Ruma National Park in Homa Bay County is a park protecting the only indigenous population of the rare roan antelope in Kenya.
The park lies on the floor of Lambwe Valley, bordered by the amazing Kanyamwa escarpment to the south east, Gwassi hills, Sumba hill and Ruri hills to the north of the vast park.
The park was established in 1966 as Lambwe Valley Game Reserve but was renamed Ruma upon request by the local community to honour one of the its most powerful magician; the legendary Gor Mahia, who lived around the park.
As one enters the savanna grassland and acacia thicket park, he or she is greeted by the sight of giraffes and buffaloes browsing and moving around.
A ride farther in reveals other animals such as leopards, black rhinoceros, monkeys and the famed roan antelopes that are facing extinction, according to zoologists.
The climax of sightseeing in the park is bird watching, as there are more than 400 species. The rare blue swallow or Hirundo atrocaerulae is one such species.
For picnics in the park, Kolang’o and Twiga picnic sites offer beautiful vistas that will keep visitors in the park. Kolang’o historical picnic site is a former escape route used by the Nandi during the colonial days. They were taken to the Lambwe valley to die due to their resistance against colonial rule.
The valley was known to be infested with tsetse flies and many other tropical diseases.
Twiga picnic site, which is situated in the middle of the park, allows visitors to snack while watching birds and wild animals.
Campers can pitch tent at the park’s Nyati or Fig tree campsites. Visitors to the park need not worry about accommodation as Oribi Guest House next to the park, and Rusinga Island Lodge on Rusinga Island, about 30 kilometres away, offer rooms and other services.
Visitors can easily access the park through two main gates; Kamato and Nyatoto as they are only 42 kilometres and about 30 minutes drive away from Homa Bay town, owing to the improved road network.
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