Ruma National Park
Overview
Kenya Parks
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
The rarely visited Ruma National Park was established to protect Kenya’s last-remaining population of the beautiful roan antelope. The park is totally undeveloped and visitors need to be self-sufficient. Some other wildlife has been introduced, but densities are low and animals are skittish. This is a good place to see the endangered blue swallow, which migrates between here and northern Tanzania.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
This is the only place in Kenya to see the rare roan antelope. Other introduced species include Jackson's hartebeest, black rhino, bohor reedbuck, buffalo and plains zebra. The localized race of Rothschild's giraffe also lives here. You can sometimes see tracks of leopard and spotted hyena, but these predators are shy and hard to see.
Scenery
The scenery is a mix of grassland, rolling hills and patches of woodland. The park is located in the Lambwe Valley, east of Lake Victoria, and is bordered by the Kanyamaa Escarpment.
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 Dry season. A sturdy 4x4 is required throughout the year.
Getting There
Visitors to Ruma need to be totally self-sufficient with a fully equipped 4x4. The park is located 425km/264mi west of Nairobi, 140km/86mi from Kisumu, and 42km/26mi from Homa Bay on Lake Victoria. There are no regular scheduled air services to Ruma.
Health & Safety
Please read our malaria and vaccinations page for Kenya and our general ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ for more info:
