With an area of approximately 12,950 square kilometres, the Ruaha National Park is second only to the Serengeti in terms of size of national park in Tanzania . This park is unique in that ancient lands remain undiscovered and pristine due to the lack of numbers of visitors compared to its northern counterparts. Unspoilt reaches of Ruaha means that to get there one has to either fly or take a very long drive. This is the ideal place for a longer safari (minimum of four nights recommended) and a trip here can be combined with a visit to the Selous.

The Ruaha National Park has one of the greatest populations of elephant with its hilly savannah landscape and rocky shores of the Great Ruaha River . Lion, leopard and packs of African hunting dog (or wild dog), giraffe, zebra, sable and roan antelope as well as Greater and Lesser Kudu are all to be found here in great numbers.

Well watered by the Great Ruaha, Nzombe, the Mwagusi Sand River, the Mdonya Sand River and the Jongomero Rivers become the focal point for large numbers of animals during the heat of the day. Much of the park is miombo woodland and the other undulating plains with vegetation ranging from dry bush country to treeless grasslands, swamps and evergreen forests intersected by the many sand rivers that are such a feature of this area.

In all there are approximately 1,650 plant species and over 520 bird species have been recorded within the park itself (some bird and plant species are still being discovered).

Ruaha is known for its large elephant and buffalo herds and one of its principal attractions lies in being able to see greater and lesser kudu as well as the majestic sable and roan antelope within the same area. As well as an abundance of lion, leopard and cheetah it is also home to the increasingly rare African Hunting Dog (also known as Wild Dog).

The best time to visit Ruaha is probably in the dry season between June and October. As with most well watered game reserves and national parks, the drier it gets the fewer the areas for wildlife to drink. As a result best game viewing areas are around the remaining water holes and riverbanks. However, the rainy season has its own appeal with the freshly grown, greener areas providing more hiding places and as a result, wildlife are more difficult to spot. Many of the lodges and tented camps close down for revamping during the long rains in April and May. This is also the time when some of the sand rivers are most likely to flood.

Ruaha is well serviced by air from Dar es Salaam and Arusha, generally via the Selous, which is why the two work so well together.

Access to Ruaha:

There are regular connections to the following parks from/to Ruaha:
Selous: 1.5 hours
Katavi: 2 hours
Mahale: 2.5-3 hours
Arusha, Lake Manyara and Serengeti ( Northern Tanzania ) : 3 –3.5 hours

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