In seek of learning more about the tourist attractions in Busia County, one of Kenya’s most hidden gems in the Western region? Walk with Naicef as we get to look into the Busia County map and explore the various sub-counties in Busia, the best places to visit in Busia County, and also things to do in Busia Kenya.
To book a tour to Busia County Kenya reach out to Naicef via our contact email: [email protected] or simply call us +254799922277. Also, you may choose to;
Book The Tour Here
Did you know that Busia County is among the major getaway counties in Kenya to the neighboring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia & Somalia? For Busia County, Malaba, a town within the county, is usually the main access out of Kenya and into Uganda.
Now, here are some more quick fun facts about the place before getting into the best places to visit in Busia County, as we welcome you, our international friends, and our neighbours from Uganda. Enjoy!
Interesting Facts About Busia County
One of the amazing facts is that Yala Swamp, one of the tourist attractions in Busia County, is considered Kenya’s largest freshwater wetland, covering an area of 8,000 ha.
The Teso tribe, one of Kenya’s tribes from the Nilotic group, is among the few least noticeable communities, and they are mainly found in Busia County and a few parts, such as Bungoma County.
Tourist Attractions & Best Places To Visit In Busia County
1. Yala Swamp
Being the largest freshwater wetland in Kenya, Yala Swamp is located on the southwest border of Busia County. Being a marshy area, it is home to different wild species such as the rare Sitatunga Antelope, Papyrus Gonolek, Vervet Monkey, among others.
The swamp does serve as a filter for the waters draining into Lake Victoria, as the rivers flowing into the lake, the River Nzoia and Yala, pass through it. This thus makes it one of the best places to visit in Busia town, the county.
Check out also the guide to Saiwa Swamp National Park, home to the endangered Sitatunga Antelopes, Kenya’s smallest national park, and also our packages;
- 4 Days Western Kenya Wildlife Safari
- 4 Days Nakuru Naivasha Holiday Safari
- 4 Days Mara Amboseli Wildlife Safari Tour
- 3 Days 2 Nights Masai Mara Wildlife Safari
2. Kakapel National Museum and Cultural Centre
Kakapel National Museum, located along the Bungoma-Malaba road at Amagora, is one of the tourist attractions in Busia County, showcasing the traditions and customs of the Iteso tribe.
The centre also holds up annual Iteso Cultural Festival, making it one of the main reasons you should visit the place and seek to venture more into the Iteso culture. The place is also well-renowned for having three ancient artistic rock paintings, dating back between 2,000 to 4,000 years ago.
You may also look into our other guides to Nabongo Mumia Cultural Centre, Kapenguria Six Museum, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, which also hold epic cultural traditions of different communities in Kenya.
3. Chemeluluk Hills
Enjoy panoramic views of Mount Elgon and of Tororo Rocks in Uganda at a height of 270 meters above sea level on top of Chemeluluk Hills.
Chemeluluk hills are situated 30 kilometers off the Bungoma -Malaba road, making it one of the best places to visit in Busia County, with amazing hiking trails.
Check out also our other best hiking places in Kenya that you may also seek to venture and experience, having different rewarding views of the place and our hiking challenge packages;
- Mt Kenya 1-Day Hike
- 5 Days Mount Elgon Tour Package
- 1 Day Mt. Longonot Hike
- Ultimate Ngong Hills Package
4. Emakina Hills
Located in Nambale town in Busia, Kenya, are the Emakina hills, offering a habitat to various wild species, especially different bird species. These hills do have amazing tors, making it not only a perfect place for hiking but also a nice place for rock climbing.
5. Samia Hills
The stunning Samia hills, covering the southern part of Busia County, are among the best places to hike and enjoy the views, cutting across different regions of the area. They have been reckoned as an Important Bird Area (IBA), making it one of the amazing bird-watching paradises.
6. Sio Siteko Swamp
Located in Munongo, one of the villages in Busia County, is the Sio Siteko Swamp that spans over the Kenya-Uganda border, covering an area of 35,000 ha.
It is home to over 250 different bird species, especially the migratory ones, such as the endangered Grey-Crowned Crane, the national bird of Uganda.
Do you know your country’s national bird? Mmhhh, that’s an assignment I pose to you. Check out more about birdwatching in Kenya and also some of our birding tours in Kenya;
7. Bumbe Beach
Bumbe Beach is one of the public beaches, a hidden gem in Busia, situated in Samia Sub-county. The beach is famous for flooding multitudes during their yearly Samia Cultural Sports Festivals.
This makes it even more fascinating and wanting to wanna visit and see as the locals partake in celebrating and cheering their champions.
Seek also to look into our amazing guide to “Little Dubai,” also known called the Mambrui Sand Dunes, and our amazing itinerary to this hidden gem among other tours below;
Things To Do In Busia Kenya
1. Bird Watching
Busia County is among the best places in Kenya where you can get to explore over 300 different bird species as a result of the wetlands, such as Yala Swamp, making it a haven for most of the migratory birds.
2. Hiking
Various spots such as Emakina hills, Namenya hills, and Chelelemuk hills are among the best places to visit in Busia town Kenya, and enjoy the scenic views up there. Here are more of our hiking packages;
- 4 Days Kakamega Forest National Reserve Package
- 1 Day Forest Challenge
- Full Day Ol Donyo Hiking & Fourteen Falls
3. Rock Climbing
Who said that Hell’s Gate National Park is the only place in Kenya that is best for rock climbing? Busia County is also such an amazing place that entails different areas that have these huge boulders forming tors that you may seek to try out.
Check out also our other tour to Hell’s Gate;
4. Boat Racing
During the annual Samia Cultural Sports Festivals, people get to gather and partake in various water-related activities, and boat racing is just one of the thrilling activities.
Come and enjoy witnessing as people pedal like never just aiming to reach the finish line for the awaiting reward, or even get a chance to experience it too.
5. Fishing
Imagine enjoying the enchanting views far into the waters of Lake Victoria, as you fish for a meal. Busia County is just the place where you get to enjoy fishing with the local fishermen.
6. Swimming
Get to interact with the locals and partake in the swimming activities as they show their swimming skills in the waters of Lake Victoria.
7. Cultural Experience
Visit the cultural places such as Kakapel National Museum, and have an opportunity to meet the Teso tribe, one of Kenya’s ethnic tribes that are least noticeable, and engage in their customs as you learn.
Here are our cultural immersive tours for you;
- 3 Days Western Kenya Cultural Tour
- 3 Days Samburu Cultural Tour
- Mombasa 3-Day Package Cultural Tour
- 3 Days 2 Nights Aberdares Cultural Tour
- 3 Days Masai Mara Cultural Package
- 3 Days Amboseli National Park Culture Tour
Best Places To Stay In Busia County
Some of the amazing comfy places you can lie at while in Busia County are such as;
- Border Palace Hotel
- Lubiri Resort
- Hotel Rastopark
- The Breeze Hotel
- Farmview Hotel Busia
- Grand Brystal Comfort Inn
- The Mouse & Byte
Reach out to Naicef to make a reservation at any of these best places to stay in Busia County.
Busia County Map
Busia County Map is usually strategically situated in the Western Kenya region, along the western border of Kenya to our neighbouring country, Uganda. The county borders Kakamega County to the east, Bungoma County to the north, Lake Victoria to the southwest, and Siaya County to the southeast.
This thus makes it 467 km away from Nairobi, making it an 8 to 9-hour drive via road, a 2-hour drive from Kisumu County, and a 4 to 5-hour drive from Kampala, Uganda.
The Busia County administrative structure is usually divided into various sub-counties, constituencies, wards, and villages. The sub counties in Busia County are normally seven, with 35 wards in Busia County, 60 Locations, and 181 sub-locations.
The Sub counties in Busia County include Teso North, Teso South, Budalang’i, Butula, Nambale, Bunyala, and Matayos, which then from there they are then further divided into 10 divisions, 60 locations, and 181 sub-locations.
Conclusion
While wanting to enjoy the Western part of Kenya, Busia County is just an amazing stopover, which should be worth exploring.
Busia County is located just on the Kenya-Uganda border line, bordering Uganda to the west, Kakamega County to the east, Siaya County to the south, and Bungoma County to the north.
The sub counties in Busia County are usually seven, which are then further divided into 10 divisions, 60 different locations, and 181 sub-locations.
The Busia County map has various hidden gems and amazing things to do in Busia Kenya, such as attending the yearly Samia Cultural Sports Festivals, which you should really check out.
Various tourist attractions in Busia County include Yala Swamp (Kenya’s largest freshwater wetland), Kakapel National Museum, Samia Hills, Bumbe beach, Sio Siteko Swamp, and Emakina Hills, among others.
On the other hand, amazing things to do in Busia include bird watching, hiking, rock climbing, culture immersion, and water-related sports such as boat racing and swimming.
Some of the best hotels and the best places to stay in Busia County are such as Farmview Hotel Busia, Lubiri Resort, Hotel Rastopar, Border Palace Hotel, and The Breeze Hotel.
For a quick, curated package tour to any of the sub counties in Busia County, consider Naicef as your travel partner! Reach out to us via our contact email at [email protected] or call +254799922277. You may also;
Book The Tour Here
Check out more about the other best places to visit in the other 47 counties in Kenya, such as;
Trans Nzoia, Homa Bay, Mandera, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Bungoma, Busia, Murang’a, Siaya, Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Migori, Nyandarua, Wajir, and Turkana.
Always remember that with Naicef, the leading travel blog in Africa, Every Trip Becomes A Story.
Goodbye, guys, as I now proceed on to Uganda for yet another epic exposure, keep up for more hot-tea stories. Hahaha!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Busia County Kenya
1. What attractions is Busia County known for?
Busia in Kenya is known for various things, such as the Yala swamp, Kakapel Museum, the Uganda-Kenyan border at Malaba, the Lake Victoria beaches, and the Samia Hills, among others.
2. Which is the main tribe found in Busia County?
The place is known to be mainly inhabited by the Luhya and the Teso communities, and other tribes to be found there being Kisii, Luo, among others.
3. What are some of the fun things to do in Busia Kenya?
Hiking, boat racing, bird watching, swimming, and participating in cultural experiences such as festivals are some of the fascinating things to do in Busia Kenya.
4. What is the capital town of Busia County?
Busia town is mainly the capital of the county known to be an uprising urban town.
5. How long does it take from Nairobi to Busia?
The drive by road from Nairobi to Busia County is usually a long one and takes between 8 to 9 hours.
6. Where is Busia County located?
Busia county is located in the western region of Kenya, bordering our neighbouring country, Uganda, to the west, Kakamega county to the east, Siaya county to the south, and Bungoma County to the north.
7. How long does it take from Kisumu to Busia County?
From Kisumu to Busia, it is about a 2-hour drive, that is via road.
8. How far is it between Busia and Kampala town in Uganda?
From Busia to Kampala, it is usually a 4 to 5-hour drive, making it a 195km distance between the two.
9. Which are the best places to stay in Busia County?
Some of the comfy and relaxing best places to stay in Busia County include Farmview Hotel Busia, Hotel Rastopar, Lubiri Resort, Border Palace Hotel, and The Breeze Hotel.
