Ruaha National Park

🐘 Ruaha National Park – Tanzania

📍 Location

  • Country: Tanzania

  • Region: South-central Tanzania

  • Nearest Town: Iringa (~130 km away)

  • Distance from Dar es Salaam: ~625 km (by road); accessible by small plane

🌍 Overview

  • Size: ~20,226 km² – Tanzania’s largest national park

  • Established: 1964

  • Part of the larger Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem (~45,000 km²)

  • Named after the Great Ruaha River, which runs along its southeastern border

🐾 Key Highlights

🐘 Wildlife

Ruaha has Tanzania’s largest elephant population and is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife:

🦁 Big Cats:

  • Large prides of lions (some of the largest in Africa)

  • Leopards

  • Cheetahs

  • Servals

🐘 Other Mammals:

  • Elephants (over 10,000)

  • Buffaloes

  • Giraffes

  • Hippos

  • Zebras

  • Greater and lesser kudus

  • Sable and roan antelopes (rare in many parks)

🦏 No Rhinos — they were wiped out in the 1980s due to poaching.

🐦 Birdlife

  • Over 570 bird species

  • Notable species: African fish eagle, bateleur eagle, southern ground hornbill, and endemic yellow-collared lovebird

🌿 Landscape & Ecosystem

  • Semi-arid savanna, baobab-studded plains, rocky hills, riverine forests

  • The Great Ruaha River attracts animals in the dry season and is essential to the ecosystem

📆 Best Time to Visit

Season Months What to Expect
Dry Season June – October Best for game viewing; animals congregate at rivers
Green Season November – April Lush landscape, migratory birds, fewer tourists
Rainy Season March – May Some lodges close; roads may be difficult

💰 Park Fees (as of 2024)

Visitor Type Entry Fee (per 24 hrs)
Foreign Adult ~$30–$50 USD
Foreign Child ~$15–$25 USD
Vehicle Fees Vary by size/type

Always confirm up-to-date fees via TANAPA or your tour operator.

✈️ Getting There

🛫 By Air:

  • Ruaha Airstrip (Msembe) receives daily charter flights from:

    • Dar es Salaam

    • Zanzibar

    • Arusha

    • Serengeti

  • Carriers: Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, Flightlink

🚗 By Road:

  • Long drive (10–12 hours) from Dar or Arusha; often combined with stops in Mikumi or Udzungwa Mountains

🏨 Where to Stay

🏕️ Inside the Park:

  • Luxury: Jabali Ridge (Asilia), Ikuka Safari Camp, Kwihala Camp

  • Mid-range: Ruaha River Lodge, Mwagusi Safari Camp

  • Public campsites (budget & for self-drivers)

🏨 Outside the Park:

  • Lodges and guesthouses in Iringa or outside the gate, offering more budget options

🌟 Why Visit Ruaha?

  • Off-the-beaten-path – less crowded than Serengeti or Ngorongoro

  • Authentic safari experience with fewer vehicles

  • Incredible predator action (especially lions)

  • Diverse birding and landscapes

  • Combines well with southern circuit parks: Selous/Nyerere NP, Mikumi, and Udzungwa Mountains