Ruma National Park In Kenya

Ruma National Park is the only terrestrial Park in Kenya’s Nyanza Province. Dubbed the “Last Retreat of the Roan Antelope” (Africa`s rarest and largest antelope). Ruma National Park lies in Suba district, 23km South west of Homa bay, the nearest city, approximately 10km East of Lake Victoria, and 425km west of Nairobi Kenya 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 national Park is one of Kenya`s more rewarding but less popular Parks.

Overview of Ruma National Park

Ruma National Park-Kenya protects the only indigenous population of threatened roan antelopes within Kenya. Currently, the number of roan antelopes is facing extinction, approximately 40 roan antelopes have been recorded. Ruma National Park-Kenya is still the only protected area in Kenya where the globally threatened blue swallow, a scarce intra-African migrant, is often 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.

At a size of 120km², Ruma National Park-Kenya was first gazetted in 1966 as Lambwe Valley Game Reserve before it acquired a national park status in 1983. Ruma National Park was renamed after “Ruma” one of Kenya’s most powerful wizard, the much feared Gor Mahia who lived around the park (affiliated to Gor Mahia football club) in Kenya.

Tourist Safari Attractions in Ruma National Park-Kenya

Flourishing Wildlife in Ruma National Park-Kenya

Ruma National Park in Kenya embraces numerous animal species but the most notable is the Roan Antelope, a rare species in Kenya. Roan move in herds of up to 20 members with a very characteristic social structure. The most dominant female becomes the leader and each herd contains only adult strong bull, when the juvenile males grow to about 3 years, they are being ejected from the group while the female calves remain within the herd. When the herd becomes too big, the herd of the roan divides into smaller groups of cows and their young ones. These groups will form new herds, once again with only one adult bull.

The young males evicted from the herd, associate in bachelor groups of up to 12 individuals. Amongst these, the most dominant is the first one in line to join a new group of females, very seldom, on their fights for supremacy, inflicting body harm to their contenders.
Roan Antelope are very courageous animals. If threatened by predators, including Lion, they will confront them, and many of these big cats have perished, jabbed by the scimitar-shaped horns of Roans. Adults attain a mass of up to 270Kg and can live to about 15 years. Roan Antelopes are mainly grazers.

Other flourishing animals include Oribis, Bohors reedbucks and Rothschild giraffes, African leopards, eastern black rhinoceros, cape buffalos, lelwel hartebeests, olive baboons, hyenas, servals, topis, honey badgers, bush pigs, vervet monkeys etc. The park is also rich in Ostriches, Chimpanzees, and Impala gazelles. So lucky to encounter wildlife species you may never encounter anywhere else!

Wildlife viewing is best in the dry months from June to October and January to February.

Exceptional Birdlife in Ruma National Park-Kenya

Ruma National Park-Kenya is the only protected area in Kenya where the universally threatened Blue Swallow, a scarce intra-African migrant, is regularly recorded. Blue Swallows arrive in Kenya from their breeding grounds in southern Tanzania around April and depart in September. They depend on moist grassland for feeding and roosting. Black-backed Cisticola, a species thought to be extinct in Kenya, has also been reported from Ruma National Park. About 400 species of birds have been recorded in the area.

 Myriads of reptiles in Ruma National Park-Kenya;

Ruma National Park-Kenya is endowed with exceptional snake population. Commonly spotted species include: The African spitting cobra, forest cobra, python, eastern green mamba, black-mouthed mamba and puff adder. The park also abounds in lizard, skink and gecko.

Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site in Ruma National Park-Kenya

Thimlich Oginga is one of East Africa’s most important archaeological sites located in the South of Ruma National Park-Kenya. It holds the remains of a dry-stone enclosure, 150m in diameter and containing another five smaller enclosures, thought to date back as far as the 15th century. The site`s name translates in Luo as ‘frightening dense forest`.

How to get to Ruma National Park in Kenya;

The main gate is 24km from Homa Bay, the nearest town. From Homa Bay, take the main tarmac road on the direction of Rongo, after 10km branch off to the right at Rodi Kopany and proceed 20km to Mirogi. At Mirogi follow the signs to the park, entering at Kamato Main gate, a distance of 12km on a murram road from Mirogo.

• Fly-Sax offers scheduled flights to Homa Bay at Kabunde airstrip

Best Time to Visit Ruma National Park-Kenya.

Ruma National Park-Kenya can be visited year-round but the dry months of June to October and January to February are most ideal for wildlife viewers. Visits during the peak of the short rains (November), and especially during the long rains (April and May), might be challenging because of the condition of the roads, which aren’t great even in the Dry season. A sturdy 4×4 is required throughout the year.

Accommodation in Ruma National Park-Kenya

1. Oribi guest house in Ruma National Park-Kenya

Oribi Guest House offers comfortable self-catering accommodation within the Ruma National Park. The accommodation is provided in a large self-catering house. The house sleeps 10 people and is ideal for groups and large families.

The house has three bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area and spacious sitting room. The kitchen is equipped with a stove, fridge, kitchen utensils, cutlery and glasses. The furnished sitting room has a log fireplace and door leading to a veranda with seating. The house has solar electricity and a caretaker on hand to assist where necessary. Blankets, pillows, bed linen, towels, soap and mosquito nets are provided.

Facilities at Oribi guest house in Ruma National Park-Kenya;

• Braai/Barbecue
• Indoor Fireplace
• No Credit Card Facilities
• Parking on Premises

2. Nyati campsite; which is a special campsite and Fig tree campsite which is a public campsite and a backpacker’s haven.
3. Korlango Picnic site; Picnic site which is a historical site as Korlango was used as escape route by the Kalenjin during the colonial time when they were brought to Lambwe Valley to die during the resistant, as the place was inhabited due to tsetse fly and malaria
4. Twiga Tano Picnic Site in Ruma National Park-Kenya;

Twiga Tano picnic site is in the middle of the Ruma National Park-Kenya, allowing you to snack with the animals.  Perched on the edge of the Great Rift Valley and 1hr drive from Karen, the house is fully furnished with a well-stocked kitchen, and comes with a House Manager/Chef and his Assistant who are eager to welcome you and make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

Twiga Tano can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests (inclusive of children) with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and two lofts spread over about 3000sqft (270sqm) and two floors of living space.

The upper floor of the house is wheelchair accessible but let us know in advance so that the ramp is put in place. Due to the high risk of wildfires, smoking is not allowed inside or outside the house.

Come reconnect with friends & family as you unplug from the hustle and bustle of city life, enjoy breathtaking views, stunning sunsets, hiking, and a rich variety of plants, birds, and wild animals.

Amenities at the house include:

• 4 burner gas stoves,
• Electric fridge,
• Charcoal oven,
• Baby cot, hammocks,
• A kuni booster for hot water (bring your own firewood),
• Scenic picnic areas,
• A random assortment of books and magazines,
• Outdoor toilet and shower with a spectacular view.

Sleeping arrangements

Bedroom 1- one queen bed (en-suite)

Bedroom 2- one queen bed (en-suite)

Bedroom 3 – two double beds (4×6)

Bedroom 4 – five double beds (4×6)

Loft: two floor mattresses (5×6)

• Hotel Hippo Buck-Ruma national Park, Kenya

Hotel Hippo Buck was established in 1992 and is located in the tranquil Sophia Valley, on the environs of Homa Bay Town. This town overlooks Asego Hills and is 1km from the shorelines of Lake Victoria.

The hotel offers a superb distinction of Standard, Deluxe and Superior Rooms, giving true meaning to comfortable accommodation. The elegant Victoria restaurant is beautifully designed to fit the region’s tropical weather and offers both continental and global cuisine. Hippo Buck Residents Bar lets guests wind down the evening with loved ones to enjoy a wide variety drinks.

Hotel Hippo Buck offers modern banqueting and conference facilities with a capacity of between 20 to 300 people. The rooms can be set up in theatre, classroom or boardroom style to suit delegate’s needs.

Facilities in Hotel Hippo Buck-Ruma National Park, Kenya

• Airport Shuttle
• Laundry Facilities*
• Satellite TV*
• Restaurant on Premises
• Parking on Premises