In the run up to the US presidential election, interest in the Democrat candidate Barack Obama has never been more fervent. People have been trying to find out about his family background and in particular his paternal family that originates from Kenya. The media interest has resulted in the number of tourists wanting to find out about the region has increased.

Barack Obama himself is equally enthusiastic about sharing this rich heritage, 45 miles from the industrial town of Kisumu. Locals in the Village are so keen to show the senator their support that the long brewed Senator Beer has been nicknamed Obama and the secondary school has been named Barack Obama Secondary School.

Independent Travel Company Aim4Africa has been organising tailor made holidays to the Kisumu region for many years. As well as the traditional Kenyan holiday that many people go for, more intrepid holiday makers have been tempted by some of the regions less well known ‘tourist’ attractions.

Historically Kisumu was one of the great trading centres between Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. The town is on the banks of Lake Victoria (known to be one of the great sources for the Nile). It is the main town in the Western Highlands and it is the third biggest town in Kenya.

North West of Kisumu, visitors can embrace the breathtaking Maasai Mara. This is Kenya’s finest reserve, a land pulsating with raw energy as an array of animals go about their daily lives. It is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration which takes place every year – where thousands of animals are free to roam between Kenya and Tanzania.

To the West of Kisumu is Lake Nakuru National Park. An amazing spectacle greets the visitor to this unspoilt area. When conditions are right between one and two million lesser and greater flamingos feed around the shores of the lake, together with tens of thousands of other birds.