last updated 2007 Aug 18 by sophy
*Travel to Suba
Travel to Suba can be challenging and long, especially with rain. There are no paved roads for a large part of the trip. Most people arrange transportation with the FACES drivers. There is often a truck or SUV going to Suba each weekend, as staff constantly rotate back and forth from Suba to Kisumu. It is possible to take public transport to Mbita, where the FACES flat is. You can take matatus from Kisumu or a matatu to
*Mbita ICIPE House
FACES housing in Mbita is at ICIPE, which stands for International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
On the islands, you will mostly be staying in Sena, where the staff generally stays. There’s a building there reserved for staff housing, and they are planning to construct a new building for housing in the summer.
*Food
Bring your own groceries! There are no large grocery stores in Suba as there are in Kisumu. There are very few vegetables aside from sukima wiki, cabbage, tomatoes and onions. The kitchen in the Mbita house is very usable for cooking your meals.
Mbita- folks like to eat at Elk Lodge in town. It’s upscale compared to other places in Suba but still very affordable.
Sindo- folks like to eat at the second restaurant to the right on the road with shops and hotelis (I forget the name). Good samaki (fish) – fresh with stew is excellent, there’s also fried fish which locals like. A meal of soda baridi (cold soda; bring your own water if you don’t want all the sugar), samaki (fish), sukima wiki, and ugali or chapatti costs 70 ksh.
Sena- the Kamakuji Restaurant/Lodge/Bar is really the only place to eat in Sena. Fortunately, it’s decent though salty. A veggie meal of beans, sukima, and chapati/ugali costs 30 ksh. For meat, add 20 ksh.
2 comments:
Travel to Suba can be a challenge but once you experience some of Kenya's other "interesting" roads you won't think it's so bad. Most residents/students find a ride with one of the FACES drivers (David and Vincent) who make frequent trips between Suba and Kisumu carrying people, packages and patients.
At it's best, it is a 3.5-4h trip on half paved, half dirt road highway. It can be a rocky adventurous ride, you're sure to get great views of the lake and change at least one puncture.
The other option is taking the ferry. Travel time is about the same and you still have some bad roads to cover, but you can enjoy the lake for a portion as well.
Where to stay:
Most visitors stay in the FACES Suba flat in Mbita which is a small town about 30minutes from Sindo district Hospital and the FACES Clinic.
The flat is located within a gated compound called ICIPE, an insect research institute that also houses a nice lake side hotel, school, and missionary clinic.
The flat is quite nice with wireless internet and t.v. with many stations including National Geographic and BBC. On days and evenings off, you can walk down to the lake and swim (if you care to risk schistosomiasis) and even borrow Jeremy's kayak.
Mbita itself is a bit dusty and run down, but with a decent restaraunt and small shops for milk, bread, rice etc. A real grocery store like you are used to is no where to be found in Suba, so pack in groceries and plan on sharing with the group.
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