Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is the second largest national park that is about the size of the combined area of Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Masai Mara and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.

Famous for:

Its excellent wildlife-sighting opportunities. Combined with the low numbers of visitors, this makes it a spectacular destination. The wider Ruaha area hosts 10% of the world’s lion population and has been a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005.

• Ruaha National Park is the biggest national park that is about the size of the combined area of Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Masai Mara and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
• Even after being the largest national park of Tanzania, Ruaha is less crowded and has a staggering amount of unspoiled wilderness.
• The National Park has 10% of the world’s remaining lion population.
• Ruaha National Park has the most number of elephants spotted in any national parks of East Africa.

Best Time:

• May to October

High Season :

• May to October (Ruaha rarely experiences visitors crowds at any time)
• Wildlife viewing is easier since the bush thins out and animals gather around rivers and waterholes
• Skies are bright with almost no rain
• Malaria risk is at a minimum since the numbers of mosquitoes are less
• The heat is less overpowering, and it is not as humid
• Dust and dryness is common
• The month of June is also famous for its greater kudu breeding season.

Low Season:

• The scenery is green and full
• Tourism is less during April and May which means fewer crowds and better rates
• The arrival of migrating birds means bird-watching is at its finest
• Roads could become impassable
• Wildlife viewing is not as good as during the middle and end of the Dry season
• Heat is high, and it becomes steamy and damp
• Many accommodations are closed in April and May

Safaris to Ruaha usually start from Dar es Salaam, and your point of entry for the country will be Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and handle all further transportation.

The drive to Ruaha from Dar es Salaam takes about 10 hours, and a lot of it is on a dusty, bumpy road. Many people traveling to Ruaha make a stopover at Mikumi NP. From Mikumi, the distance to Ruaha is about 320km/200mi, and the drive takes roughly five hours.

The easier way to get to Ruaha is by chartered or scheduled flight from Dar es Salaam to the park’s airstrip. There are also flights connecting all parks of the southern circuit safari.

• Wildlife some of which are; elephants, lions, buffalos, African wild dogs, greater and lesser kudu, leopards, lions, cheetah, impala, bushbuck, giraffes and occasionally sable and roan antelopes.
• 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-woodhoopoes, Sunbirds, Bee-eaters and Egrets.
• Gangilonga rock
• Iringa boma
• Mkwawa museum
• Great ruaha river
• Rift valley
• Natural springs include Mkwawa, Mwayembe, Makinde and Majimoto hot springs

• Game drive
• Night game drives
• Bird watching
• Walking tours
• Hiking
• Tour or class about local culture
• Games room
• Bike tours
• Cooking class

Mid range accommodation: Ruaha hilltop lodge, Jabali ridge, Hodi hodi ruaha bush camp,

Luxury hotel: Mabata makali luxury tented, Ruaha camping safari

• Best Weather: June to October: (Rains are extremely uncommon)
• Worst Weather: November to March (Wet season)