Kisumu Impala Sanctuary is located within Kisumu city (Kenya’s 3rd largest city after Nairobi and Mombasa) and it lies on the banks of Lake Victoria covering almost 1 square kilometer.
The sanctuary was established in 1992 and in March 2010, it was branded as ‘’a lakeshore walk with impalas’’ basically due to its large numbers of Impalas.
There is a diversity number of flora and fauna both free ranging and captive and there is also over 115 species of birds which have been recorded from the sanctuary.
Currently the sanctuary creates a great opportunity for visitors to view all Africa’s big five species such as; African lions, cape buffaloes, rhinos, African leopards though only African elephants are missing out of the big five.
For visitors willing to visit the sanctuary should note that the sanctuary is open daily from 6:00am to 6:00pm and it can be entered both by foot and buy vehicles. Vehicles are kept safely and payment is only by cash.
Annually the sanctuary conducts the Kisumu Impala Conservation Boat Race event in November to help in creating awareness of wildlife especially the endangered sitatunga antelope.
The sanctuary is also home to olive baboons, impalas, vervet monkeys, hyenas, cheetahs, side-stripped jackals, leopard tortoises, and very many reptiles such as; various snake species, monitor lizards, dragon fly and others.
Frogs and butterflies also exist in the sanctuary together with many bird species including; the rescued grey parrots. It also provides an important open grazing for hippos and refuge for the threatened sitatunga antelope in the surrounding swamps.
The Park boosts a variety of interesting activities such as game viewing, bird watching, nature viewing, boat cruises and above all, the sanctuary is a key site for ecology and wildlife research and education.
The sanctuary resides a variety of accommodations where visitors to the sanctuary will camp and stay including; Impala eco-safari lodge with a 24-bed capacity and one campsite (State Lodge Campsite).
The sanctuary also comprises of four picnic sites which will offer a great experience to its visitors.
The Sundowner tower overlooks the railway trail and is a breath-taking area for sunsets on the shores of the second largest fresh water lake in the world and definitely Africa’s largest (Lake Victoria).
