Ruaha National Park

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. Its river system is hugely important to the reserve.

Ruaha is in an ecological transition zone with thick bush interspersed with wide open plains. This attracts a wide diversity of plains game such as buffalo, zebra, Defassa water-buck, impala, giraffe and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. 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. Whilst the open plain is also ideal terrain for cheetahs. Wild dog are also well-represented in Ruaha National Park.

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, appealing to those who value unspoilt wilderness. Most are luxury tented camps such as Mdonya Old River, Kwihala and the delightful Mwagusi Safari Camp. Jongomero Camp is set far apart from the others. As is the unpretentious and enduringly popular Ruaha River Lodge.