trip during accommodative weather, plan to include hiking and biking, especially if you plan to take an off-beaten path, which allows you to visit some less popular local centres and villages.
Luckily, more people are now travelling, and taking advantage of weekends and holidays to take escapades. Find out about accommodation, which could include tenting, car tenting, and backpacking or the more common hotel or Airbnb accommodation.
It is recommended to book in advance to avoid the risk of being stranded in the middle of nowhere.
