Ruaha National Park Safaris
Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest national park. Located in the heart of the country, Ruaha is a predator-rich remote wilderness that is far off the beaten track.
When to go to Ruaha National Park
Best Time to Go
Tanzania’s largest National Park
Big cat viewing is superb
Remote wilderness off the beaten track
Excellent quality of guiding
Remote, Predator-Rich Wilderness
The remote location only adds to the park’s appeal, leaving it wonderfully devoid of travellers. Big cat viewing is superb here and the overall quality of guiding is probably the best in the country. Usually booked in conjunction with Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park is an off-the-beaten-track destination that is often described as ideal for old safari hands. However, we believe that this park is for everyone who has an interest in true wilderness and big game viewing. There is no reason that this ridiculously good safari park should be ignored by adventurous safari novices!
Ruaha has one of the highest concentrations of predators anywhere in Africa, and a wonderfully wild character that is rare to find nowadays. The camps here are adventurous but very high quality – guiding standards are truly exceptional. We love this park for its lack of visitors and incredible game viewing. There is an argument that, if you want to get the full Ruaha experience, then you need to stay in the Mwagusi area, which is a good two hours’ drive north of Jongomero and approximately 45 minutes from Mdonya. Mwagusi is why Ruaha has gained its high reputation – this is where you see the huge concentrations of game. There are a couple of camps in this area, but the two stand-out properties are Mwagusi Camp and Nomad Tanzania’s Kigelia Ruaha.
Activities & Wildlife
Ruaha is a park with plenty to see and do! Rules are different in this national park, due to its size and the fact that it’s less frequented, meaning, along with classic game drives, visitors can also enjoy night drives, walking safaris and fly camping.
Wildlife
Walking safaris
Game drives
Birdwatching
Sleep outs
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Ruaha is an outstanding safari park due to the fact that the park showcases a crossover of East and Southern African species in terms of flora and fauna. One reason for the hordes of animals in Ruaha is the Great Ruaha River, a vital year-round water source. Lion live here in large prides, often numbering over twenty individuals! Leopard and cheetah love hunting on the open plains, and cheetah are remarkably common, making seeing the three main cat species very likely – something that’s rare anywhere in Africa nowadays. Other predators include black-backed jackal, spotted and striped hyena, serval, caracal, civet, genet and banded wildcat.. The park is also an important area for wild dog!
Other mammals also thrive in Ruaha, including humungous elephant herds, plentiful buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hippopotamus and an exciting assortment of antelope species such as roan, sable, eland, impala, gazelle, reedbuck, hartebeest, klipspringer, and the largest population of greater kudu in all East Africa!
Walking safaris take place in the morning when it’s coolest. You set out at first light with an experienced guide, after a cup of coffee on your veranda while watching dawn break over the savanna. Removing the vehicle brings you much closer to nature, allows you to appreciate the park’s smaller residents, and gives you the chance to learn about wildlife tracking, indigenous flora, and insects. You may occasionally come across big game, but rest assured that the guides are trained to approach them and are armed as a precaution.
Game driving in a 4×4 is the predominant safari activity, allowing you to explore various habitats and spot predators. You can also night drive at certain camps, which gives you an entirely different nocturnal perspective. You can see creatures like aardvarks, bush babies, or occasionally a leopard with its kill.
Ruaha’s birdlife is so prolific that specialist birdwatching trips are on offer. Your guide will know the likely whereabouts of various species, spotting both migratory and resident birdlife. These usually take place on foot, although you can decide this with your guide.
‘Fly camping’ means sleeping out beneath the stars in a wonderful location in the bush. To sleep out in the wilderness in specially designed tents is thrilling! The sounds of the bush all surround you and the vast night sky is spread out above. Each lodge that offers this activity will have its own way of delivering this memorable experience, ensuring guests’ safety and comfort.
Ruaha is like the Serengeti’s wilder, quieter cousin. Here, savanna grasslands and baobab forests are home to large elephant herds, impressive lion populations, and a wide range of other game. For travellers looking to go off the beaten track, Ruaha offers epic value and a truly untamed safari experience.Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.Good to Know
01.Can I see the Big Five in Ruaha?
In Ruaha, the only missing member of the Big Five (lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard and rhino) is rhino – there have not been any in the park for years. There is no doubt that Ruaha is one of Africa’s finest destinations for big cats. The lion concentration here is as high as anywhere we know. A very strong lion population virtually goes hand in hand with healthy buffalo herds, whilst Ruaha’s elephant herds are seriously impressive. Leopard are always found in the park with the majority of travellers seeing this elusive big cat!
02.How big is Ruaha National Park?
It’s bigger than the Serengeti by 6,000 km² and covers a vast region totalling 20,226 km². In 2008, it was merged with Usangu Game Reserve, making it Tanzania’s largest national park. With fewer visitors and camps, Ruaha is a park that certainly gets you away from the main tourist routes!
03.How do I get to Ruaha National Park?
Ruaha is best reached by light aircraft, with flights from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, or Nyerere. The park is very remote, so a flight is by some distance the best way to travel. Each camp has an airstrip, usually just a short game drive away.
04.When is the best time to travel to Ruaha National Park?
This is a year-round destination, with wildlife concentrating itself around the park’s water sources. Certain times of year offer different conditions – the best time of year to be in Ruaha is from July through to the end of October. This is the peak of the dry season and a time of year that guarantees Ruaha’s immense volume of game will be focused around the park’s rivers.
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