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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Lake Victoria through the lens of Kiboko Bay Resort

Money & Careers

By The Standard Sports | Mar 26, 2009

By Winsley Masese

Kisumu can be very hot. Nonetheless, the number of tourists visiting this lakeside town is increasing by day, many of them driven by curiosity and the desire to see the ancestral home of US President Barack Obama.

Along the shores of Lake Victoria, where water ripples turn golden in the sun, are a number of fun activities. The common means of public transport here include bicycle taxis (or boda boda as they are commonly known) and motorcycles or tuk tuks. I decide to take a boda boda to the shore.

The entrance of Kiboko Bay Resort. Photo: Winsley Masese/Standard

"Boss wapi?" asks the driver. I get behind him and he peddles me to Impala Wildlife where entry is guaranteed upon payment of Sh100. Inside, I’m greeted by heavy leafage, the chirping of birds and the gracious stride of the impala. Inside, the guide Hillary Otieno informs, are more caged and wild roaming animals, which include lions, baboons, silver black jackals and spotted hyenas.

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After wandering in the park, I walk down to the Lake Victoria. I’m enticed by the waves as they hit the shores and then roll back. A cool breeze flaps on fallen tree leaves. Above the ground, trees whistle musically.

Therapeutic experience

My destination is Kiboko Bay Resort so I take a boat. As we dock at the lip of the resort, I momentarily think I have been magically transported to a beach at the Coast. The resort manager, Paul Asori, quickly jerks me back to reality. "Our resort offers a rare view of the second largest fresh water lake in the world," he says.

There is also a pontoon where a visitor can take a closer look at the lake.

A dive into the deep water is dangerous so the resort has two swimming pools to appease those who love to swim. When I got there, children were enjoying themselves while the adults watched in amusement.

At the restaurant, the Resort offers both international and traditional cuisines. Not surprisingly, fish is a constant highlight. I order fried fish. As I tear into it I wonder why it costs so much at the source only a stone’s throw away. Fish here costs between Sh400-700.

Tented rooms are available for accommodation. Prices range from Sh4,000 to Sh10,000.

Besides offering sanctuary to birds, Kiboko Bay Resort is also a camp for hippos. "They come out of the water at 7am so guests can see them then," says Asori. "Afterwards, they can enjoy boat rides at the lake."

The neatly manicured lawns provide children a great playing ground. A walk along the shores of Lake Victoria is therapeutic both for the eye and soul.