PRE-HISTORICAL SITES AROUND LAKE VICTORIA.

THIM LICH OHINGA ENCLOSURES
This deep forest with stones enclosed covering an area of about fifty acres. These enclosures were built five centuries ago. They were similar in construction to those in Inyanga highlands in Zimbabwe; the width of the walls varies from one and a half to two meters while they stand three meters high. This wall was built for protection against wild animals attacking people and livestock in their homes.

RAMOGI HILLS
Ramogi [the father of Luo tribe] settled here after long journey from Uganda with his people. You can visit these historical hills climb and have view of the western rift which includes lake Kanyaboli and the Yala swamp one of the biggest after the Okavango delta. At this place you can have achance to see a tree which is believed that nobody could cut down. It was named omwonyo le meaning an axe swallower it used to swallow axe when you try to cut it dow.Many witch doctors come from other African countries( Congo,DRC,Tanzania,Uganda) to take its leaves to treat people.

BUR DIMO
This is a pre- Historic site where rituals are done up to now. Dimo as the name nere is the father of the main clan that owns the land of Yimbo. This was his home where he stayed when he moved from his father’s home (Got Ramogi) The home is fenced having one house that was re built by a man from the same clan who was named after him who would speak with the spirits of Dimo and other great warriors of Luo people who died sometimes in the 15- 16 th century. Situated at the shore of Lake Victoria about two hours from Kisumu near Uhanya.Can easily accessed from Usenge by road or boat.

KANJERA HOT SPRINGS [BALA RAWI]
These are hot salty springs whose temperature is capable of preparing an egg in fifteen to twenty times. Evaporation taking place in the area leaves behind salt scum which is collected by local people and used as salt. This is the same area in which Doctor Louis Leakey recovering cranial and funeral fragments of the homids in 1932.
These were estimated to be 500years old.

RUSINGA HIGHLANDS
Here you can have panoramic view of Lake Victoria and the surrounding Island MBOYA MAUSOLEUM this is a monument in which the late Tom Mboya`s remains were laid to rest. Mboya was an accomplished nationalist cum-politician who was assassinated on 5th July 1969 at 1 pm on a Nairobi Street. The Mausoleum is built in his home in Rusinga Island. It also contained artifacts and books. From the same Island two stones resembling bulls fighting were balanced in their strength hence none could surrender. They fought all the way into the lake where they mysteriously turned into two big stones posturing as if two bulls were fighting.

NYAMGONDHO WUOD OMBARE
Situated below Gwasi Hills on an open peninsular on the shore of lake Victoria. The legendry story talks of a man called Nyamgondho who was very poor. This man lived along the shore of lake Victoria. He was poor to the extent that no woman would accept to marry him. One day as he was fishing, the catch turned out to be a woman. The woman persuaded him to take her to his home. He obliged. Nyamgondho became so rich that he started behaving like other rich men in the village to the extent that he dint respect this woman who made him riches. He married some other women after he became rich. He indulges in beer drinking, coming home the wee hours of the night. One day he quarreled the wife he fished from the lake who had in return blessed him with wealth. The woman got annoyed and left the following morning back to the lake. She was followed by co-wives, children and livestock, she went to the shore of the lake and jumped into the lake and followed by everything into the lake. The man pleaded and tried to stop the move but all was in vain. Nyamgondho stood at the shore of the lake with a great shock and died facing the lake and later turned into a tree which stands at the sport to date. This story is compared with Lots wife in Bible.

KIT- MIKAYE
According to the Luo legendry story, these famous rocks are the place where Mikaye [the mother of Luo tribe] sheltered herself after along journey down the Nile. The local people still believe that Mikaye could be spotted around this place till today. These huge stones were naturally made on top of one another leaving a cave where believed to have been the house of mikaye.

LUANDA MAGERE STONE
Along the Nyando river the grave of a great son of Luo. Luanda was a Luo warrior, it is believed that during his time he was made of stone, he could fight and nobody could kill him. One time war broke between Luo and Kipsigis tribes, Luanda as his name the rock killed very many people during these war. After the peace negotiating teams brought peace, Luanda was given a woman from the Kipsigis tribe of which he married. This woman learned and knew the secret of Luanda’s life [His life was on his shadow] one day when Luanda fell sick the woman was told by Luanda himself to treat his own shadow. The war broke out again and the woman went back to tell her people the secret of Luanda’s life. On the day he died he killed so many people before they tried what their daughter told them, finally one of the warriors threw his spear into the shadow of Luanda he fell down and died instantly after killing the person who killed him. He turned into a stone which is there till today. This is a true story. It is believed by hunters around this place that if you sharpen spear on the rock you could make a kill with it easily. This story is compared with a biblical story of Samson.

CRYING ROCKS
This is a place of ceremony where people used to go do sacrifice and pray during drought and other needs of the societies living nearby which are mainly from Luhya tribe. Climb the rocks and get the history of these rocks from local people. Situated on the western part of Kenya in Kakamega district, Kayega.

Even as the world pursues ecotourism and value added travel packages Trailfinders Africa has decided not to be left behind and consequently has developed the following programs to be additions to the popular safari packages. We are known as the sole tour company that takes you further to the Western Kenya and Lake Victoria region.

CROCODILE HUNT AND KAKAMEGA FOREST-7 Days

DAY 1: - Leave Nairobi in the morning, have lunch at Kericho. Walk in the tea plantations then drive via Lwanda Magere ( the Luo warrior who was killed and turned into a stone) continue to Kisumu for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: - After breakfast drive to Kaloka beach, take a boat to Ndere Island national park see some game and bird life. Row the boat back to Kaloka beach. Drive via Kit- Mikaye ( This rock is where Mikaye the mother of Luo tribe sheltered herself after along journey down the Nile) drive back to Kisumu for Lunch. I n Kisumu the tour takes you to Impala park, Kisumu Museum and Dunga beach (optional). Drive to Kakamega arriving late evening, dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: - After breakfast, full day exploration of Kakamega forest in search of birds, butterflies and animals such as debraza, colobus, blue and red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. Over 30 varieties of snakes including the deadly gaboon viper, Jamesons mamba and black mamba are found here among other animals. Great and very old indigenous trees, some are hundreds of years old. Drive to Kisumu for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: - Leave Kisumu after breakfast, drive southwards through rice plantations in Kano plains to Odino falls after brief stop continue to Kendu bay for lunch. Proceed to Simbi Nyaima for bird viewing in this small lake, continue to Kanjira and Kanam hot springs onto Homa bay for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: - Drive to Rusinga, for a tour of the Island to the historical places including the museum (where the remains of the first man were found) by Doctor Louise Leakey, visit Tom Mboya Mausoleum where this accomplished nationalist cum- politician was buried after his assassination on a Nairobi street. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 6: - Depart after breakfast, drive through hills and meandering road to Ruma national park with a picnic lunch do game drive [then drive out to Thim Lich Ohinga onto Gogo falls] Time permitting to Awendo or Migori for dinner and overnight
DAY 7: - Depart Awendo, drive through sugar plantations via Tabaka for[ the soapstones] you can buy if you want they are cheaper than Nairobi. Lunch enroute,arriviving Nairobi in the evening.

CULTURE EXPLORATION AND MAASAI MARA.- 9 DAYS

DAY 1 NAIROBI - KISUMU Leave Nairobi in the morning, have lunch at Kericho. Walk in the tea plantations then drive via Lwanda Magere ( the Luo warrior who was killed and turned into a stone) continue to Kisumu for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2 NDERE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK – KAKAMEGA After breakfast drive to Kaloka beach, take a boat to Ndere Island national park see some game and bird life. Row the boat back to Kaloka beach. Drive via Kit- Mikaye ( This rock is where Mikaye the mother of Luo tribe sheltered herself after along journey down the Nile) drive back to Kisumu for Lunch. Kisumu tour takes you to Impala park, Kisumu Museum and Dunga beach are optional. Drive to Kakamega arriving late evening, dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 KAKAMEGA FOREST - KISUMU -After breakfast, full day exploration of Kakamega forest in search of birds, butterflies and animals such as debraza, colobus, blue and red tailed monkeys and olive baboons. Over 30 varieties of snakes including the deadly gaboon viper, Jamesons mamba and black mamba are found here among other animals. Great and very old indigenous trees, some are hundreds of years old. Drive to Kisumu for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 KISUMU - HOMA BAY- Leave Kisumu after breakfast, drive southwards through rice plantations in Kano plains to Odino falls after brief stop continue to Kendu bay for lunch. Proceed to lake Simbi Nyaima for bird viewing , continue to Kanjira and Kanam hot springs onto Homa bay for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 HOMA BAY -RUSINGA - MBITA -Drive to Rusinga, do a tour of the Island to the historical places including the museum (where the remains of the first man were found) by Doctor Louise Leakey, Tom Mboya Mauseleum where this accomplished nationalist cum- politician was burried. After his assassination on a Nairobi street. Return to Mbita for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 MBITA- RUMA NATIONAL PARK - AWENDO -Depart after breakfast drive through hills and meandering road to Ruma national park with a picnic lunch do game drive then drive out to Thim Lich Ohinga onto Gogo falls then to Awendo for dinner and overnight

DAY 7 AWENDO -MAASAI MARA- Depart Awendo, drive through sugar plantations via Lolgorien to Maasai Mara national reserve, dinner and overnight at the lodge / campsite on the North West part of Maasai Mara.

DAY 8 MAASAI MARA- Early pre-breakfast game drive, after breakfast with packed lunch whole day game drive to the East side of Mara for dinner and overnight at lodge / campsite.

DAY 9 MAASAI MARA - NAIROBI After breakfast, depart for Nairobi, enjoy your lunch enroute, arrive in Nairobi in the evening.