Amazing things to do in Ruma National Park: Ruma National Park is the only terrestrial national park in Kenya, located in Nyanza province. The park is famous for hosting a huge number of the Roan Antelope. Ruma National Park was first established in 1966 as Lambwe Valley Game Reserve. It was later renamed “Ruma” after one of Kenya’s most powerful wizards, the much-feared Gor Mahia who lived around the park.
The park is also home to various wildlife species such as African leopards, roan antelopes, eastern black rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, oribis, cape buffalos, lelwel, hyenas, bohor reedbucks, primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys among others. The park houses over 400 different bird species recorded and the most spotted ones during your Kenya safaris here include; the rare blue swallows, Ostriches, sunbirds, kingfishers, African fish eagles, and pelicans among others. However, there are many safari activities visitors can enjoy or participate in while on a safari at Ruma National Park and we are going to discuss some of the most popular things to include;
Game Drives
Experiencing the wildlife in Ruma National Park is truly a remarkable adventure. When you embark on a game drive safari here, you have the opportunity to take in not just the stunning scenery, but also to spot incredible animals Eastern black rhinos, Roan antelope, Gazelles, African elephants, Cape buffaloes, Lelwel hartebeests, Rothschild’s giraffes, Hyenas Orbis, Bohor reedbucks, Serval cats, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Leopards, Topi, Baboon and Monkeys among others. To make the most of your game drive, plan your visit during the dry season, which runs from June to October and again from January to February. This is when the wildlife is most active and easier to spot, giving you the best chance to witness the beauty of nature up close.
Bird watching
Ruma National Park is one of the best birdwatching destinations in Kenya. the park is home to over 400 bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. During your bird-watching tours, you’ll have the chance to spot different colorful bird species such as Harlequin Quail, Scaly Francolin, Red-necked Francolin, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Ross’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, White-browed Coucal, Black Coucal, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Common Swift, Nyanza Swift, Little Swift, White-rumped Swift, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank and Black-headed Heron among others. The best time for bird watching is during the rainy season because there is a higher chance of spotting migrant species.
Guided nature walks
Exploring Ruma National Park through nature walks is a wonderful way to connect with the outdoors. As you stroll along the trails, you’ll not only take in the stunning scenery but also have the chance to see various wildlife up close such as colorful bird species, reptiles, mammals as well as flowering plants. It’s an experience that lets you truly appreciate the beauty of nature surrounding you.
Boat cruise on Lake Victoria
Taking a boat ride on Lake Victoria offers an exciting opportunity to see the amazing wildlife along the shoreline. As you glide across the water, keep an eye out for hippos and crocs basking in the sun. During your boat cruise safaris, you might also have the chance to spot other animals such as bohor reedbucks, African clawless otters, marsh mongoose, Nile crocodiles, and more. You might also spot various birds, including malachite kingfisher, marsh harrier, northern brown-throated weaver, orange weavers, papyrus gonolek, pied kingfisher, cattle egret, common moorhen, common Squacco and heron many others. It’s a wonderful way to connect with nature and witness these creatures in their natural habitat.
Camping
One great way to experience Ruma National Park is by going camping. You’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in nature. There are some lovely picnic spots to check out, like Twiga and Korlang’o, where you can relax and enjoy a meal outdoors. It’s a perfect opportunity to soak in the beauty of the park and create lasting memories with friends or family.
Best time to visit Ruma National Park
You can explore Ruma National Park anytime throughout the year. However, if you want to make the most of your wildlife viewing experience, it’s best to plan your visit during the dry season. This dry period typically takes place from June to October, as well as in January and February. Visiting during these months will increase your chances of spotting animals in their natural habitat.
Where to stay while on a safari in Ruma National Park
Visitors planning to visit Ruma National Park, shouldn’t worry about where to stay. The park has variety of accommodations that caters every category of visitor. These accommodations ranges from budget, Mid-range and Luxury, they include Hotel twin brothers, Oyugi’s hill breeze hotel, Ruma Tourist lodge, Hotel hippo buck, ACK Guesthouse, Rusinga Island Lodge, Mfagano Island, Nyati campsites, Golden rays’ resort, Ruma river lodge, Oribi guesthouse and more.
Getting to Ruma National Park
Getting to Ruma National Park in Kenya, you can travel by road or air. The park is accessible from two gates, the Main Gate (Kamato Gate) and Nyatoto Gate. Payment is cashless.
By road: You can access Ruma National Park from the major Kenyan towns by road. The main gate is located at Homa Bay, which is the neighboring town that offers food and accommodation for tourists. You can also access the park from Kisumu via Homa Bay or Kisii.
By air: You can fly from Nairobi to Homa Bay. The Kisumu International Airport is the closest airport to the park, about 80 kilometers away. From there, you can take a bus or hire a taxi to get to the park.
Contact our trusted tour operators for information and inquiries about amazing things to do in Ruma National Park and Book with our tours and travel companies such as; Focus East Africa Tours who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Kenya.
