Depart Kisumu after breakfast for this small and beautiful park, 2.5hrs away by drive . Upon arrival do a 2hrs game drive in search of game.
Ruma national park is the only terrestrial park in Kenya’s Nyanza province. Christened as ‘ Last retreat of Roan antelope’ . The small park ( 120sq. km) protects the only indigenous population of the rare roan antelope within the whole country. There are only about 20 of them left roaming this wilderness. The park, established in 1966 is named after one of Kenya’s most powerful wizards, Gor Mahia, whose roots are engraved in this area.
Main attractions include leopards, roan antelopes, eastern black rhinos, southern white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, oribis, cape buffaloes, lelwel hartebeests , olive baboons, Bohor reedbucks, hyenas, servals, topis, honey badgers, bush pigs, vervet etc.
After the game drive proceed to Rusinga island lodge/Victoria Sands lodge for your lunch before visiting the nearby Tom Mboya mausoleum and Abasuba cultural centre in Rusinga.
Located in family land in Kasawanga village, the Northern tip of Rusinga island, Homabay county, and about 7km from Mbita mainland, Tom Mboya mausoleum was built in memory of Kenya’s pre-independence hero, vocal minister and trade unionist Tom Joseph Mboya who hailed from Rusinga. He helped among others- write Kenya’s first constitution and economic roadmap, establish Kenya’s overseas scholarship for needy and bright students, among them Barack Obama snr, the father of the 44th US president who goes by the same name etc. Because of his growing influence and being a brilliant and young but aggressive politician its possible he brushed many shoulders the wrong way especially in the political domain and paid for this heavy price, when in a cold morning of 1969, in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, a lone gunman ran bullets on the minister in one of the busy Nairobi streets where he had just bought some drugs from a local chemist. His lifeless body, lay, bathed in blood, resulting to unrests and demonstrations all over the country. Some of his relics, including the black and white fly whisk, suits, writings are on display in this museum.
Abasuba cultural center showcases the culture and customs of Abasuba tribe, a very small bantu speaking community who came from Congo and settled in the southern parts of Nyanza province. Due to intermarriages and strong cultural overshadowing of their big luo neighbors, the Abasuba culture has undergone heavy erosion and integrated into the luo culture. You’ll rarely encounter any Abasuba speaker save for the very old, as most of them have been assimilated into luo culture. This museum is supposed to remind them of their heritage and provide an opportunity for the young ones to connect with their language.
After this visit you can do a 1hr boat ride in lake Victoria as you enjoy bird watching before embarking on your way back to Kisumu. Alternatively you can spend your night in one of the cool beach hotels around.
Nearby accommodation- Rusinga Island lodge, Mfangano Island lodge, Victoria Sands Lodge or Victoria Sands Takawiri.