Situated in western Kenya, Ruma National Park is the only terrestrial park in Nyanza Province and is very close to the shores of Lake Victoria. It was initially established as Lambwe Valley Game Reserve in 1966. Then it was renamed into ‘Ruma’ to honor the Kenyan powerful wizard, Gor Mahia, who was much feared. It has a total area of 120 square kilometers elevated at an altitude of around 1200 to 1600 meters.
Ruma National Park is home to the world’s most endangered roan antelope (korongo in Swahili). It is also home to blue swallows, a threatened migratory bird in Africa. A Kenya safari through Ruma National Park is magical as you will discover a lot of things ranging from spectacular landscapes to diverse wildlife.
Attractions in Ruma National Park
Here are some iconic attractions that you will encounter when you are on a safari in Ruma National Park.
Calming landscapes: Ruma National Park is made of sensational features which include a mosaic of landscapes. It has flat lands inside the Lambwe River Valley and is bordered by Kanyamwa Escarpment to the southeast and by the volcanic plugs of the Ruri Hills to the north.
The landscapes of Ruma National Park are exceedingly picturesque as it consists of riverine woodland, savannah and towering cliffs. All these wonderful features make Ruma National Park an interesting site for hiking, climbing and scenic views.
The Roan Antelope: Why is it so special? Firstly, it is a rarest and most endangered species of antelope. Its settlements are in savannah ecosystems, especially to the south of the Sahara Desert. It is named “roan” due to its color appearance. Secondly, it is one of the largest herbivores after eland and buffalo. Lastly, its body appearance resembles that of a horse.
Hunting has caused the decline of the population of roan antelopes and as a result, Ruma National Park is the last retreat of this unique antelope species. A visit through this astonishing park will reward you with guaranteed views of roan antelopes, which are usually spotted in herds of about 20 members controlled by a bull.
Oribi antelope: This is another species of antelope but this one is small and graceful. It can be spotted in small groups or bonded pairs contrary to the roan antelopes which live in large groups. For best encounters, visit grasslands and dense undergrowth where the antelope resides.
Rare birds: The globally threatened bird, blue swallow, can be encountered in this park. This bird is migratory with two destinations, Southern Tanzania and Ruma National Park. During the breeding season, the blue swallow is in southern Tanzania in its breeding grounds. It arrives in Ruma National Park around April and departs again in September. For a better experience with the blue swallows, visitors should plan their trips between April and August.
Diverse wildlife: Ruma National Park is blessed with many wild animals worth a game drive. They include Rothschild’s giraffes, reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, buffalos, vervet monkeys, serval cats, elephants, leopards, hyenas and bush pigs. Some animals has recently been reintroduced in Ruma National Park, including black rhino, Burchell’s zebra and white rhino.
Reptiles: Ruma National Park boasts several reptiles including snakes such as the python, black-mouthed mamba, African spitting cobra, eastern green mamba, puff adder and forest cobra. Other reptiles include lizards, skinks and geckos.
Over 400 bird species: Apart from the rare blue swallow bird, Ruma National Park hosts over 400 species of birds. They include African fish eagles, sunbirds, kingfishers, red-necked francolin, crested francolin, black-bellied bustard, grey-crowned crane, crowned lapwing, saddle-billed stork, pelican, yellow-billed stork, black-headed heron, African sacred ibis, secretary bird, augur buzzard, African goshawk, African grey hornbill, white-throated bee-eater and many others.
Things to do in Ruma National Park
Game drives: A morning drive will reward you with sensational views of wild animals, birds and the spectacular landscapes of Ruma National Park. However, game rides are exceptional during the dry season because rough roads are accessible.
Guided nature walks: If you want a direct interaction with the nature of this park, nature walk is a must-do thing. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger to protect you from aggressive animals. Insects, birds, wild animals and majestic geographical features are well observed on a guided nature walk.
Bird-watching: This can be done through Ruma National Park. Grab yourself a pair of binoculars and a camera if you want to make your trip memorable.
Boat safaris in Lake Victoria: Since Ruma National Park is very close to the shores of the magnificent Lake Victoria, visitors of this park can request a boat safari. Here you will explore various aquatic species as well as learn various things such as swimming, canoeing and fishing.
You have a lot of things to learn when you book a safari to Ruma National Park. You will find it very interesting as this unique park in western Kenya, is full of magical when visited.
