Ndere Island

Ndere Island National Park

Ndere Island is a peaceful island in Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, about 50 km from Kisumu in western Kenya. Covering 4.2 km², it was gazetted as Ndere Island National Park in 1986 and has remained uninhabited ever since. The name “Ndere” means “meeting place” in the Dholuo language.

Although you won’t find the Big Five here, the island offers beautiful grasslands, colourful butterflies, abundant birdlife, and a peaceful atmosphere. Wildlife includes impalas, African fish eagles, swifts, hippopotamuses, and Nile crocodiles.

Visiting Ndere Island

According to Luo folklore, early migrants rested on the island after travelling along the Nile Valley and decided to settle in the surrounding area. Visitors usually reach the island by boat from Kisumu, with the journey taking around two hours. Leaving before sunrise offers the best chance of spotting hippos and Nile crocodiles resting along the shoreline.

Exept from the aforementioned crocs and hippos there are no big predators on the island, yet It is only allowed to walk around the island if you are accompanied by a an armed park ranger. The reason for this is because it is a protected National Reserve and there are also flocks of baboons which can be quite dangerous if feeling threatened.

If you travel by boat from Kisumu it is a nice experience to be on the water but remember to bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and clothes/an umbrella in order to avoild getting a sun burn from sitting in the boat under the strong equatorial sun for hours. Also you should see to that the boat has safety jackets, as winds on the lake can take up during afternoon and waves can become high.