Saiwa Swamp National Park

We went here specifically to see birds and we were not disappointed! A nice park with an easy trail system for walking.

Saiwa Swamp was yet another glorious experience in an absolutely beautiful country.

As a volunteer with VSO Canada, I had the privilege of living and working in Eldoret, Kenya for six months in 2007. I used this opportunity to visit many regions of Kenya with friends and fellow volunteers from the UK. Kenya is a spectacularly beautiful country whose people I found to be warm and friendly. I would often find myself in discussion with westerners and Kenyans about the country’s tremendous economic potential both as a tourist destination and agriculture producer to feed western Africa. All it would take, of course, is sound financial investment, strong local leadership (and perhaps a leap of faith) – but we may be a generation away from that happening!

I set out with friends from England for the 100 kilometre trip from Eldoret to Barnley’s House, which is situated just outside Kitale. Compared to the road from Nairobi to Eldoret, which is a nightmare to drive, the trip to Kitale was excellent, and the sites along the way stunning. Barnley’s House is an ideal base for exploring Saiwa Swamp and the nearby Cherengani Hills. We had dinner in the old settler's house and slept in very comfortable tent-style accommodation (both pictured).

We spent the next day walking throughout the park. After the frantic pace of city life in Eldoret, the Saiwa Swamp was an oasis of calm and beauty. As with all of the parks I visited, including Lake Nakuru, Kakamega Forest, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria and Mount Kenya, Saiwa Swamp was without the frills that we would normally associate with many western national parks. We followed a dirt pathway around the park and marveled at the vegetation, insects, butterflies and birds. Our guidebook informed us that Saiwa Swamp was established primarily for the protection of the shy Sitatunga, which is an aquatic antelope with splayed feet. We were not disappointed: we caught site of this sometimes-elusive creature as we were preparing to end our hike.

Before returning to Eldoret, we spent the latter part of the day driving and walking through the Cherengani Hills, a spectacular way to end two fabulous days in Western Kenya.

I look forward to a future opportunity to visit this wonderful part of the world.