Ruaha National Park
For those looking for a true wilderness experience and Tanzania’s best kept game viewing secret, there is no better place than Ruaha National Park. Lying in central Tanzania’s hinterland and the largest national park in the country, Ruaha is home to impressive numbers of elephant, big cat and the elusive African wild dog. With few visitors, you will experience an exclusive and rewarding safari.
Often overlooked in favour of the more well-known parks in the north of Tanzania, Ruaha is the country’s largest national park and we feel it more than holds its own in the safari stakes. Elephant, lion, cheetah and kudu are all prolific and if you’re lucky, you may get to see a pack of African wild dog hunting for dinner. It’s also a great destination for birders, with over 500 species already on record here and new birds still being identified.
Ruaha takes its name from the Great Ruaha River that runs through the southern section of the park, bringing some much-needed life to the otherwise arid environment. The river acts as a magnet for game, particularly during the dry season from June to October, when herds of elephant, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species, all flock to its banks to keep hydrated. This in turn attracts all the big predatory cats, making it one of Tanzania’s prime spots for game viewing.
For the adventurous, we suggest you take the opportunity to experience fly camping. This is outdoor camping at its most exciting. After enjoying a delicious dinner around the camp fire, you get to sleep out under the stars, with nothing but a mosquito net to separate you from the scents and sounds of an African night. Or if that doesn’t appeal, we can arrange for an exciting night game drive, where you can watch nocturnal predators stalking their prey.
Ruaha has a diverse landscape with open plains punctuated by rolling hills and rocky escarpments. Given the sheer size of the park, the low density of camps and magnificent game sightings on offer, we recommend Ruaha for those looking to escape the crowds and seeking a taste of wild Africa.