Kisumu Impala Sanctuary - A serene setting for nature & wildlife watching
Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa, the 93-acre Kisumu Impala Sanctuary is a serene setting for enjoying Kenya’s natural beauty. The sanctuary hosts impalas and the rare Sitatunga antelope, as well as big cats, buffalos, giraffes, cheetahs, and several primate species.
Kisumu is also home to five campsites with stunning views of Lake Victoria. Birdwatching, nature walks, and glass-bottomed boat rides are just a few activities in which guests can partake here.
****Suggestion for image: A serene view of Lake Victoria with wildlife in the foreground.****
Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary - The place to spot gentle giants
Opened in October 1995 to create a corridor along an elephant migration route between Shimba Hills and Mwaluganje Forest Reserve, this sanctuary is home to as many as 150 elephants. The area comprises 95 sq. miles of rugged savannah along the valley of the Cha Shimba River.
****Suggestion for image: Elephants migrating through the savannah.****
Why is it a great spot for your clients?
Sightings of these gentle giants are guaranteed, and the reserve's relative remoteness means that your client is unlikely to have to share them with many other visitors. Mwaluganje is an ideal place for those who’ve done a few safaris elsewhere and are after a wilder, more unique experience. The arid land here means the wildlife in Mwaluganje differs slightly from that of wetter and greener Shimba Hills, particularly when it comes to the birds.
The sanctuary is an excellent example of community-based conservation, with the local people of the surrounding Mwaluganje community acting as stakeholders, and leasing their property to the community-based trust.
****Suggestion for image: Community members interacting with wildlife.****
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1972 by Hilton International in the lowlands west of Mwatate, about 130 miles from Mombasa. It is now owned and managed by Sarova Hotels, who successfully balance wildlife and human needs in an environment that, while not entirely natural, seems to work well for both.
****Suggestion for image: A panoramic view of Taita Hills with wildlife.****
What can my clients see?
There are more than 50 wildlife species and 300 species of birds here, among them lion, cheetah, elephant, and buffalo, and all the other southern plains grazers. There are cape buffalo, African bush elephant, African leopard, East African lion, Tanzanian cheetah, Masai giraffe, zebra, hartebeest, impala, waterbuck, Thomson's gazelle, lesser kudu, and dik-dik. During the drier times of the year, when the animals are not dispersed, the water sources beneath Salt Lick Lodge, on the southern side of the sanctuary, provide waterhole game-viewing, including a ground-level hide where viewing is prime.
****Suggestion for image: Wildlife gathered around a waterhole near Salt Lick Lodge.****