Ruma National Park

Is named by one of Kenya’s most powerful wizards, the much-feared Gor Mahia who lived near the park.

The park was established as Lambwe Valley game reserve in 1966 to protect the endemic population of the rare roan antelope, whose population is now on the verge of extinction numbering approximately 40. The increasingly rare intra-African migrant, the blue swallow is seen here from South Africa.

Location:

The Park lies in Western Kenya close to the shores of Africa’s largest inland lake, Lake Victoria. It is 140 kilometres from Kisumu, 10 kilometres east of Lake Victoria and South West of Homa Bay and 425 kilometres west of Nairobi. The Park is 120 square kilometers.

Major attractions:

Roan antelope, leopard, buffalo, hyena, Rothschild giraffe, oribi, Jackson and lelwel hartebeest, impala, Bohor reedbuck, serval cat, baboons, vervet monkey, honey badgers, bush pig and many more.

The park is an IBA with over 400 species of birds.

Activities:

Game drive,
bird watching,
picnic,
camping,
team building,
meditation,
sightseeing.

Where to stay:

There are two campsites - Nyati and Fig Tree
Outside at Mbita Point: Lake Victoria Safari Village has ensuite bandas and one room in a lighthouse giving spectacular views of the lake and the islands. It is scheduled to reopen in January 2012

How to get there:

By road:
Main access is from Kisumu via Homa Bay – 140 kilometres. From Kisii, it is 65 kilometres.
The main gate is 42 kilometres from Homa Bay. Take Main C – 20 tarmac road in the direction of Rongo. After 10 kilometres branch off to the right at Rodi kopany and proceed 20 kilometres to Mirogi. At Mirogi follow the signs to the park a distance of 12 km on a murrum road from Mirogi.
Or from Homa Bay take main C – 20 tarmac road in the direction of Rongo. After 2 kilometres branch off to the right at Mbita – Homa Bay Road junction. After 11 kilometres branch left at the park signage taking road D213 to Kamato Gate.
From Kisii via Rongo to Rodi kopany branching off to the left.

By Ferry:

The present ferry times from Luanda Kotieno on the Kisumu-Bondo road are temporary but they sail from Mbita at 7 am, 9 am, 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm and return from Luanda Kotieno one hour later. They only carry four cars at a time.

The bigger ferry went for service and overhaul to extend the carrying capacity early May for a month, but it has not been seen since. Alternatively one can drive to Mbita around the lake on the new asphalt road with the last five kilometers on murram to Homa Bay. The road from there to Mbita is under construction. It takes two and a half hours from Kisumu.

By air:

The nearest airport is in Kisumu, then by road from Kisumu to the reserve.