Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park covers an area of over 20,200 km² (7,800 sq mi).

For context, that is about thirteen times the size of the Masai Mara or nearly the size of Rwanda. Yet Ruaha remains relatively unknown, attracting fewer than 10% of the annual visitors that the smaller but popular Serengeti elsewhere in the country receives. This is because of its remoteness from the parks of the Northern Safari Circuit and the Indian Ocean coast.

But those who go to the effort of traveling off the beaten track are well rewarded with a truly wild, untouched piece of Africa at her finest and, best of all, very seldom have to share with others.

For those looking for a pure safari experience, unspoiled by modern development and tourist crowds, Ruaha National Park offers the perfect combination of breathtaking beauty, a profusion of predators, and an unmatched sense of isolation and peace.

Where is Ruaha National Park Found?

Ruaha National Park is located in south-central Tanzania, where the woodlands of Southern Africa meet the open East African savannahs. This semi-arid safari park is situated west of Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Mikumi National Park.

The closest big town to Ruaha is Iringa, about 130 km from the national park. Iringa town has a fascinating history, and the legacy of its German colonial architecture is still visible.

It is also a great place to buy souvenirs, try local street food, and learn about Tanzanian culture with the help of a local guide. Dar es Salaam is about 625 km (388 miles) east of Ruaha by road. Ruaha is not only the second-largest national park in Tanzania, but also one of the largest protected areas in all of East Africa

Attractions And Activities in Ruaha National Park

1. A Wide Range of Safari Activities

Ruaha National Park is one of the best Tanzania safari destinations that offers a variety of activities for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

One of the most popular safari activities is wildlife game drives, which offer an opportunity for you to explore the wide savannah plains of the park and spot numerous wildlife species.

You can also enjoy guided walking safaris, which provide a more intimate and immersive wildlife experience of the park’s unique flora and fauna. For a different perspective, you can take a night game drive to see nocturnal animals such as leopards, genets, hyenas, and owls. Another fantastic activity in Ruaha National Park is bird watching, with over 570 species found in the park.

Wildlife game drives to see the diverse game, including the Big 5 and Big Cat

Fly-camping safaris; real, wild, African bush camping.

Bush breakfasts and sundowners.

Marvel at the Great Rift Valley, which traverses the park.

Bird watching of over 570 species

2. Wildlife At Ruaha

Ruaha is home to the largest herds of elephants in East Africa and has a great reputation for predator sightings. Ruaha is said to host about 10% of the world’s lion population.

The national park is also listed as one of the Lion Conservation Units in Tanzania, with frequent sightings of large lion prides of 20 or more.

Cheetahs, Leopards, spotted hyenas, and painted wolves (African wild dog) sightings are also frequent, particularly when the prey species are forced to assemble close to water.

Lucky visitors might even see the rare and elusive striped hyena. Ruaha is an excellent year-round destination for game viewing, and you can expect to see a range of game species such as kudu, buffalo, roan and sable antelopes, zebra, and giraffe. When the weather is hot and dry from May to October, animals gather along crocodile-and-hippo-filled watercourses.

• Ruaha National Park supports an incredible and globally important predator population.
• It has the world’s second-largest lion population, supporting nearly 10% of Africa’s remaining lions.
• It is a hotspot for Africa’s most elegant felines – providing a home to one of only four east African cheetah populations with over 200 adults, and an abundance of leopards

3. Diverse Bird life

Ruaha National Park is also called a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 570 species. While the dry season may be the best time for mammal sightings, the rainy months offer the best birding opportunities as seasonal migrants like the sooty and Eleonora’s falcons move through the area. Other iconic avian residents include: Black eagles

Ashy starlings, Black-masked lovebirds, Yellow-collared lovebirds, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, African fish eagle, Black-bellied bustard, Collared palm-thrush

4. Dramatic scenery

The dramatic scenic variety of Ruaha includes rocky hills, the Ruaha River, and semi-arid savannah grasslands studded with huge mysterious “upside-down” trees (baobab), acacia trees, and Miombo woodlands. The river is probably the main attraction, flowing through steep rocky gorges in sections before stretching out lazily to create wide, sandy beaches fringed by towering palm trees.

Ruaha National Park’s ancient baobabs are among the biggest in Africa and are self-contained ecosystems in their own right. Fruit bats pollinate them, and their hollows are home to a variety of reptiles, insects, and bats, as well as owls, ground hornbills.

The succulent-like capacity for water storage in the bark of the baobab and its delightful, nutritious fruits make the baobab truly irresistible to African elephants.

Even these world’s largest land mammals are dwarfed by the massive trees towering over them. Some of these baobab trees even have old spikes driven into their bark to make ladders for the earlier human inhabitants of the park to harvest honey from beehives.

Best Time to Visit Ruaha National Park

The best time to visit Ruaha National Park is during the long dry season between June and October. Unlike some of the busier safari parks in the northern region of the country, it is unlikely to feel crowded, even in peak season.

During this time, large herds of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, kudus, and impala are drawn to the water, trailing predators in their wake.

There are two rainy seasons in Ruaha National Park, similar to the seasons in Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara. with ‘short rains’ falling during November and December, and the much heavier downpours of the long rains occurring in March and April.

Accommodation in Ruaha National Park

Accommodation in Ruaha National Park is limited to a handful of game lodges and tented camps, but there’s plenty of comfort available. If you’re looking for a safari in one of the wildest wildlife reserves of Tanzania, our selection of tried-and-tested Ruaha National Park accommodation is sure to inspire you and will make planning your wildlife safari so much simpler.

• Usangu Expedition Camp
• Jongomero
• Ruaha River Lodge
• Kwihala Camp
• Kigelia Camp
• Jabali Private House
• Jabali Ridge
• Ikuka Safari Camp
• Jongomero Bush Manor

How to Get To Ruaha National Park

If you decide to stop over in Iringa, you can even get a taste of traditional African village life. Ruaha National Park is 625 kilometers away from Dar es Salaam city, and the road trip takes approximately 9 hours. You can also drive from Iringa town, which is only 130 km away. By plane, the journey is shorter.

There are frequent flights from Dar es Salaam, Nyerere National Park, Arusha, the Serengeti, Kigoma, and Dodoma to the local airstrips, Msembe and Jongomero. Safari Airlink and Coastal Aviation offer flights from Dar es Salaam. Private charter flights can be arranged on request.

 

One thing you won’t encounter in Ruaha National Park is crowds of fellow travelers. This remote park has just a few camps and lodges scattered around, ranging from luxury to simply rustic. They are all relatively small and intimate, enhancing a wild off-the-beaten-track vibe.

Contact us to book a safari to Ruaha National Park