pngbarn

Introduction to Ruaha National Park

Hot, wild, and vast, the Ruaha National Park offers an ultimate daytime game drive safari.
On top of that, the park is outstanding in showcasing the crossover of Southern and East African flora and fauna species.
So, remember to bring your binoculars and camera on the trip!

Why visit Ruaha National Park?

  • Ruaha is well known for its high densities of elephants, with over 10,000 individuals.
  • The park also houses enormous numbers of predators like the 20 prides of lions, lions, and cheetahs.
  • Ruaha also houses over 500 permanent and seasonal bird species, making the park a birders’ paradise.
  • The park is renowned for its excellent wildlife viewing opportunities with only a few visitors, making it an ideal destination for those who dislike touristy parks.
  • It is the biggest safari park in Tanzania, with a pleasantly dry climate and dramatic scenery, perfect for picture-taking opportunities.
  • The park offers a rare game-viewing experience spiced up by Ruaha’s incredibly stunning landscape.

Getting to Ruaha National Park

By Road

Traveling from Dar es Salaam will take around 10 hours to drive to Ruaha National Park.

By Air

Flying is the best way to reach Ruaha. Coastal Aviation offers daily flights from Serengeti, Dar es Salaam, Selous, Arusha, and Zanzibar.

Best Time to visit Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is the usual dry-season park.
That said, visiting during the dry season from June to October is the best choice. These months offer unbeatable game viewing opportunities.
That’s because, during the dry season, animals usually gather around water sources, giving visitors some of the best wildlife viewings.
Tanzania - ruaha national park 19 - ruaha national park

Let's plan your trip around Ruaha National Park.

Enquire now, and our safari specialist will get back to you shortly.

Weather in Ruaha National Park

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Things to do in Ruaha National Park

Though renowned for excellent game viewing, Ruaha has a lot to offer. Check out some of these things below.

Wildlife in Ruaha National Park

There’s no limit to what you can see in Ruaha. Thus, you better not leave your binoculars at home!

Birds in Ruaha National Park

There are over 500 resident and seasonal bird species in Ruaha. So, get your binoculars out because your eyes will surely get busy!

Landscape in Ruaha National Park

Located remotely, Ruaha boasts stunningly diverse landscapes abundant with wildlife. Check out some of these landscapes below.

Where to stay in Ruaha National Park

Refreshing, comfortable, and affordable best describes Ruaha’s accommodations, especially the Jabali Ridge. Check out your other best options below.

Ruaha National Park Tours: Our Top Tours in Ruaha

Reviews of Ruaha National Park

Top questions answered for Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is unlike anywhere you’ve been before. So, you have questions. We’ve been visiting for decades. So, we have answers.

The Ruaha National Park was established in 1964 by Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). Since then, more areas close to the park have been systematically added.

After ten years, a South Eastern land in the Great Ruaha River was added. By 2008, an important wetland area surrounding the Usangu Game Reserve was integrated too.

At that time, it was Tanzania’s largest national park until 2019, when Nyerere National Park—formerly Selous Game Reserve—was declared in the South. Currently, at 20,226 kilometers square, the Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s second largest national park.

Ruaha National Park is famous for its excellent wildlife sightings. If you combine this with the low number of visitors, this makes Ruaha an incredible safari destination.

Ruaha houses the largest elephant concentration in East Africa, with around 10,000 elephant individuals. That said, your eyes will surely get enough of these gentle giants.

The Ruaha National Park covers a total area of 20,226km². It is also a vital part of the Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem, spanning an area of 45,000km²comprising Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves, Rungwa Game Reserve, and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area.

The Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem combines the best East and Southern African nature and unbeatable wildlife.

On average, there are approximately 30 individuals of pride. Given these numbers, the lions specialize in large prey like buffalo and giraffes.

While five public campsites in Ruaha offer tent space, many private operations within the park provide glamping opportunities in permanent and seasonal camps. Some offers include a “back to the basics” approach, which comprises a meal, a tent, and a fire.

Others offer more extravagant outfitters, boasting luxury camping suites and main tented lodges like the Kigelia Camp, Kichaka Expedition Camp, and Ikuka Permanent Tented Camp.

The park gets its name from the Great Ruaha River, which flows through its southeastern section, attracting a wide range of wildlife.

As one of Tanzania’s most remote safari destinations, the Ruaha National Park is among the least-frequented parks in the country. This, combined with the park’s enormous size, makes the safaris here feel super-exclusive.

Sharing sightings with other vehicles is very rare. Moreover, few wild places like this are left in the world, making Ruaha more special.

On top of that, Ruaha’s flourishing ecosystem is pristine and stunning, dotted with ancient and scenic baobab trees.

The wildlife experience in Ruaha National Park is spectacular. Combined with the low number of visitors annually, the park offers a pleasant and uncrowded game-viewing experience.

The park also boasts the highest elephant concentration in East Africa and houses about 10% of the world’s lion population. Also, on the Great Ruaha River’s shores, you will likely encounter countless hippos and crocodiles cooling themselves from the sun’s heat.

How it works

Tanzania - safari specialist - ruaha national park

Hi there!

Do you need help planning
your Tanzania Tour?

Other parks, lakes, and mountains

Besides visiting the largest national park in Tanzania, you may add other parks to your main safari destination, such as those shown below.

Do you need help planning your Tanzania Tour?

Our experts are ready to help you plan your tour 😊
Please check your spam inbox if you don’t receive our email in 24hrs.