Ruaha.
National Park - Tanzania
Ruaha
Tanzania National Park
Ruaha National Park has a high diversity of plants and animals including elephants, buffalos, antelopes and some of rare and endangered species like wild dogs. The park is one of the Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571 species.
Ruaha is believed to have the highest concentration of elephants in Africa and it is also a place where magnificent mammals like Kudu (both Greater and Lesser), Sable and Roan antelopes can easily be spotted in Miombo woodland. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and Jackals.
Apart from large animals, the park also harbors a number of reptiles and amphibians such as crocodiles, snakes and lizards. The park is the transitional point of two vegetation zones, the Zambezian (characterized by Miombo vegetation) and Sudanian (characterized by Acacia vegetation).
Ruaha features a wide range of lodges and camps, typically a bit less luxurious (and consequently less expensive) with few exceptions than the lodges and camps in the Northern Circuit. A lot quieter than the Northern Circuit, in short same as Selous, Ruaha is a cheaper and faster/easier to reach safari destination.
"The rewards of travelling this far are a wild landscape with baobab studded hills and rocky escarpments, with superb wildlife."
Best Time to Go
June to October
Size
20,220km² / 7,807mi²
July to October
High Season
Wildlife
Predators, Jackal, Zebra, Giraffe
Noteworthy
Impressive Baobabs
Altitude
721-1,863m / 2,365-6,112ft
Ruaha is easily accessible by plane from Arusha and Dar-Es-Salaam and from Zanzibar via Selous.
Home of the leopard.
Wildlife in Ruaha
All big cats are regularly seen, and wild dog are the star attraction. They are especially easy to find when denning. Several antelope species that are rare or absent in northern Tanzania, such as greater and lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope, are often encountered.
Weather & Climate
Temperatures do not change much from month to month. The area is at its coolest during the Dry season (June to October), the Wet season from November to April can be very hot and humid.
There are huge amounts of things to do and see at Ruaha National Park, for example, you could indulge in hiking safaris or choose a day walk through the vast bush.
The Best Time to Visit
Best time for visiting and wildlife viewing in Ruaha is in the dry season from June to October. As water sources are drying up the animals start gathering around the Great Ruaha river in Ruaha National Park. Best time to see the wild dogs for which Ruaha is famous is between June and August. Best time to see predators and large mammals is during the dry season from June to October. The wet season from November to April is best for bird watching, lush scenery and wildflowers but access can become difficult after heavy rainfall in March and April.
Ruaha Scenery
The main feature of the park is the Great Ruaha River, which attracts loads of animals in the Dry season. The dominant vegetation is brachystegia (miombo) woodland, and some areas are dotted with the impressive baobab tree.
Ruaha
Kwihala Camp
Set in Tanzania’s iconic Ruaha National Park, this small frontier-style camp provides exceptional access to the park’s huge populations of big cats, buffalo and elephants. Relatively unexplored, Ruaha is one of the largest national parks in Africa, ensuring a true wilderness experience.
