Mfangano and Takawiri Islands are two of seven beautiful places located in Homabay county, Kenya. To get to these islands, one either takes a ferry or a boat from Mbita, next to the famous Rusinga beach. Ferries are a better option as they are more stable over the rapid currents of the lake. The ferry would first drop people in Takawiri, before proceeding to other islands such as Mfangano.
The two islands are renowned for their clear water, beautiful beaches, and amazing views of not only neighboring islands but also sunsets. Takawiri Island stands out because of its unique off-white beaches.
The photo below indicates the ferry schedule and prices as of December 2022:
Takawiri is such a small island, with only two hotels to stay: Victoria Sands and Takawiri Island Resort. The island is so small, that there is no Kenya Power electricity. It is solar powered, which was just amazing to experience. Usually, I do not pre book before my travels. When I got to this island, the hotels were fully booked, and I was not informed about the ferry schedules. However, the owner of Victoria Sands had tents and I got one. We had such an amazing bonfire where we played songs, danced to beautiful songs, and spent the night next to the lake, in our tents. That was my first unplanned camping experience, and I devoured every moment.
PS: Camping is a cheaper option for travelers as the rooms can be quite pricey. The rates for Victoria Sands are 15,000 Kenyan shillings on half board and 18,000 for full board per day during the high season. The rates are 8,000 Kenyan shillings on half board and 10,000 for full board per day during the low season.
Some of the activities to do include:
- Fishing. One could join fishermen and have an amazing time fishing. Tilapia and Nile perch are the typical fish types that would be caught by fishermen.
- Birdwatching. The islands have a variety of birds species, hence bird watching could be an amazing spot for tourists. It is common to see majestic nests of fish eagles on the shores of the lake, such an amazing experience. Atego and Ngodhe are unhabitted islands that are famous for bird watching. Avid bird watchers may want to visit these two islands, using either the ferry or boats.
- Walks around the villages. You may want to walk around villages, most of which reside on the shores of the lake. If, however safety is a concern, you may want to avoid late evening and night walks.
- Sunbathing on beaches. Life on the islands is slow, an opportunity for tourists to relax and enjoy beautiful views. Sunbathing would be an ideal spot to do, especially early morning or late evening.
- Swimming in the lake. The water is deep, and some areas have rocky surfaces. As such, people should swim with caution.
- Kayaking. Some hotels such as the Victoria sands on Takawiri Island offers Kayaking.
Mfangano Island has more hotels compared to Takawiri, mostly because it is a big island.
Some of the places to stay on Mfangano Island are:
- Governor’s camp
- Kisuri beach resort, camping is available
- Kitawi
- Mfangano lodge
- Siambi Annex
- Simabi resort
- Chill spot
I heard a lot of amazing things about the Mfangano Island Camp, famously referred to as the Governor’s Camp. However, I did not manage to get there because of my schedule. You may want to go there and experience the beautiful views at this famous location.
For people in business, I would highly recommend investing in these two islands. The islands, especially Takawiri, is very underrated.
