Safari Activities to do at Ruma National Park
Safari Activities to do at Ruma National Park : The sole native population of Kenya’s endangered roan antelope is protected in Ruma National Park, formerly known as Lambwe Valley National Reserve. In the region of western Kenya, it is also the sole terrestrial national park. The park is situated on the level terrain of the Lambwe River Valley, which receives seasonal irrigation and is bounded to the southeast by the Kanyamwa Escarpment. It has a northern boundary with the Ruri Hills volcanic plugs. This is a wonderful safari destination you should not miss out minus exploring on a Kenya safari.
Ruma National Park was created in 1966 and spans 29,653 acres. Afterwards, the park was dubbed “Ruma” in honor of Gor Mahia, a formidable and feared wizard who resided nearby. In 1983 it became a gazetted national park. Ruma was isolated for a few years, which hindered its growth. Now that it’s a national park, there are game watching trails and a general park. Here are three activities you can engage in while there.
- See the Last of the Roan Antelope.
Remaining members of Kenya’s endangered roan antelope can still be found roaming freely in Ruma National Park. Populations consist of just forty individuals. While you’re here, you can also search for the Jackson’s hartebeest, which is more prevalent in Kenyan parks and is larger and redder than the Coke’s Hartebeest. The Oribi, one of the smallest of the antelope family, lives here as well. Other game to see include predators like lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah. The eastern black rhino, the Rothschild’s giraffe, Cape buffalo, jewel hartebeest, olive baboon, bohor reedbuck, serval, honey badger, bush pig and vervet monkey are also an attraction.
- Enjoy an Abundance of Birdlife.
Spot over 400 species of birds recorded here. Ruma National Park is a well-known Important Bird Area (IBA) among ornithologists due to its diverse biodiversity, especially the uncommon and internationally threatened blue swallow. This intra-African migrant travels to Kenya in April to roost and feed after leaving its breeding sites in southern Tanzania in September.
- Spot the Big Five of African Snakes.
On your safari to Ruma National Park you can be able to observe a particularly diverse population of snakes which includes some of Africa’s Big Five snakes like the African spitting cobra, forest cobra, python, eastern green mamba, black-mouthed mamba and puff adder which is a wonderful safari experience.
If you take place to be in the town of Homabay, take a little detour and experience what Ruma National Park has to offer. The primary park entrance at Kamato is roughly 42 km away from the town. You can go towards Rongo by taking the main C20 tarmac road from Homa Bay. After 10 kilometres, turn right at Rodi Kopany and travel 20 kilometres to Mirogi. Once in Mirogi, proceed 12 kilometres by following the signs to the main gate. Don’t forget to check the Kenya Wildlife Service website for park entry fees prior to your visit or you can contact us at Focus East Africa Tours for more about Meru National Park and any other safari destination in Kenya.
