Travel: Here are top things to do in Kisumu

Kisumu is an ideal destination for a weekend getaway given that it’s only about an hour away from Nairobi by flight, and about six hours by road. Moving around this lakeside city is also easy given the tuktuks, boda boda and taxis around. It is a good base from which to explore western Kenya, but if you’d like to stick within Kisumu County, some places you can explore include Impala Sanctuary, Abindu Caves, Kit Mikayi, Kisumu Museum, Riat Hills, Ndere Island National Park and more. One place I never miss out on is Dunga which sits right next to Lake Victoria.

This city has been undergoing reorganisation in the last few years and keeps changing every time I go to visit. We went to check out Kibuye, formerly one of East Africa’s largest open air markets, only to find that the traders there have long since been moved to neighbourhoods like Manyatta. Winmart which had everything from cyber cafes and clothing boutiques to restaurants and salons was demolished last year. The lakefront Lwang’ni eatieries which were popular for eating fish, my favourite having been Tilapia Beach restaurant, were all also demolished with a lot of the traders now having moved to Dunga Beach. Kiboko Bay Beach Resort, one of my favourite Sunday afternoon hang outs with family is also no more.

Still, some things remain the same. Jubilee Market is still the best place to go for fruits and vegetables, or to buy fish without having to drive all the way to the shores of the lake. Kisumu Sports Ground is ideal for games or recreational activities while ladies will love Lake Market for all the salons and clothing boutiques there. Oginga Odinga Street at the very center of town is bustling with stores on either side, and malls like Mega City, West End, Mega Plaza United Mall and more are also great for shopping or a catch up.

Head to Dunga for the Kisumu trio: fish, boat rides and views of the lake. If you pop into Dunga Beach at Dawn, fishermen row their brightly wooden boats back to shore as eager buyers jostle to be given first pick of the day’s catch; tilapia, Nile perch and catfish. Later in the day, fishmongers with vibrant leso tied around their waists will start setting up makeshift barbeques to roast the fish, but there are also plenty of restaurants here that you can pop into.

When it comes to ambiance, though, I prefer Le Pearl, although it can get so packed that it’s hard to get a good table sometimes. Fish here is between Sh800 and Sh1,000, served wither wet fry or deep fried, accompanied by ugali, fries or rice. There are probably other dishes on the menu…I wouldn’t know because it almost seems like a crime to come to a restaurant right on the shores and not sample the signature dish. It’s currently the rainy season in Kisumu and we were therefore unable to go out on a boat ride, but when we’ve been able to on previous visits, it’s always exciting to see hippos bobbing in and out of the water while the boat owner raps on the side of the wooden vessel with an oar to beckon to them.

Catch the sunset at Le Pearl, head to Acacia Premier’s Aqua Pool Bar for a sundowner, or, if you’re up for it, drive to Wigot Gardens on the Kisumu-Kakamega road…the views here are unrivalled.

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