Ruaha National Park
The picturesque savannas of Ruaha are concealed in the interior of Tanzania’s backwoods in an area fed by the Great Ruaha River. The remarkable scenery of this area consists of rolling plains interrupted by gentle hills and smooth rocky outcrops, all framed by mighty baobabs. One might wonder at the unique combination represented by the visual beauty of this park. Still, if the best features of the Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks were put together, the result might be very much what Ruaha is.
The second-largest National Park in Tanzania and covers an area of about 22,000 km². It is one of the few of Tanzania’s famous wilderness areas, whereby the experience of game viewing is spiced up by the exciting landscape and its Great Ruaha River. In addition, the park boasts of its almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making visitors’ safari experiences unique.
The amazingly profuse wildlife sums up almost everything essential to the Tanzanian savanna environment. All five great predators, elephants, buffaloes, endangered wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, elands, bat-eared foxes, jackals, kudu and both horse-like antelopes, to name only a few outstanding pieces in the wildlife jigsaw puzzle, are part of the widely diverse fauna of the Ruaha ecosystem.
The rivers, namely the Great Ruaha River, Mwagusi, Jongomero and Mzombe, are the park’s lifeline. During the dry season, these rivers become mostly the primary water source for wildlife.
Why Visit Ruaha National Park
- An enormous area wilderness area
- Essentially, all the mammals of the East African plain can be seen.
- Some species of large mammals, including the greater Kudu, are easy to spot here.
- Natural beauty – palm-fringed river valley savannas dotted with baobabs and rugged rocky outcrops.
- Marvelous flora splendour during the wet season
- Some feeling of solitude because of the relatively few visitors
Tourism Activities
- Wildlife safaris
- Walking safaris
- Bird watching
Getting There
- A long drive from Dar es Salaam
- Scheduled and Charter flight from Arusha, Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season, June to October, is the best time to visit the park (for ease of game viewing). The short rains fall in November and December, followed by a partial drying out in January and February. After that, the long showers follow, ending in early May.