Dunga Wetland Swamp Boardwalk- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Dunga Wetland Swamp Boardwalk lies roughly 10 km south of Kisumu on the shores of the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, at the mouth of the Tako (or Nyamasaria) River. The swamp covers about 500 hectares and forms part of the Dunga Swamp Key Biodiversity Area, playing a critical ecological role: filtering runoff, serving as a breeding ground for native fish species like lungfish, mudfish, and Victoria tilapia, acting as a buffer against flooding, and functioning as a carbon sink. The boardwalk project, initiated in 2015 by the Dunga Ecotourism and Environmental Community Based Organisation (DECTTA) together with local partners and international support, gives visitors a raised path through papyrus reeds and over swamp water. It hosts an outdoor wetland gallery that showcases traditional wares, musical instruments, artifacts, and information about local ecology and conservation efforts. The swamp is home to several bird species found almost exclusively in papyrus wetlands — Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Swamwarbler — and to the Sitatunga, a shy semi-aquatic antelope.