Ruaha has the highest concentration of elephants anywhere in East Africa. At 12,226 square kilometres (7,457 square miles), the pristine and untouched Ruaha National Park is the largest National Park in Tanzania. Ruaha is bordered in the north by the Kizigio and Rungwa River Game Reserves and together they form a 26,500 square kilometres (10,230 square mile) conservancy, one of the biggest in East Africa. The focal point of the reserve is the Great Ruaha River, with its deep gorges, swirling rapids and excellent fishing. The river is an excellent fishing destination. With over 10,000 elephant, 30,000 buffalo, 20,000 zebra and huge populations of lion and leopard (not to mention more than 400 bird species), Ruaha is a wildlife enthusias’ts paradise.
Ruaha is often overshadowed by its bigger sisters on Tanzania's northern safari circuit. This - in many ways - is one of its biggest strengths. At Ruaha, you can experience Tanzania's wilderness without the drone of surrounding safari engines. Its remoteness - and utter vastness - is what makes it so compelling. Ruaha is part of Tanzania's southern safari circuit, often combined with Selous. Although Ruaha does not contain rhinos, it is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Tanzania, lions, and even crocodiles on the shores of the Great Ruaha River.
Like most other Tanzanian national parks, it is best to visit Ruaha during the long dry season from June to October. It is relatively cool during this period compared to the hot dry season from mid-December to mid-March. The dry season also provides great conditions for wildlife viewing because animals are drawn to the dwindling water sources and the grass is too short for them to hide. For bird enthusiasts, the European winter months (December to April) are the best time to visit as migratory birds make their way down to Tanzania. Some lodges close in the long-wet season (March-May), so you will need to be flexible when you are finding your accommodation.
Ruaha National Park is hot and dry. Temperatures don't vary much throughout the year. The warmest months are October to March, and the coolest are June to August. The Dry season occurs from May to October. Ruaha has one extended Wet season from November to April. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Wet season, but it is unusual for rainfall to last throughout the day.
Ruaha has the largest concentration of elephants in East Africa with a population of around 10,000 of these gentle giants. Ruaha is also home to 10% of global lion populations. You also have a chance of seeing leopards, cheetahs, zebras, elands, giraffes, impalas, bat-eared foxes, snakes, crocodiles, and jackals. Ruaha’s unique position on the verge of Southern Africa means that it is home to species from Southern and Eastern Africa. The greater and lesser kudu can both be found at Ruaha. Whilst the greater kudu is traditionally found in Southern Africa, the lesser kudu is found in East Africa.
Ruaha is home to dozens of rare species, including the sable and roan antelopes. Cheetahs and leopards are difficult to spot in most places, but they are often sighted as they pursue their prey in the open plains of Ruaha. The wild dog is endangered worldwide, but around 100 wild dogs live in the park. Ruaha is a birdwatcher’s paradise and 571 bird species have been sighted at the park. Ruaha also has beautiful landscapes which are dotted with acacias, baobabs, and over 1,650 plant species.
Ruaha’s remote location means that it is difficult to access, but the long journey is rewarded ten times over by the secluded safari paradise that awaits. The Southern Safari Circuit is less popular, so flight connections are not as frequent. You can reach Ruaha via plane or car, although we recommend the former for ease and comfort. If you do decide to drive, you'll get a wonderful insight into rural Tanzanian life, and you can enjoy the changing landscapes that never fail to impress. If you decide to stop over in Morogoro or Iringa, you can even get a taste of traditional village life. Ruaha is 625 km away from Dar es Salaam and the road journey takes around 9 hours. You can also drive from Iringa which is only 130 km away. By plane, the journey is a lot shorter. There are frequent flights from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, the Serengeti, Kigoma, and Dodoma to the local airstrips, Msembe and Jongomero.
The Ruaha National Park is inhabited by over 450 different bird species including some endemics such as the Ashy starling and the Yellow-collared Lovebird. The resident birds of the Ruaha National Park are: the Crested barbet, Dickinson's kestrel, Pale-billed hornbill, Violet-crested turaco, Racket-tailed roller, Plovers, Kingfishers, Hornbills, Green-wood hoopoes, Sunbirds, Bee-eaters and Egrets. The national park is visited by Eurasian migrants twice a year – from October to November and from March to April. Among the migrants in the Ruaha National Park you can see the Sooty falcon, whose breeding grounds are in the Sahara and in the Middle East, and the Eleonora's Falcon, whose breeding grounds are in the Mediterranean. The national park is also inhabited by birds of prey such as Pel's fishing owl, the African hawk, the Bateleur, and Eagles such as the Long-crested, Martial and Snake eagles.
