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Ruma National Park Travel Guide – Map, Best Time and More!

Ruma Safaris Ruma National Park

Little-visited Ruma National Park protects Kenya’s only remaining population of the beautiful roan antelope. Other wildlife, much of it introduced, includes black rhino, white rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, plains zebra and a variety of antelope. Tourist development is limited, and key species such as lion and elephant are absent. Despite this, wildlife is plentiful and those who do make it to this remote and underrated corner of Kenya are unlikely to encounter other tourists.

KenyaRuma NPRuma NP
calendar icon Best Time To Go
June to October and January to February (Driest months)
high season icon High Season
December to March and July to October (Not busy)
size icon Size
120km² / 46mi²
mountains icon Altitude
1,170-1,638m / 3,839-5,374ft
View Photos View Photos +18 Photos Open Map

Pros & Cons

  • Untouristy, off-the-beaten-track destination
  • Home to Kenya’s only roan antelope
  • Easily seen populations of white rhino, buffalo and Rothschild’s giraffe
  • Good birding with more than 400 species recorded
  • The blue swallow, an endangered intra-African migrant, is present from April to September
  • Some areas have tsetse flies
  • Accommodations inside the park are limited to a guesthouse and campsite
  • Parts of the limited road network may be impassable after rain

Wildlife

Ruma protects Kenya’s only roan antelope, a herd of fewer than 20 individuals now confined to a 6.5km²/2.5mi² fenced sanctuary near Nyatoto Gate. Other antelope include Jackson’s hartebeest, bohor reedbuck, waterbuck, impala and oribi. Introduced populations of Rothschild’s giraffe, white rhino, buffalo and plains zebra are thriving and frequently seen. Black rhino might occasionally be encountered around the airstrip, but leopard and spotted hyena are secretive and very rare. Common birds include red-necked spurfowl, yellow-throated longclaw, white-fronted bee-eater and superb starling.

Scenery

Ruma National Park is located in the Lambwe Valley, about 10km/6mi east of Lake Victoria. The dominant habitat is lightly wooded grassland, but there are also dense stands of acacia woodland. It is a scenic spot, surrounded by shapely forested hills and mountains. These include the Kanyamwa Escarpment to the southeast, the volcanic Ruri Hills to the north, and the westerly Gwassi Hills, which separate it from Lake Victoria.

Activities

The main activity is game drives. Coming from Kamato Gate, as most visitors do, you pass through an area of dense bush before emerging onto the Lambwe Plain. Here, you’re almost certain to see white rhino, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and a variety of antelope. It is also worth driving into the fenced sanctuary at Nyatoto Gate to look for roan antelope, but be warned they are not always easy to locate on the bushy hillside.

Weather & Climate

The weather and climate of Ruma are comparable to that of Kenya in general. More info:

Best Time To Visit

Ruma can be visited year-round, but wildlife viewing is best in the dry months from June to October and January to February. 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 drier months. A sturdy 4x4 vehicle is required throughout the year.

Getting There

Visitors to Ruma ideally need a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle. Kamato Gate, the main point of access, is about 380km/240mi west of Nairobi (allow 8 hours* for the drive). The nearest town is Homa Bay, which lies on the shore of Lake Victoria about 25km/15mi to the north. It can be used as a base for day visits.

There are no regular scheduled air services to Ruma. The closest major airport is at the Lake Victoria port of Kisumu, which is Kenya’s third-largest city. It lies about 130km/80mi (a drive of 2½ to 3 hours*) north of Kamato Gate.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Health & Safety

Please read our malaria and vaccinations page for Kenya, and our general ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ for more info:

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