Ndere Island National Park

Ndere Island National Park

Ndere Island National Park is a small island (4.2 km2 or 1.6 sq mi) in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria in Kenya. It was gazetted as the Ndere Island National Reserve in November 1986 and has since that time been uninhabited.

Ndere means “meeting place” in Dholuo. According to Luo folklore, early tribal migrants rested up near Ndere after their long journey south up the Nile River Valley. They found the lush shoreline so pleasing that they stayed.

Notable fauna associated with the island include African fish eagles, swifts, hippopotamus, and Nile crocodiles. About fifty impalas are also at the island.

Located on Lake Victoria, this island is a haven for birds. Covered mostly in grassland, Ndere Island provides beautiful scenic views of the Homa hills to the south. Mageta Island to the east and the glimpses of Kampala in Uganda beyond the south west horizon. The lake shore also supports a wide variety of animals including hippos, monitor lizards, Nile crocodiles, several fish species, snakes, baboons, impalas, the rare sitatunga antelopes, water bucks, zebras and warthogs. Over 100 different species of birds can be seen here including African fish eagles, black headed gonoleks and grey headed kingfishers.

Park activities

Bird watching, Corporate & Special Events, Hiking, Scenic, and also Walking.

How to get there

By road from Kisumu city:Take Kisumu- Bondo road branching left after Holo market or left at Kombewa shopping centre to the park headquarters sandwiched between Asat and Bao beach.The park headquarters is 12km away from this tarmac road.

By water from Kisumu: It will take about 45min with a speed boat direct from Kisumu city to Ndere island national park.

Attractions

The vegetation on the island is predominantly grassland; a pure stand of tall grass of the species loudentia natalensis. This grass takes a brown color when flowering; hence the top of the island is brownish (“Chula rabuor” in dholou).

The island also has indigenous tree species and also shrubs including dovyalisx, macro calyx, euclea divinorum, Carissa adulis among others.

Woodland and forest remnant are on the lower rim of the island almost as extensive as the bushland. Papyrus reeds are common features along the shoreline.

Lake shores inhabitants include hippopotamus, monitor lizard, Nile crocodile, several fish species and snakes especially pythons, puff adder, aardvark, butterflies and also vipers are also evident. We also have troops of baboons, monkeys, impalas, the rare sitatunga antelopes, water bucks, Zebras and warthogs. We have over 100 different species of birds e.g African fish eagle, black-headed gonolek, Hamerkop, and also grey-headed kingfisher.

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