Saiwa Swamp

Saiwa Swamp National Park is located near Kitale, in the Trans-Nzoia District of the Rift Valley Province. The park's ecosystem is comprised of forest and swamp vegetation. The swamp is dominated by tall bull-rushes and sedges and is bordered by open grasslands and remnants of tropical forest including wild fig and banana trees.

At around 3 square kilometres the park is the smallest of the Kenyan parks and was established to protect the endangered sitatunga, a semi-aquatic antelope. The sitatunga has widely splayed hooves that help it to walk on top of the swamp vegetation. Small populations of sitatunga are found in wetlands across much of west and central Africa, but are not easy to see anywhere. Other wildlife species commonly found in the swamp include otter, genet cat, serval cat, marsh and white-tailed mongooses, bushbuck and several species of monkey including de Brazza’s. Over 350 different bird species have been recorded in the park.

Animal viewing and bird watching is done on foot on paths and a board walk. At various points, around the swamp, viewing platforms have been built, making it possible to look down on sitatunga as they make their way through the reeds although, all to often, they are well hidden. As usual the best time to see these antelope is first thing in the morning.

The park is off the normal tourist routes and, because it so far from most of the more popular destinations, is not somewhere we visit very often. However, for people who are visiting Western Kenya and want to try and see a sitatunga it is a must!