Ruma National Park
Ruma National Park
Ruma National Park is one of Kenya’s most beautiful places to encounter nature, the park is wild and has over 400 species of birds it’s a terrestrial national park in Nyanza province in Lambwe Valley. It’s also a Sanctuary for the endangered Roan antelope.
It covers an area of 120 kilometers of mosaic landscape, golden grasslands, acacia, magnificent cliffs, balanitis trees, and riverine woodlands the park was mainly established to protect Kenya’s only Roan antelopes. Ruma National Park is bordered by the Kanyamwa escarpment to the South East, Ruhi hills in the North, and South West of Home Bay.
Ruma Valley National Park was first established as Lambwe Valley Reserve in 1966. It was later renamed Ruma, as requested by the locals. Ruma was one of Kenya’s most powerful wizards, the much-feared god Gor Mahia, who lived around the park. Surrounding the park are small-scale cultivation and pasture grasslands, positioned Kilometers from the shores of Africa’s largest inland lake with black cotton clay soils.
Activities at Ruma National Park
Game viewing
Ruma National Park boats with several wildlife apart from the endangered Roan antelopes, other animals are: black rhinos, giraffes, rothchilds, Oribis, impalas, cape buffalos, levels hartebeest, vervet monkeys, bush pigs, Burchell’s zebra, honey badgers, topi, hyenas, Jackson hartebeest, olive baboons, Johor reedbucks and many others.
Bird watching
Ruma National Park is a birding destination for bird enthusiasts. Over 400 species have been recorded examples are blue swallow.
Camping
Tourists can enjoy camping at a park in one of the camping sites private or public. The Nyati campsite is special while the public campsite is the Fig Tree campsite which has camping facilities that will suit your stay at the park.
Picnics
Tourists can enjoy a packed lunch at a historical site known as Korlango, which used to be an escape site for the Kalenjin during colonial times when fighting for freedom. They used to be from the Lambwe Valley to died due to resistance to colonial rule. The Twiga picnic site is another magnificent site in the middle of the park where you can dine and enjoy a striking view of the game.
Best time to visit.
Tourists can visit the car all year round. However, the best time is from June to October and January to February.
How to get there
It is located 425 kilometers west of Nairobi, 42 kilometers from Home Bay, and 140 kilometers from Kisumu town. Fly fax flights to Home Bay can access the park. The park entrance is 42 kilometers from Home Bay the park gates are Kamato and Nyatoto
Where to stay
Tourists can stay in Oribis guest house which is within the park. Other places near the park are Karibuni Cottage, Hotel Hippo Buck, and Rusinga Island Lodge. Also, one can stay at the Bimoss Hotel, Tausi Hotel, and Lake Victoria Safari Lodge.
