Ndere Island National Park; Nyanza Province's Secret Heaven

Ndere Island National Park is a small island of about 2.4km2 in Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, in Kenya's Nyanza Province. A nature's heaven approximately 425km west of Nairobi and 35km west of Kisumu city. Interestingly is that Ndere Island was established in 1986 to particularly provide refuge for a small population of Impala that were translocated from Kisumu''s Impala Sanctuary,which now acts as an incentive for people to visit the island.

Locals know the island as Chula Rabour, Chula  meaning island and Rabour meaning red, thus Red Island. The logic behind the naming is because the island is virtually covered with Themeda grass species, whose mature flowers are reddish in colour.The vegetation is predominantly grassland interspersed with trees and shrubs. Papyrus reeds are common along the shoreline. The island is rich in animals such us crocodiles, monitor lizards, hippos and a variety of fish species on the shores while on land, impalas, baboons, vervet monkeys , sitatunga antelope, reptiles, birds with over 70 recorded species and butterflies.

What to see and do?
1. The rolling Homa Hill and Beyond
2. Realm for Bird Watchers
3. Boat Rides

4. Sport fishing and game viewing

Where to stay?
There is one camp site at Ndere mainland (KWS) overlooking the island with modern amenities to compliment the campsite, however there are no lodges within the parks.
Best time to visit?
All year round!

Strange and Unusual Tour: The Island of Dolls

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to going on holiday. People enjoy hiking, camping, going for game drives or soaking on the sun by the beach. However, following a blog on Nomadic Matt's Site people are now enjoying what we would call "visits to horror islands!"

Known as “La Isla de la Munecas” in Spanish, the ‘Island of the Dolls’ is perhaps one of the creepiest tourist attractions in the world.

The story of this Island in South of Mexico City began when a hermit named Don Julian Santana moved to the island after reportedly leaving his wife for some unknown reason and decided to spend the last 50 years of his life living alone.

The tours to this creepy island came about after the death of Don Julian Santana who was found dead in 2001 by his nephew, in a canal where a little girl drowned with the “haunted” aspect of this story supposedly began when three girls once visited the island and while playing in the water, one of the girls drowned. As a result of her death, her restless spirit haunted the island. Yes, it does kind of sound like a scene from a movie but this is real. Julian, initially put up one doll to ward off this paranormal peril and help put the girls soul to rest so she could pass on to the next life. However, the “activity “of the girl’s ghost only increased with  more and more dolls being placed in the trees in an endeavor to placate the said girl’s spirit. Apparently, Julian only left the island when he was going to get more dolls. It is said that he even used to trade food for dolls. It is also said that each doll holds a portion of the girl’s spirit.

The island was on the Syfy Channel show “Destination Truth”, where a paranormal investigation team spent the night. They apparently saw apparitions and heard voices!

Now, would you like to visit this Island in Mexico?