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KENYA
LAKE VICTORIA AND RUMA NATIONAL PARK
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A
trip to Lake Victoria is often
added onto a Masai Mara safari, and an excursion
into Ruma National Park is an
option.
Lake
Victoria is the source of the Nile and the largest
body of fresh water in Africa (and second largest
in the world after Lake Superior). Only 5% of
the lake belongs to Kenya, with its neighbours
Uganda and Tanzania owning the rest. Trade is
plied and people are ferried up and down the
lake, often in rather unseaworthy looking boats
and traditional dhows. The Kenyan section of
the lake in the far north-eastern corner, contains
a few islands with simple fishing villages along
the shores of the larger ones, and the odd exotic
lodge mainly for guests flying in on light aircraft
from the Masai Mara.
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fishing, bird watching, boating or resting, these
islands induce extreme relaxation and the light
breeze keeps most mosquitoes away.
Ruma
National Park is rarely visited by visitors other
than those staying on Lake Victoria's island lodges.
This means that you have the rare privilege of
being guided by a knowledgeable local and seeing
the only roan antelope in Kenya. Your game drive
is through beautiful untouched woodland and grasslands
with the seasonal Lambwe River running through
and all backed by a magnificent escarpment and
cliffs. |
| ANIMALS,
BIRDS AND FISH
Lake Victoria's birdlife
is staggering. Tiny islets contain huge nesting
colonies of egrets, cormorants and gannets and
territorial fish eagles patrol every 100 yards.
Some of the fish eagles have become habituated
to being thrown fish from the boat and swoop down
to claim an easy prey, just feet away from you
and your camera lens. There are of course hippos
and crocodiles in Lake Victoria and the locals
will tell you if they frequent the area where
you are staying.
Fishing
is good too with Giant Nile perch weighing over
100 pounds (kilos,) with a record catch at an
unbelievable 520 pounds (kilos)! Evenings are
the best time to cast for Tilapia from the shoreline.
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night the local fishermen chug out with their
gas lamps lit to catch tiny silver Kapenta sardines,
which they then lay out all day to dry. This provides
the basis of many people's diets along this lake.
Ruma has the only roan antelopes in Kenya and
rare Rothschild's giraffe, Jackson's hartebeest
and tiny oribi antelopes.
SEASONS
A cooling breeze off the water keeps the temperature
bearable.
Rainy Season: The long rains are from March to
the May and the short rains occur mainly during
November. Sometimes they are longer or shorter
or absent altogether.
Dry Season: June to September is usually dry
Hottest time: December to March.
Coldest Time: June and July.
LAKE
VICTORIA SPECIALITIES
· Fish Eagles
· Nesting bird colonies
· Giant Nile perch
· Kapenta sardines
· Roan antelopes
FACTS
This is a malarial area
Ruma National Park was established in 1966
It covers an area of approximately miles²
(120km²)
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Follow
the links below to Kenya's premier wildlife regions and game
reserves
PRIVATE SAFARI LODGES WE RECOMMEND IN THE LAKE VICTORIA REGION |
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