Ruaha National Park

Enjoy Tanzania's varied wildlife & scenery in one of the largest & wildest national parks in Africa.

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Overview

Leopard on rock in Ruaha National Park at Mwagusi Camp, Ruaha National Park, in the south of Tanzania, is the country’s second largest park. Rolling hills, baobabs and open bushveld border the wide Great Ruaha River. The valley of the Great Ruaha River is an extension of the Great Rift Valley.

Ruaha is in an ecological transition zone with thick bush interspersed with wide open plains. Its river system is hugely important to the reserve. The floodplains attract a wide diversity of plains game such as buffalo, zebra, Defassa water-buck, impala, giraffe and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. The open plain is also ideal terrain for cheetahs. Whilst the rarer roan and sable antelopes roam the Miombo woodland. Also prominent is the Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu. Consequently, the lion prides are often large in Ruaha. Wild dog are also well-represented in Ruaha National Park.

Baby monkey in Ruaha National Park at Mwagusi Camp,

In testament to its floral diversity, Ruaha boasts over 570 birding species. Goliath herons, saddle-billed storks, white-backed night heron and white-headed plovers can be seen along the rivers. Migrant birds swell the numbers from mid-November to March.

Ruaha Safari Lodges

Despite the haunting beauty and abundance of game in Ruaha National Park, the remoteness and its comparative inaccessibility have meant that the Ruaha has been one of the wildest and least visited parks in Tanzania. So it appeals to those who value unspoilt wilderness. J abali Ridge and Jongomero Camp are set far apart from the others, allowing for luxury deep in the Ruaha wilderness. Others are mostly tented camps such as Mdonya Old River, Kwihala and the delightful Mwagusi Safari Camp. As is the unpretentious and enduringly popular Ruaha River Lodge.

Why We Love It

River system through reserve.
Diverse terrain.
Common wild dog sightings.
Outstanding birding.

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When to visit Ruaha National Park

Great for Birding

The summer is the continuous wet season in Ruaha. The short rains almost meld together with the longer rains of March and April. But the summer is the best time for keen birders. It is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms bringing rain. Temperatures don’t tend to vary much during the year in the Ruaha. The main difference is the rainfall.

AVG RAINFALL 165mm

MAX TEMP 30 ℃ / 86 ℉

MIN TEMP 21.5 ℃ / 71 ℉

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Long Rains - camps closed

This is the time of the heaviest rains so the camps tend to be closed during this time

AVG RAINFALL 221mm

MAX TEMP 28.5 ℃ / 83 ℉

MIN TEMP 19.5 ℃ / 67 ℉

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Best time to visit

This is the dry season with very little rain during this time. This is the best time to see both general game and its attendant predators. It tends to be hot during the day (27°C) and a pleasant 15°C at night. Though it is dry in May, the safari season only starts in June to give time to prepare the camps and roads after the rains.

AVG RAINFALL 26mm

MAX TEMP 26 ℃ / 79 ℉

MIN TEMP 17 ℃ / 63 ℉

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Popular tours & safaris

Southern Horizons in Style

This 7-night Southern Tanzania safari allows you to explore the wildlife-rich and unspoilt wilderness areas of the Selous and Ruaha game reserves. It’s easy to add an optional extension to Zanzibar ...

WHEN Jun - Dec

DURATION 7 Nights

FROM ₤ 6,040

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Southern Tanzania Safari & Coast

The Southern Tanzania Adventure & Coast 12 night safari represents great value, consider the remoteness of the destination, with intimate camps offering an authentic atmosphere.

WHEN Jun - Oct

DURATION 12 Nights

FROM ₤ 5,855

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Foxes Wilderness & Wildlife

This 7 night fly-in safari explores one of the wildest parts of East Africa. Combines 3 nights in Ruaha - with its diverse landscapes - with 4 nights in Katavi, known for its huge herds of animals.

WHEN Jun - Oct

DURATION 7 Nights

FROM ₤ 4,438

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Accommodation

Ruaha River Lodge

Ruaha River Lodge is owned by the Fox family, who have been living and running safari camps in Tanzania for many years. The lodge offers a really good location, great guiding, comfortable ...

RATING Premier

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Jabali Ridge

Jabali Ridge is perched on a rocky kopje with views across the Ruaha savannah stretching to the Mwagusi River. Ruaha National Park is one of the largest national parks in Tanzania, located in the ...

RATING Luxury

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Jongomero

Jongomero is probably the most stylish camp in Ruaha National Park yet it retains a suitable sense of the wild. Accommodation is in eight spacious tented suites on raised wooden platforms, with ...

RATING Luxury

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Mwagusi Safari Camp

Deep in Ruaha National Park, on the banks of the Mwagusi Sand River, this traditional 13 banda safari camp is owned by Chris Fox, born and bred locally. It affords just the right balance between ...

RATING Premier

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Kwihala Tented Camp

With just six simple but luxurious guest tents set in this untouched frontier, Kwihala is the most remote and intimate of Asilia Africa’s safari camps. Kwihala prides itself on its high standard of ...

RATING Luxury

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Mdonya Old River Camp

Mdonya Old River Camp is deep in the untramelled wilderness of Ruaha National Park. With just 12 tents spread among many shade trees in this remote setting, you do not need to venture far to see the ...

RATING Comfortable

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