Discover Homa Bay

When looking for a hotel in Homa Bay, the region’s key themes can help you choose where to go. Two themes stand out: the history of the protected area at Ruma National Park and the cultural heritage of Mfangano Island. One focuses on the development of a protected area, while the other brings together sacred sites and rock art. This gives you a concrete framework for deciding which topics you’d like to explore during your stay.

Ruma National Park: from game reserve to national park

In Homa Bay County, Ruma National Park was established as a protected game reserve in 1966 under its former name, Lambwe Valley; the area was later upgraded to national park status. Lambwe Valley refers to the earlier period, while Ruma National Park is the later name of the upgraded protected area. If you understand protected areas through their history, the transition from game reserve to national park is the clear historical focus. It differs from Mfangano Island, where rock art and sacred sites shape the cultural context.

Mfangano Island: rock art and sacred sites

On Mfangano Island, ancient rock art sites and sacred sites are a defining part of the cultural heritage. There are 36 types of sacred sites; 19 of them remain intact and can still be found. The rock art may be about 2,000 years old and is attributed to early Twa hunter-gatherer groups. The figures refer to two different things: 36 is the number of types of sacred sites, while 19 refers to those that remain intact and can still be found; the age attributed to the rock art is uncertain. The Abasuba Community Peace Museum is located on Mfangano and promotes rock art tourism on the islands of Lake Victoria.

Kenya in a broader context

In Kenya as a broader travel destination, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests are also part of the cultural heritage. They comprise ten separate forest areas stretching for around 200 kilometres along the coast and containing the remains of fortified villages belonging to the Mijikenda, known as Kayas. The ten areas are separate; the figure of around 200 kilometres describes their extent along the coast. The Kayas were established from the 16th century onwards and were abandoned by the 1940s. At the same time, they are considered sacred places and homes of the ancestors, and are cared for by councils of elders. Thus, the Kayas’ historical development and their enduring cultural significance exist side by side.

The Kenya Lake System also belongs in this broader Kenyan context. It is the world’s most important feeding ground for lesser flamingos; around 1.5 million birds move between the lakes. It also provides the most important nesting and breeding grounds for great white pelicans in the Great Rift Valley. These natural attractions add to the Kenya-wide perspective, while the rock art sites mentioned above and the history of Ruma National Park are specific to Homa Bay.

Discover more destinations: Kendu Bay, Homa Bay, Mbita, Kadongo, Nandi District, Kericho District, Embu District, Makueni District

For the broader travel overview: Kenya.