Mbita is a small town located in Homabay, neighboring the famous Rusinga Island. The town is on the shores of Lake Victoria in the western side of Kenya. It is home to tourist attractions such as the Ruma national park, hippo point and neighbors several beautiful islands such as Rusinga, Takawiri, Mfangano, Atego, Mbasa, Remba, Kibuogi and Ngodhe. The town is known for cultural festivals, dance and music.
Some of the places to visit include:
- Ruma National Park. The park is home to the endangered roan species. The entrance fee for Ruma national park was only 300 Kenyan shillings in December 2022. The roan marathon, an annual event is something to look out for.
- Hippo point. It is a scenic place on the shores of the lake where people to get stunning sunrises and sunsets.
- Relaxing on the beach. The mainland has access to the beaches, a good spot for visitors who are not very keen to visit the islands.
- Mbita fish market. For anyone who is looking forward to experiencing the hustle and bustle of local life, this would be a great place to visit. I ate fresh omena, a delicacy in this part of the world. Fresh omena should make it to one of the wonders of the world!! That was so yummy. Fresh fish, mostly Nile perch, tilapia, and mud fish, is also sold in the market.
- Rusinga bridge and Mbita point. This is a scenic spot for photos of not only the famous bridge, but also the lake and islands.
Numerous options exist for tourists, including hotels and guest houses. I did not get a presentable Airbnb in this part of the country. Some of the places to stay include:
- Victoria sands (Mbita)
- Mbita tourist hotel
- Shalom guest house
Some other places to town are the Winam gulf, Ndere Island, Kit Mikayi, Dunga beach, Nguge hills among others.
The beautiful Lake Victoria at night (the lights indicate the location of fishermen, they work at night)
Fish, traditional vegetables (African night shade) and ugali (made from ground finger millet)
Experiencing the beautiful luo culture: a guard for drinking water
Fresh omena for the foodies!!
Whether you are a culture, travel or food enthusiast, you are well covered.