Ruaha National Park is a vast, unspoiled wilderness area where diverse wildlife, birds, and habitats await, without the crowds.
1. Extraordinary predator sightings: Ruaha hosts large populations of lions, cheetahs, and African wild dogs as well as sizeable leopard and hyena populations.
2. Remote & uncrowded: this lesser-known Tanzanian safari destination is one of East Africa's hidden gems offering a secluded wilderness experience.
3. It's massive: The largest national park in Tanzania and East Africa, Ruaha Park is awe-inspiringly vast.
4. Truly wild: This is untamed Africa. Due to its remoteness, Ruaha is completely wild, unspoiled, and uninhabited.
5. High concentrations of elephants and buffalos: encounter large herds of elephants and buffalos, two of Africa's Big Five
6. Exceptional biodiversity: Located in a transitional zone where eco-regions meet, Ruaha hosts a high diversity of species
7. Dramatic scenery: Ruaha features stunning landscapes - rocky hills, Ruaha river, and grasslands dotted with baobab and acacia trees.
8. Diverse birdlife: Over 580 species of birds have been recorded including endemic and endangered species
Ruaha National Park was established in 1964 but the area was declared a game reserve in the early 1900s.
In 2008 the Usangu Game Reserve was added to the park making it the largest national park in Tanzania and the whole of East Africa. Today the national park is about 20 226 km² in size. The park is named after the Great Ruaha River which flows through the south-eastern part of the park. Game viewing is centered along the well-developed watercourses which support healthy populations of wildlife, birds, and plants.
Ruaha is a budget-friendly alternative to Tanzania's more famous game parks on the Northern Safari Circuit.
The Ruaha National Park is known for its large elephant population and the exceptionally high number of predators found here. Lions are especially abundant in Ruaha, which is said to host the second largest lion population on the planet. This is also a stronghold for endangered African wild dogs, as well as hosting globally significant cheetah populations and numerous leopards.
Ruaha is situated in a transitional zone where eastern and southern ecosystems overlap resulting in an unusual mix of habitats and accompanying inhabitants, hence its remarkable diversity of plants, animals, and birds. It is one of the few parks where both greater and lesser kudu can be found, as well as rare sable and roan antelopes. In Ruaha, elephants, buffalos, and lions (three of Africa's Big Five) are commonly sighted. Leopards, another member of the Big Five, are also sighted quite often. Other commonly sighted animals in Ruaha include wildebeest, giraffes, hippos, and various antelopes.
Ruaha Park features grassy plains with acacia and baobab trees, similar to the classical African savannahs of Serengeti. Landscapes include rolling hills, rocky escarpments, and river courses. Due to its location, Ruaha encompasses southern and northern eco-zones. As a transitional area, it hosts an unusual diversity of plant and animal species. Vegetation includes both Miombo woodlands and open savannahs, along with swamps, semi-arid bush, and riverine forests.
The dry season is the best time to visit Ruaha in terms of wildlife viewing. The dry season is from June to October making this the best time to go on a Ruaha Safari. The shoulder seasons are also a good time to visit. The two shoulder seasons are May and November to December.
As Tanzania's best-kept safari secret dodging the high season crowds is not a major factor as with famous Northern Safari Circuit destinations like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
The rainy season (late December to April) is the best time for birdwatching in Ruaha, but temperatures are high and conditions wet and muddy.
Ruaha is located in south-central Tanzania, west of Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi. The closest big town to Ruaha National Park is Iringa, about 130km from the park. Dar es Salaam is 625 km (388 mi) east of Ruaha Park by road.
Use the Google map to explore Ruaha National Park.