Ruma National Park Kenya

“Dramatic Valley of the Roan Antelope and Oribi” A mosaic of landscapes, ranging from riverine woodland and rolling savannah to magnificent escarpments and towering cliffs, Ruma national park Kenya promises undiscovered wildlife treasures and undisturbed peace. It is also Kenya’s last remaining sanctuary for the endangered roan antelope. Ruma lies on the flat floor of the seasonally watered Lambwe River Valley bordered by the Kanyamwa Escarpment to the South-East, and by the volcanic plugs of the Ruri Hills to the north. Ruma’s birdlife is exceptional. The park is also the only protected area in Kenya where the globally threatened blue swallow, a scarce intra-African migrant, is regularly recorded. Blue swallows, which depend upon moist grassland for both feeding and roosting, arrive in Kenya from their breeding grounds in Southern Tanzania around April and depart again in September.

Ruma national park western province of Kenya is famous for the largest lake in Africa Lake Victoria and the extensive fishing carried therein. However, Ruma National park Kenya is slowly changing this perception with its determined effort to preserve the rare roan antelope and further put Kisumu on the world map.

The park lies in Lambwe River Valley flat floor bordering Kanyamwa escarpments, Ruri Hills, Sumba Hills, and Gwassi Hills

Ruma national park is home to over 400 bird species of which include Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, and African Green-Pigeon, African Sacred Ibis and Hadada Ibis, common bull, red-billed oxpeckers, Red-necked francolin, Black-billed Turaco.

The park is an arc to Rothschild’s giraffe; this is the largest of all giraffes and is easily seen in large herds feeding on treetops.

Besides the endangered roan antelope, Ruma national park Kenya is also home to the African leopards, hippos, eastern black rhinos, lechwe hartebeest, oribis, cape buffaloes, olive baboons, Bohor, reedbucks, hyenas, servals hone badgers, bush pigs, monkeys, Topis among others. The park is also home to over 400 species of birds. Ruma national park is actually very rich in wildlife giving rise to several activities.

Size of Ruma national park

Ruma National Park is a small, rarely visited national park on the west of Kenya, close to Homa Bay and the shores of Lake Victoria. At only 120 sq. km in size, it is a protected park for both Black and White Rhino and is also home to the Roan Antelope and tiny Oribi.

Location of Ruma national park

Ruma National Park lies in Western Kenya, close to the shores of Lake Victoria. An island of wilderness in a sea of intense cultivation, the Park is situated in one of the most productive and populous regions in Kenya and is one of the country’s more rewarding but less well-known Parks.

How to Get to Ruma national park

Covering an area of 120 kilometers, Ruma National Park is within walking distance from Lake Victoria. It is located 425 kilometers from Nairobi and 140 kilometers from Kisumu.

Things to do in Ruma national park

Wildlife encounters

Though game viewing may be challenging the Woodlands and rolling Savannah mainly cover the park. The leopards, Rothschild giraffes, honey badgers, buffaloes, oribis, Impalas, Vervet monkeys, Topis, bush pigs Bohor reedbucks, serval cats, baboons, and hyenas prevail the park as well as the Roan antelope.

Birding tours

home to over 400 bird species of which include Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, and African Green-Pigeon, African Sacred Ibis and Hadada Ibis, common bull, red-billed oxpeckers,

When to visit Ruma national park

Ruma National Park can be visited at any time of the year. However, wildlife viewing is best during the dry season from June to October, and from January to February.

Note that it is challenging to visit the park during the peak of the short rains in November and during the long rains in April and May, due to the conditions of the road.