Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park: Highlights

Situated right in the centre of Tanzania, Ruaha National Park covers over 20,000km² of land. It is a fascinating, game-rich park that includes the Zambian miombo woodlands and the Tanzanian and Kenyan savannahs. This diversity of habitats hosts an equally diverse range of animals. Due to its vast size, and the fact that there are not many camps in the park, Ruaha is known as one of Tanzania's best-kept secret safari spots, promising unhurried, uncrowded game viewing.

The park was established in 1910 by the Germans and was initially called Saba Game Reserve. In the late 1940s, the British took over, renaming it Rungwa Game Reserve. In 1964, it was officially renamed Ruaha National Park, after the Ruaha River. Ruvaha in the local Hehe language means 'river'. The Usangu Wildlife Management Area was included as part of the park in 2008.

Ruaha is known for its huge elephant population (estimated at over 10,000) and healthy populations of predators. Especially notable, are the large prides of lion (up to 20-strong), leopard and cheetah. With over 500 species of bird (both seasonal and permanent), Ruaha is a birdwatcher's paradise. Again, the variety of birds is spectacular, including waterbirds and raptors from both the south and north.

Ruaha National Park: In Pictures

Lion

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Greater Kudu

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Giraffes

at ruaha national park

Lions eyeing Impalas

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Experience Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park, with its few camps, offers visitors an uncrowded glimpse of untouched Africa, with its huge diversity of game, birds and landscapes. It's an area known for its incredible animal sightings, including large herds of elephant and plenty of predators. Ruaha National Park, another pristine wilderness located in the south-central part of the country, is considered Tanzania’s best-kept safari secret. Spanning more than 7,800 square miles, Ruaha is the largest national park in East Africa. The park is named for the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its southeast border and provides a vital source of water for animals during the dry season.

Its habitats range from rolling hills to open grasslands, and from groves of baobab trees to dense miombo and acacia woodlands. These pristine environments provide a home to an incredible variety of wildlife, making Ruaha a perfect destination for dedicated safari-goers wanting to escape the crowds and experience untamed Africa.

Where to find Ruaha National Park

Birdlife at the Ruaha National Park

Ruaha's great diversity of birds is a function of its location, which is transitional to the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of southern Africa. The park has a checklist of 450 birds. The crested barbet – whose persistent trilling is a characteristic sound of the southern bush – occurs in Ruaha, alongside central Tanzanian endemics (restricted to Central Tanzania) such as the yellow-collared lovebird and ashy starling. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

The birdlife in Ruaha is good year-round, but at its best from November to April when the migratory birds from Europe and northern Africa are present. At this time, many resident bird species are nesting and are in breeding plumage. For wildlife viewing, the middle and end of the Dry season, from June to October, is best for visitors to the park.

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Ruaha National Park