Kisumu museum
Kisumu museum
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4.0
98 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
33
Average
25
Poor
11
Terrible
1
Kamila N
Athens, Greece13 contributions
July 2023 • Business
At the very moment I disembarked the plane from Nairobi and looked around at the soft lift light of the setting sun, I said: "I love this place." Yes, love at the first sight. And it had not changed. I am not fond of large cities, so Kisumu was a delight after staying a week in Nairobi.
Right on the following day, I visited the Impala Sanctuary, which turned to be rather disappointing (you won't see many impalas there and other animals are caged) and the Kisumu Museum. I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibition, partly indoors, partly outdoors, supportive staff, and the typical African patience if you stay a bit longer after the closing time. The best part was the Luo people village with a group of young people performing Luo traditional dances and songs. They were amazing. Their energy and excitement made me feeling younger. They should be recording and go to a talent competition. They will win!
If you have time, I suggest going for a day boat trip on the Lake Victoria and visit the Ndere island. The whole island is a National Park, no inhabitants, quiet, serene, no sign or sound of civilisation. It's a balm for the mind and soul. I wish I could spend a week there.
Other places not far away and worth to see include the Kakamega Rain Forest and the Rondo Retreat Center with its perfectly-maintained garden, delicious coffee, tea, and cakes.
And yes, I stayed in the Milimani Beach Resort I chose as a second option but found it a place I'd like to stay again.
Right on the following day, I visited the Impala Sanctuary, which turned to be rather disappointing (you won't see many impalas there and other animals are caged) and the Kisumu Museum. I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibition, partly indoors, partly outdoors, supportive staff, and the typical African patience if you stay a bit longer after the closing time. The best part was the Luo people village with a group of young people performing Luo traditional dances and songs. They were amazing. Their energy and excitement made me feeling younger. They should be recording and go to a talent competition. They will win!
If you have time, I suggest going for a day boat trip on the Lake Victoria and visit the Ndere island. The whole island is a National Park, no inhabitants, quiet, serene, no sign or sound of civilisation. It's a balm for the mind and soul. I wish I could spend a week there.
Other places not far away and worth to see include the Kakamega Rain Forest and the Rondo Retreat Center with its perfectly-maintained garden, delicious coffee, tea, and cakes.
And yes, I stayed in the Milimani Beach Resort I chose as a second option but found it a place I'd like to stay again.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crookhamcommon
newbury, berkshire215 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
The main gallery has some interesting displays but all a bit dusty and dimly lit. The aquarium shows healthy fish but it is small and was unbearably hot. The tortoises and crocodiles were just that. The Luo village was very interesting and the dance that was put on for us was quite something. We did not go to the snake display. There are many weaver birds nesting in the grounds and watching their antics was almost worth the visit in itself.
Written 6 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen K
36 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
It was a mixture of culture of Luo people and the huts they stayed in. There was traditional dance group called The African Genre Shield. There was a little aquarium, snake park and zoo. Nice place to stop by in Kisumu.
Written 24 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
markegge
Bozeman, MT40 contributions
June 2015 • Solo
By the measuring stick of developing world museums, I'd rate the Kisumu National Museum quite highly. It's a bit eclectic--a snake park, crocodiles, an anthropological gallery, a (tiny) aquarium, and a great model Luo village. The exhibits are quite informative (you may be offered a guide, but none is needed). And, at KsH 500, this museum comes at quite a bargain, compared to most other tourist attractions in Kenya.
The museum is a bit run down, and the restrooms leave plenty to be desired. But, on balance, it's an interesting and informative museum, and a pleasant place to pass some time.
Afterwards, walk the 1km to the intersection of Komo Kenyetta Hwy and check out the vibrant Kisumu market. Buy some fruit, and walk across the street to enjoy in the Komo Kenyetta Grounds park.
The museum is a bit run down, and the restrooms leave plenty to be desired. But, on balance, it's an interesting and informative museum, and a pleasant place to pass some time.
Afterwards, walk the 1km to the intersection of Komo Kenyetta Hwy and check out the vibrant Kisumu market. Buy some fruit, and walk across the street to enjoy in the Komo Kenyetta Grounds park.
Written 21 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelDude95
Sacramento, CA163 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
Our local host took my wife and me to the Kisumu Museum. It's a sort of campus of several buildings and outdoor areas.
First we visited a building that contained taxidermy specimens of local animals, as well as artifacts and models of Luo people. It was interesting, with minimal interpretive signs. The room badly needed a thorough dusting.
Nearby is an aquarium building with small, dark tanks showing the local Lake Victoria fish.
There's a Luo family compound. A Luo family lives in a collection of small buildings. Our local host explained that there is a pattern to the placement of the buildings--the patriarch, each wife, and each son. A skilled observer can tell how many wives and sons a Luo man has just by glancing at the arrangement of buildings. If you don't have the opportunity to get out into the countryside and visit real Luo compounds (which we did in our work around Kisumu), this will give you a fine sense of how it feels, except that it's rather sterile without people living there.
Outside there are some tortoises and crocodiles to visit, and a small building showing several kinds of snakes. These are all live, unlike the stuffed critters in the first building.
This is no world-class museum, but if you have an hour or two and would like a glimpse of the human and natural history around Kisumu, this is worth a stop.
First we visited a building that contained taxidermy specimens of local animals, as well as artifacts and models of Luo people. It was interesting, with minimal interpretive signs. The room badly needed a thorough dusting.
Nearby is an aquarium building with small, dark tanks showing the local Lake Victoria fish.
There's a Luo family compound. A Luo family lives in a collection of small buildings. Our local host explained that there is a pattern to the placement of the buildings--the patriarch, each wife, and each son. A skilled observer can tell how many wives and sons a Luo man has just by glancing at the arrangement of buildings. If you don't have the opportunity to get out into the countryside and visit real Luo compounds (which we did in our work around Kisumu), this will give you a fine sense of how it feels, except that it's rather sterile without people living there.
Outside there are some tortoises and crocodiles to visit, and a small building showing several kinds of snakes. These are all live, unlike the stuffed critters in the first building.
This is no world-class museum, but if you have an hour or two and would like a glimpse of the human and natural history around Kisumu, this is worth a stop.
Written 27 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ginny442
Port Augusta, Australia110 contributions
May 2013 • Family
Kisumu is right on the banks of the Victoria Lake so is home to a variety of people but the Luo are the resident people and the museum is a great place to experience their culture from the past when you visit the mock village and read the stories written there. Also a great display of animals and cultural history with in the great Hall. It costs around $A10.00 to get in but its worth a look.
Written 4 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alsacienne
Alsace, France5,269 contributions
Jan 2012
My husband, adult son and I spent a week in Kisumu in January 2012, taking various day trips with Integritour, before returning to Nairobi with them enjoying a short Masai Mara safari en route.
Our trip to Kisumu museum was organised by Integritour and we were fortunate to have Tom as our guide - not only a keen and committed ecologist but a specialist on the Luo tribe and its customs.
Tom made the exhibits come alive, not only those relating to the Luo tribe and their way of life (including the village) but also the aquarium and the snake house.
Definitely worth a trip, but needs a guide to make it relevant to traditions that still are practiced nowadays.
Our trip to Kisumu museum was organised by Integritour and we were fortunate to have Tom as our guide - not only a keen and committed ecologist but a specialist on the Luo tribe and its customs.
Tom made the exhibits come alive, not only those relating to the Luo tribe and their way of life (including the village) but also the aquarium and the snake house.
Definitely worth a trip, but needs a guide to make it relevant to traditions that still are practiced nowadays.
Written 20 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frank Ganda
Nairobi, Kenya210 contributions
Nov 2019 • Family
Kisumu museum is such a cool place with rich history on Luo tribe culture.
Its definitely "a must see" place when visiting the lakeside region.
The place is a little bit deserted though. The team there need to do more marketing for this place to popularise it .
Its definitely "a must see" place when visiting the lakeside region.
The place is a little bit deserted though. The team there need to do more marketing for this place to popularise it .
Written 8 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray
1 contribution
July 2019 • Couples
It was enjoyable one,full of various delicacies both local and international ones.Very hospitable environment.
Written 23 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahbibo4
Nairobi, Kenya51 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
The place is awesome with rich history esp for the local community. It has traditional luo houses, a snake park,an aquarium and some traditional dancers that entertainment the guests. ...
Written 30 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, is it possible to pay with the card for museum entrance? Thank you in advance
Written 8 August 2019
@Jeremicmarija
I am not sure because I used mobile money howeve, in a park of its stature normally you are likely to get visa credit or debit/master cards facilities.
Written 8 August 2019
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