Ruaha National Park

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.