Mfangano Island is an idyllic little spot on Lake Victoria. It is very beautiful, friendly and the ultimate place to chill out and relax on safari or at the end of your safari.
Mfangano Island lies in the eastern part of Lake Victoria, at the mouth of the Winam Gulf. Part of Kenya, it lies west of Rusinga Island. The island is 65 km² in area and rises to 1,694 m at Mount Kwitutu.
The island is home to the largest population of Olusuba or Suba people language speakers in Kenya. Olusuba is becoming rarer, in part because of intermarriage between Suba men and Luo women from the mainland, as it is traditional for children to learn "mother tongue," that is, the language of their mother. Other languages spoken on the island include Luo, Swahili, and English. Members of the Luo tribe are concentrated on the eastern side of the island, most of whom are fishermen and subsistence farmers. Some of the inhabitants of Mfangano are believed to be descendants of emigrants from the Buganda kingdom in Uganda who arrived after the controversial early nineteenth century killing of the kabaka juju.
Most inhabitants live near the water for ease in fishing and collecting the day's water supply. The water's edge of the island is quite rocky with a few black sandy shores. Transportation consists mostly walking and of boat travel in small wooden handmade boats that sometimes have a sail. There are a few bicycles now that the government cut a road that circles the island on which motorbikes can travel. The first ever car to be driven on the island's soil was on Feb 2 2007. Since then, several automobiles have been seen, and others now are used locally for transport. There is a small dirt landing strip for small planes which has now been improved to support other bigger planes. This is used mostly for tourists and mission workers.
Mfangano is also known for its ancient rock art, possibly 2,000 years old and thought to have been created by early forager-hunters, perhaps a Twa people there is also an Abasuba Community Peace Museum on the island.
Why Visit Mfangano Island, Kenya.
- Visit an idyllic little spot on Lake Victoria.
- Its beauty, friendly atmosphere and the ultimate place to chill out and relax on safari or at the end of your safari.
- Meet the rare Olusuba or Suba people found on this Island.
- Take a fishing expedition to catch some of the fish found on the lake.
- Visit the ancient rock art over 2000 years old found on the Island.
- Visit the other remote Islands near the Mfangano Island especially Ndere Island a Nature Reserve on the lake.
Featured Mfangano Island, Safari Holiday Vacation Trips
