RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Ruaha national park is a majestic Tanzania safari destination and the largest national park in Tanzania covering an area of 20226 square kilometers, this park is one of the best destinations for Tanzania wildlife safari located in a more remote south-central region of Tanzania. Ruaha National Park lies in the East of the Great Rift Valley and is situated about 455 kilometers from Julius Nyerere International airport, 130 kilometers from the Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem (Runga game reserve, Kizigo and Muhesi game reserves and the Mbomipa wildlife management Area).
Ruaha national park gets its name from the Great Ruaha River flowing along the southeastern margin of the park, the river gets its name from Ruvaha a local Hehe word meaning river, Ruaha river is of the best sites for game viewing in the park as is the main water source feeding the park’s ecosystem.
Ruaha national park was first gazetted in 1910 as saba game reserve by the Germany and in 1946 its name was changed to Rungwa game reserve by the British, the southern portion of the game reserve was gazetted as a national park in 1964 and in 1974 a small section of the South-Eastern part of the Great Ruaha River was incorporated to the already established park.
Ruaha national park’s landscape comprises of the Great Ruaha River, rolling hills, rocky escarpments and the vast open plains dotted with the iconic African Baobab trees. The park is composed of pristine eco-system and the park forms an intersection where the eastern and southern African eco-regions converge resulting in a plethora of rare and diverse species. The park is an important habitat of wildlife species including a large population of elephants estimated to be over 12,000 individuals and is one of the few places where both sable and roan antelopes can be seen.
Ruaha national park is a home to many other species of animals such as giraffes, zebras, oribi, elands, grant’s gazelles, bushbucks, lions, jackals, wild dogs, cheetahs, bat-eared foxes, cape buffaloes and many more. The park is also an important birding habitat with over 574 bird species including ostriches, African fish eagle, Ashy starling, Black-bellied bustard, Collared palm-thrush, Crested barbet, Eleonora’s falcon, Emerald-spotted wood dove, Goliath heron, Long-crested eagle, Namaqua dove, Southern ground hornbill, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, White-bellied go-away bird, Yellow-collared lovebird and many more.
TANZANIA SAFARI ACTIVITIES TO DO IN RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Game viewing
Ruaha national park is one of the Tanzania’s great destinations for game viewing, the park is a home to a variety of predators including 10% of the global population of lions which you will spot on game viewing safari. Game viewing in the park is done in a range of environments including the Great Ruaha River, miombo and acacia woodland, baobab forests, open savannah, granite kopjes and seasonal riverbeds such as Mwagusi, Jongomero, Mdonya, Mzombe and Ihunguru.
Game viewing in the park is done on morning, afternoon and evening game drives in a vehicle with open widows and pop up roof, on game viewing experience you will have an opportunity to watch a variety of animals such as lions, leopards, African dogs, stripped and spotted hyenas, elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas, bat-eared foxes, jackals and many more.
Bird watching
Ruaha national park is an interesting destination for Tanzania birding safaris, the park is known for offering rewarding birding experience as it is a habitat to over 574 bird species best sighted along the Ruaha river valley, savanna grasslands and forest galleries. Some of the birds to look out for during birding safaris on the park include ostriches, African fish eagle, Ashy starling, Black-bellied bustard, Collared palm-thrush, Crested barbet, Eleonora’s falcon, Emerald-spotted wood dove, Goliath heron, Long-crested eagle, Namaqua dove, Southern ground hornbill, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, White-bellied go-away bird, Yellow-collared lovebird and many more.
Walking safaris
Walking safaris in the park offer an opportunity to travelers on a Tanzania safari to enjoy the park’s nature in a different dimension, walking safaris in this park are done with an experienced and skilled guide/ranger. This activity is offered as short walks lasting 1-4 hours and long walks lasting morethan 5 hours, while walking through the park most especially along the banks of Ruaha river you will enjoy watching many animals such as elephants, warthogs, elands, hippos as they drink water on the river’s banks, many birds such as open-bellied storks, African skimmers and many more and the beauty of the park.
HOW TO GET TO RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Ruaha national park is accessed using two ways that are by air or by road, most safaris to the park usually start from Dar es Salaam city which is approximately 448 kilometers from the park. The main gateway to the park and Dar es Salaam is Julius Nyerere International airport.
By road: it is a drive of 9 hours from Dar es Salaam on a dusty, bump road, on your way to the park it is possible to make a stopover in Mikumi national park which is situated approximately 320 kilometers to the park and a drive of about 5 hours.
By air: daily domestic flights to the park are offered from Dar es Salaam and Arusha, these flights and handled at two airstrips that are Msembe and Jongomero and offered by various airline companies such as Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and Safari Link.
WHERE TO STAY IN RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Ruaha national park has some of the finest tented camps, camps and safari lodges offering accommodation and other necessary services and facilities during your Tanzania safari to Ruaha national park. These accommodation facilities range from luxury, midrange and budget.
- Luxury lodges – Jabali Ridge lodge, Ruaha River lodge, Ikuka safari camp, Mwagusi safari camp, Tandala camp and many more.
- Midrange lodges – Ruaha Hilltop Lodge, Jongomero Tented camp, Grand Ruaha Tented Lodge, Mdonya Old River camp and many more.
- Budget lodges – Ruaha Hilltop Lodge and many more.
