With its diverse range of environments, from majestic escarpments and towering cliffs to riverine woods and rolling grasslands, Ruma National Park offers unexplored natural treasures and unspoiled tranquility. Additionally, it is the last refuge for the endangered roan antelope in Kenya. Lambwe Valley Game Reserve was the name given to the park when it was created in 1966. Later, it was nicknamed “Ruma” in honor of the dreaded Gor Mahia, one of Kenya’s most formidable wizards, who resided in the park. This park, which is roughly 120 square kilometers in size, is situated in Kenya’s Nyanza Province.
Ruma is situated on the level ground of the seasonally irrigated Lambwe River Valley, which is bounded to the north by the volcanic plugs of the Ruri Hills and to the southeast by the Kanyamwa Escarpment. The birdlife of Ruma is remarkable. Another rare intra-African migrant, the internationally vulnerable blue swallow, is routinely observed in the park, which is the sole protected place in Kenya where it occurs. Blue swallows travel from their breeding sites in Southern Tanzania to Kenya in April and then leave again in September. They rely on damp grassland for both foraging and roosting. Surprisingly, there are a lot of places in the national park where one can amaze while on safari. In this post, we’ll talk about some of the main sights in Ruma National Park that will make your safari there one to remember.
The purpose of this seldom visited park is to preserve the last remaining population of the stunning roan antelope in Kenya. Although there is now some wildlife in the area, it is still rather sparse, and the animals are often very apprehensive. Although spotted hyenas and leopards are often wary and rarely observed, you may see their footprints.
Although Ruma National Park is well-known for its amazing roan antelopes, it has a wide variety of other animals. Chimpanzees, Lelwel hartebeests, and olive baboons are among the many wildlife that visitors to this fascinating Kenyan location can see. Rothschild’s giraffes, eastern black rhinoceroses, and African leopards can all be found in the park. While exploring, you may see oribis Bohor bushpigs and reedbucks. The varied landscape also includes servals, hyenas, and vervet monkeys. Ruma National Park is a sanctuary for wildlife enthusiasts looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, with cape buffalos, honey badgers’ topis, and topis wandering the grounds.
species sighting trips in Ruma National Park are unforgettable due to the park’s unique species, and the ideal times to see these creatures are during the dry season, which runs from June to October and January to February.
A diverse range of reptiles may be found at Ruma National Park, which is home to an impressive number of snake species. The African spitting cobra, the forest cobra, the python, the eastern green mamba, the black-mouthed mamba, and the puff adder are some of the snakes that live in this park. The great biodiversity of Ruma National Park is enhanced by the presence of other fascinating reptiles, like lizards, skinks, and geckos, in addition to these snakes.
One of Kenya’s top locations for birdwatching is Ruma National Park. With more than 400 bird species, the park is a great place to observe birds. Another rare intra-African migrant, the internationally vulnerable blue swallow, is routinely observed in the park, which is the sole protected place in Kenya where it occurs.
Blue swallows travel from their breeding sites in Southern Tanzania to Kenya in April and then leave again in September. They rely on damp grassland for both foraging and roosting.
Numerous exceptional bird species can also be found in Ruma National Park. There are several types among them that are both intriguing and significant to the regional ecology. Black Coucal, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Common Swift, Nyanza Swift, Little Swift, White-rumped Swift, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Black-headed Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, African Goshawk, and Shikra are an assortment of these birds.
The Harlequin Quail, Scaly Francolin, Red-necked Francolin, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Ross’s Turaco, and Bare-faced Dove are among the other bird species that call this place home. Among them are the White-browed Coucal and the go-away bird.
One of the most important historical sites in East Africa is Thimlich Oginga, a spectacular archeological site tucked away in the southern section of Ruma National Park. This intriguing location consists of a collection of stone ruins, totaling 521 buildings grouped around the picturesque Lake Victoria area.
The central enclosure of Thimlich Oginga is the main attraction and the main reason people come. This enclosure’s walls range in height from 1 to 4.2 meters and in thickness from 1 to 3 meters. These magnificent constructions are thought to be more than 550 years old. The ability and inventiveness of the people who once lived in this area are demonstrated by the builders of these remains, who used raw stones and placed them neatly without the use of cement.
The 120 square kilometer Ruma National Park is a lovely location with an amazing variety of sceneries. Large expanses of golden grasslands, towering acacia trees, striking cliffs, resilient balanitis trees, and verdant riverine woods are all present.
During a nature stroll in the park, you will observe the wide variety of trees and their dense growth. The park is a fascinating place for nature lovers because of the numerous layers of tree canopies and different kinds of grasses.
There are several lovely lodging options in Ruma National Park to suit every visitor’s preference. There are budget, moderate, and premium lodging options available here. Ruma Tourist Lodge, Hotel Hippo Buck, ACK Guesthouse, Rusinga Island Lodge, Mfagano Island, Nyati campgrounds, Golden Rays’ Resort, Ruma River Lodge, and more are a few of these lodging alternatives.
Ruma National Park is a very accessible location because it can be reached by plane or by road. The park has two primary entrances: Nyatoto Gate and Kamato Gate, which is the main gate. Upon entering, you will discover that cash is not used for payments.
Ruma National Park is accessible by road from a number of important Kenyan towns. The closest town where guests can find lodging and dining options is Homa Bay, which is adjacent to the main gate. As an alternative, you could drive from Kisumu to the park, either via Kisii or Homa Bay.
There are flights from Nairobi to Homa Bay for individuals who would rather travel by air. Kisumu International Airport, which is roughly 80 kilometers distant, is the closest airport to Ruma. After landing, getting to the park is as simple as taking a bus or hailing a cab.
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