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Lapped by the waters of Lake Victoria shaded by giant fig trees, and lost to the world, Mfangano Island Camp is an oasis of tranquility, an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Your first view is of beautiful tropical gardens set on a secluded bay. Lawns hug the waterline, flowerbeds and rock gardens surround the camp. Enormous boulders sit at the water’s edge, a perch for cormorants or giant monitor lizards to sun themselves.
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If all you desire is to laze in the sunshine, each room has it’s own private veranda with sun beds. Or there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied. The food’s as fresh as can be, fished from the lake (hopefully by you!) or picked fresh from the island’s vegetable gardens and orchards.
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| Fact file |
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| Location |
On the western shoreline of Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya |
Rondavels |
Very tastefully decorated thatched rooms, each with private verandah overlooking Lake Victoria (recently renovated to a very high standard)
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Number of beds |
6 rondavels (12 beds) |
Double & Twins |
4 Double rondavels and 2 twin rondavels |
Facilities |
En-suite bathroom with bath, shower, basin, flush toilet, hot and cold running water |
Electricity |
24 hours generator (220/240 volts UK plugs) |
Bar / Restaurant |
Open sitting room with bar and dining room, decorated in ethnic style with panoramic views over the lake |
Room service |
Room service on request. Tea and coffee is served in the rooms with the morning wake up call |
Swimming Pool |
Small Swimming Pool made of natural stone overlooking the lake |
Laundry |
Daily at no extra cost |
Credit cards |
Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard, American Express and Traveller Cheques are accepted
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Communication |
Radio contact with other camps and Nairobi office and a VSAT telephone |
Mfangano Airstrip |
Length 1.200 m, grass airstrip, Coordinates: S 0027.99 E 0340384 |
Member of |
Classic Safari Camps of Africa |
| Getting there |
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Scheduled flight |
Daily from Nairobi to Kisumu on Kenya Airways (45 minutes). Onwards by either charter flight (approx. 10 minutes) or road & boat transfer (approx. 3 hours) |
| Charter flights |
Daily. Duration approx. 40 minutes from any Camp in the Masai Mara followed by a boat transfer to the camp (approx. 20 minutes)
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| Road |
Drive to Mbita on Lake Victoria (approx. 6 hours from Nairobi) and be picked up there for a boat ride to camp (approx. 45 minutes) |
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| General Info |
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| Seasons |
Open throughout the year, with the exception of April and May. Peak season months August and September and 15th – 31st December. High season months January – March inclusive and June, July, October, November and 1st – 14th December. |
| Children |
Of all ages are welcome and catered for |
| Health |
Preventative Malaria medication is recommended |
| Luggage restriction |
Maximum 15 kg luggage per person in small air craft including hand luggage |
| Camp Description |
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Mfangano is situated on the unspoilt island of Mfangano in Lake Victoria and occupies an entire secluded bay on the western shores of the island. This great lake has romantic associations as the source of the River Nile, ever since explorers such as Speke and Burton came to the area at the end of the last century.
Mfangano Island Camp, a small remote hideaway, is a perfect place to combine with your safari. It is only 40 minutes charter flight from the Masai Mara followed by a relaxing 20 minutes boat ride along the tropical shoreline.
The camp is situated under ancient fig trees right by the lake shore. The six rooms all have stunning views of the lake and offer complete privacy, en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower, basin and flush toilet as well as hot and cold running water. Decorated in the ethnic style, all rooms have four poster beds and private verandas, which gives them a special charm and romance. Each room is open to the lake and offers uninterrupted views and spectacular sunsets.
At the centre of Mfangano Island Camp is a cosy sitting room and dining room, both are open to the lake shore and decorated in beautiful ethnic style. Here you can sit and listen to the waves, feel the breeze in your hair, read a book or watch the dhows on the lake. Birds sing all day long. The cormorants dive for fish or spread their wings to dry in the sun and the fish eagles call from the treetops.
The meals in Mfangano Island Camp are superb. Fresh salads and the daily catch served with freshly made crusty bread made daily and chilled wine.
The lush hillside and Camp surrounds are abundant with indigenous plants and flowers. In the early morning, fleets of multi coloured fishing boats gracefully sail past the bay, and in the evening spectacular sunsets are seen as the sun dips below the unbroken lake horizon.
Governors' Camp, by offering visits to Mfangano Island on Lake Victoria, provides a unique opportunity to see the colourful life on the lake, where enchanting Luo fishing villages have not changed in centuries. For those interested in fishing it is excellent, the bird life is unsurpassed and seeing the families of otters is an added bonus. You can also enjoy walks through lush vegetation on top of the hills or along the lake shore. For those interested in culture, there is the possibility to visit a Luo family and experience their day to day life or visit the school in the next village, one of the community projects we support. All activities are included in the rate. Mfangano Island Camp is a perfect place for nature lovers, and is particularly recommended as a relaxing retreat for honeymooners.
All meals, all activities, airstrip transfers as well as laundry is included in the price. The flight to Mfangano Island Camp is not included in price (except for our day trip offers). Please announce special dietary requirements in advance.
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Things to do
Lake Victoria
Mfangano Island Camp is a tranquil retreat on an island with no vehicles, where transport is by colourful local canoes. It offers a perfect place to relax and unwind, either at the beginning or the end of your safari.
The following excursions are available at Mfangano Island Camp:
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• Birdwatching
• Fishing for Nile Perch and Tilapia
• Cultural Walks
• Relaxing |
• Watersports
• Visit Nyakweri Primary School and Village
• Visit the caves containing pre-historic rock art
• Spa, Swimming pool, Trailwalking |
Further afield… day trip by aircraft to Kakamega Forest – one of Kenya’s premier bird watching areas.
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Bird watching on Lake Victoria
The bird life around Lake Victoria and Mfangano Island is spectacular, and over 350 different birds have been identified around Mfangano Island and Lake Victoria. Guests can join our resident ornithologist on bird watching trips both on foot and by boat around the island. It is possible to see the majestic Fish Eagles nesting in the giant fig trees along the lakeshore. Colourful Kingfishers, Bee-Eaters, Weavers and Swallows are also resident around the Camp.
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Bird watching around the Lake is exciting for both keen ornithologists and beginners as there is such a wide variety of different birds to see.
Guests at all Governors’ Camp properties are provided with our own comprehensive bird list which will help you to keep a record of all of the wonderful birds that you have seen. |
Fishing on Lake Victoria
The fishing in Lake Victoria is exciting, and both Nile Perch and Tilapia can be caught.
At Mfangano Island Camp we have a number of fishing boats, which have been well equipped for trawling for Nile Perch. The Nile Perch is the king of the lake’s fish. It can grow to 1.8 metres (6 feet) long, and weigh 140 kilograms (300 pounds). Fish of 5 to 15 kilos are regularly caught, and are delicious eating.
We have all of the necessary fishing tackle that you require, and our well-trained boatman will give you all the help that you need. |
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In the shallows there are Tilapia, which can be caught either amongst the reeds from one of our boats, or off the jetty. Casting for Tilapia at sunset, with a glass of chilled white wine, is a pleasant way to spend an evening.
Whilst you are fishing you can enjoy the bird-life resident along the lake shore, the families of otters amongst the rocks and colourful Luo fishing villages along the shore. You can then savour your freshly caught fish for lunch or dinner, prepared by our expert local chefs. |
Cultural Walks around Lake Victoria
The Luo culture and traditions are very different from those of other parts of Kenya, and staying at Mfangano Island Camp there is the possibility to sample this colourful culture.
Villages dot the shores of Lake Victoria, and the main activities are fishing and trading in Nile Perch and Tilapia. We would be delighted to arrange a trip to see our local village accompanied by a guide.
The walk to the village takes half an hour, along the |
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picturesque lakeshore. The residents here are very friendly and will happily show you around their village.
It is also possible to visit the local school, which has been re-built with the help of Mfangano Island Camp and our generous guests.
If guests feel like exploring, on a nearby island and deep in the interior are hidden caves decorated with prehistoric rock art.
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Relaxing On Lake Victoria
Mfangano Island Camp is a perfect place to relax and unwind at the end of your safari holiday around Kenya. There are no roads on the island and the pace of life here is governed by the rhythms of day and night.
During the day you can relax by the pool and enjoy the spectacle of the colourful fishing boats passing by. For a more active day you can go out on a fishing trip with the chance of catching a giant Nile Perch. |
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The bird life both around the Camp and on the Mfangano Island is stunning. Our resident ornithologist can take you on a gentle stroll along the lake shore introducing you to the varied bird life resident in the area. In the afternoon you can enjoy a gin and tonic on the deck watching the sun going down over the lake.
During the evening you will be lulled to sleep by the lapping waves. |
Water Sports on Lake Victoria
Together with the fishing and bird watching trips that we offer there is also the opportunity to enjoy a variety of water sports from Mfangano Island Camp.
We have a well-equipped ski boat with both mono and twin skis. During the early morning and lake afternoon the Lake is traditionally calm. This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a water-ski on the lake. We are also equipped with ski biscuits and bananas. These are perfect for families to enjoy. |
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Reservations and Enquiries |
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