Kisumu

This pleasant, sleepy town on the shores of the lake is the main town in the Western Highlands and the third biggest town in the country. In 1901 it became the administration centre of the area with the completion of the railway line from Mombassa. Kisumu had a railroad line from Mombassa and the water routes of Lake Victoria. For decades it was the hub of transport activity between the coast and Uganda and Western Tanganyika, but the splintering of the East African Community in 1977 cost it much of its business and the town seems to have been slumbering ever since.

Kisumu, although by no means the prettiest town in Kenya, does have some worthwhile places to visit. The Kisumu Museum has a variety of interesting animal exhibits, including a stuffed lion pouncing on an equally stuffed Wildebeest.

Not far from Kisumu is Hippo Point, but it apparently is not what it used to be except for the beautiful sunsets. Boat rides on Lake Victoria are fun and widely available, and you can either find one yourself (at a negotiable price) or you can go through one of the hotels. There are also some bird sanctuaries in the area, which are worth visiting, including a heronry, a pelicanry, and a sacred ibis colony.

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