National Parks Africa » Lambwe Valley National Park

Lambwe Valley National Park covers 120 square kilometres (48 square miles) of tall grasslands mixed with woodlands and acacia thickets in South Nyanza near Homa Bay, Lake Victoria. The reserve was created to preserve the lovely roan antelope, a small population of which are resident. Other mammals include oribi and Jackson’s hartebeest. Giraffes, zebra and ostrich have been introduced from Samburu to help reduce the dense vegetation. Birds are abundant in this area and can be easily observed.

Lambwe is in one of the most highly populated areas of Kenya, and has long been a centre of controversy. Tsetse flies abound and it is considered a reservoir for human and animal sleeping sickness. The park was subjected to large amounts of DDT spraying until the practice was stopped by conservationist movements. Nonetheless, the will of the people prevailed and the park was de-gazetted in 1989.