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Ruma National Park and Aberdare National Park

In common: Safari, Wildlife, Hiking. Link to this comparison

Comparison of Ruma National Park, Aberdare National Park. Each fact shows its information label.
	Ruma National Park	Aberdare National Park
Region	Homa Bay County, western Kenya Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Wildlife Service (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 Oct 2026	Central Kenyan highlands Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
About	A national park of about 120 km² in Homa Bay County, gazetted in 1966 as a game reserve and later made a national park. It is Kenya's only remaining sanctuary for the endangered roan antelope. Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Wildlife Service (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 Oct 2026	A national park of about 766 km² in the Aberdare (Nyandarua) mountains, gazetted in 1950 and managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, with moorland, bamboo forest and forested ravines. Information status: Verified Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Highlights	Roan antelope, in Kenya's only remaining sanctuary for them Rothschild's giraffe The endangered blue swallow Game viewing, guided walks and hiking on open plains Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Wildlife Service (opens in a new tab) · checked 27 Oct 2026	Elephants, black rhinos, leopards and buffalo, with bongo sightings in the forest Over 250 bird species recorded in the park Trout fishing, picnics and camping in the moorlands One of Kenya's five main "water towers" Information status: Verified Sources: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab); Nature Kenya (opens in a new tab) · checked 18 Oct 2026
Good for	Safari Wildlife Hiking KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.	Wildlife Safari Hiking Photography (only here among these) KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.
Suggested time	At least 2 days Information status: Unconfirmed KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.	At least 2 days Information status: Unconfirmed KenyaPlus editorial guidance for a comfortable visit, not an official rule.
Road time from Nairobi	~7½ h, about 380 km — a long day Information status: Estimated Straight-line distance × 1.3 road factor, at an assumed average of 50 km/h. Real times depend on route, road condition, traffic and stops.	~4 h, about 190 km Information status: Estimated Driving time on the road route from openrouteservice (OpenStreetMap data, built 2026-10-24), plus 20% for stops, towns and slower traffic. Real times depend on road condition, traffic and the time of day. Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
When to go	Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December. Information status: Estimated A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet. For Homa Bay County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains already falling from September and continuing into January. Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026 A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.	Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December. Information status: Estimated A summary of Kenya's national rainfall pattern from the Kenya Meteorological Department: long rains March to May (with the peak in April inland and May on the coast, as KMD expected for 2026) and short rains October to December. Other months are shown as between the rains. Rain varies by year and place, and between-the-rains months can still be wet. For Nyeri and Nyandarua counties, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and continuing into January. Information status: Verified Source: Kenya Meteorological Department (opens in a new tab) · checked 23 Oct 2026 A seasonal forecast, not a guarantee. KMD also issues monthly and weekly updates.
Entry fees	KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Ruma National Park for figures and their label.	KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Aberdare National Park for figures and their label.
Confirm before booking	Road conditions from Homa Bay town to Kamato Main Gate Accommodation in or near the park Guided walk arrangements with the park	Which gate you will use and whether park roads are passable after rain Camping or lodge bookings inside the park Trout-fishing permits
Guides	Ruma National Park: roan antelope by Lake Victoria	Aberdare National Park: moorland, forest and rare wildlife Ol Pejeta Conservancy: rhinos and chimpanzees
Next step	Plan a trip to Ruma National Park Details for Ruma National Park	Plan a trip to Aberdare National Park Details for Aberdare National Park

Ruma National Park

Region

Homa Bay County, western Kenya

Verified

About

A national park of about 120 km² in Homa Bay County, gazetted in 1966 as a game reserve and later made a national park. It is Kenya's only remaining sanctuary for the endangered roan antelope.

Verified

Highlights

Roan antelope, in Kenya's only remaining sanctuary for them
Rothschild's giraffe
The endangered blue swallow
Game viewing, guided walks and hiking on open plains

Verified

Good for

Safari
Wildlife
Hiking

KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.

Suggested time

At least 2 days

Unconfirmed

Road time from Nairobi

~7½ h, about 380 km — a long day

Estimated

When to go

Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December.

Estimated

For Homa Bay County, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains already falling from September and continuing into January.

Verified

Entry fees

KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Ruma National Park for figures and their label.

Confirm before booking

Road conditions from Homa Bay town to Kamato Main Gate
Accommodation in or near the park
Guided walk arrangements with the park

Guides

Ruma National Park: roan antelope by Lake Victoria

Next step

Plan a trip Details

Aberdare National Park

Region

Central Kenyan highlands

Verified

About

A national park of about 766 km² in the Aberdare (Nyandarua) mountains, gazetted in 1950 and managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service, with moorland, bamboo forest and forested ravines.

Verified

Highlights

Elephants, black rhinos, leopards and buffalo, with bongo sightings in the forest
Over 250 bird species recorded in the park
Trout fishing, picnics and camping in the moorlands
One of Kenya's five main "water towers"

Verified

Good for

Wildlife
Safari
Hiking
Photography (only here among these)

KenyaPlus categories. Dark: only here among these places.

Suggested time

At least 2 days

Unconfirmed

Road time from Nairobi

~4 h, about 190 km

Estimated

When to go

Long rains March–May (peak expected in April in 2026); short rains October–December.

Estimated

For Nyeri and Nyandarua counties, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average rainfall in October–December 2026, with rains starting in the 2nd to 3rd week of October and continuing into January.

Verified

Entry fees

KenyaPlus holds a fee record — see Aberdare National Park for figures and their label.

Confirm before booking

Which gate you will use and whether park roads are passable after rain
Camping or lodge bookings inside the park
Trout-fishing permits

Guides

Next step

Plan a trip Details

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