The largest national park in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is located 130 km from the vast Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem, which is made up of the Rugwe Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves, and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management. Ruaha National Park occupies 20.226 square kilometres and is located in the East Great Rift Valley. It borders the Serengeti National Park to the south and the Selous Game Reserve to the west. It is also roughly 455 kilometres away from Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.
Ruaha National Park is home to a diverse range of topography, including huge open plains with the renowned African Baobab trees, rocky escarpments, rolling hills, and the park’s perennial water source, the Ruaha River. Ruaha National Park is named after the Ruaha River, which flows through the park on its eastern border. The word Ruaha is a Hehe word that comes from the Ruvaha word, which means river. When Tanzania was taken over by the British colonial masters, the name of the reserve was changed to Rungwa Game reserve in 1946. Ruaha National Park was first gazetted as Saba Game Reserve by the German colonial masters in 1910. The southern portion of the reserve was gazetted as Ruaha National Park in the same year, while a small area surrounding the Ruaha River’s southeast was added to the park in 1974. Ruaha National Park, which is the largest park in Tanzania, was expanded to include the Usangu game reserve and various wetlands in the Usangu basin. Ruaha National Park is a part of the larger Rungwa – Kizigo–Muhesi ecosystem, which spans approximately 4500 square kilometres.
With 10% of the total lion population remaining in Africa, Ruaha National Park is known for having the second-largest lion population in the world. It also has one of the four cheetah populations in East Africa, with around 200 animals. Reptiles and animals, including as lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, leopards, striped and spotted hyenas, impalas, elephants, bat-eared foxes, jackals, giraffes, zebras, elands, topis, and many more, can be found in Ruaha National Park. Crocodiles, monitor lizards, agama lizards, and both dangerous and non-poisonous snakes can all be found in Ruaha National Park.
With over 574 bird species, Ruaha National Park is a popular spot for birdwatchers. These species include pale-bellied hornbills, crested barbets, black-collared lovebirds, goliath herons, Eleanor’s falcon, fish eagles, vultures, red-billed hornbills, green-wood hoopoes, egrets, and bee-eaters.
Ruaha National Park serves as a transitional area for Zambezia’s vegetation, which includes Miombo and Sudanian vegetation with Acacia. A network of rivers crosses the park’s plains, providing food for the animals and drawing large numbers of visitors, particularly during the dry season. Great Ruaha, Mzaombe, Mdonya, Mwagusi, and Jongomero are some of these rivers. Ruaha National Park boasts naturally occurring hot springs such as Mkwawa, Mwayembe, Makinde, and Majimoto, all connected to the foot of the Western Rift Valley Escarpment.
Safari activities to do in Ruaha National Park
Game viewing
The vast array of wildlife species found in Ruaha National Park makes it an ideal location for game viewing. The park’s several vegetation zones—miombo, acacia forests, baobab forests, and open savannah—are home to the park’s animals. There are three different times of day for game drives in Ruaha National Park: morning, afternoon, and night. This adventure offers a variety of animal species, such as lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, leopards, bat-eared foxes, jackals, giraffes, zebras, elands, Topis, crocodiles, and many more. When these creatures come to drink, the greatest places to see them are along the banks of the huge Ruaha, Mzombe, Mdonya, Mwagusi, and Jongomero rivers.
Bird watching
While on safari, one of the most fascinating things to do is go bird watching at Ruaha National Park. The park is home to over 574 different kinds of birds, all of which may be spotted in different areas. When engaging in bird watching, keep an eye out for species such as yellow-collared lovebirds, speckle-fronted wavers, open-billed storks, black eagles, bare-eyed go-away birds, D’Arnaud’s barbet, white-headed buffalo weaver, blue-capped cordon-bleu, red-billed hornbill, thick-billed cuckoo, Schalow’s turaco, and many more. Since the park is one of the migration routes for Eurasian and Paleatric birds, expect to see some of them. Bird species in Ruaha National park are easily visible, especially on the banks of Ruaha River.
Walking safari
Walking safaris in Ruaha National Park are fantastic experiences that offer a multitude of park aspects. Walking safaris allow you to explore portions of the park that are not accessible by car. Walking safaris are available in two session lengths: short walks, lasting one to four hours, and long walks, lasting more than five hours. They are conducted under the supervision of an experienced ranger. During this excursion, you will see animals, birds, and the park’s towering baobabs. You will also visit riverbanks.
Accommodations in Ruaha National Park
There are several different types of lodging options in Ruaha National region, including luxury, midrange, and affordable options, for visitors to the park. Accommodations in Ruaha National Park include Jabali Ridge Lodge, Ruaha River Lodge, Ikuka safari camp, Mwagusi safari camp, Tandala camp, Ruaha Hilltop lodge, Jongomero tented camp, Granda Ruaha tented lodge, Mdonya Old River camp, Tourist cottages, Rest House, and many more. The type of accommodation establishment determines the kind of facilities and services offered to the visitors.
How to get to Ruaha National Park
There are two methods to get to Ruaha National Park: by road and by air. The majority of safaris to Ruaha National Park start in Dar es Salaam, which is 448 km away. It takes roughly nine hours to drive from Ruaha National Park and five hours to travel 320 kilometres from Mikumi.
By air: Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, and Safari Link offer daily chartered flights from Arusha airport in Arusha city or Julius Nyerere International Airport, landing at Msembe and Jongomero airstrips serving the park.
