Southern Circuit, Tanzania
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania and one of the least visited. Elephant, large lion prides, and the meeting point of two ecological zones.
- Region
- Southern Tanzania, Iringa region
- Size
- About 20,200 square kilometres
- Nearest airport
- Msembe airstrip inside the park, or Iringa for road access
- Suggested stay
- Three to four days
Ruaha lies in south-central Tanzania, west of Iringa, and covers roughly 20,200 square kilometres. It became the country’s largest national park after the 2008 annexation of the former Usangu Game Reserve, and it remains one of the least visited parks of its size anywhere in East Africa.
Its interest is ecological as much as scenic. Ruaha sits where the East African acacia savannah meets the southern African miombo woodland, so species from both zones occur here and in places overlap. Greater and lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope are all present, which is unusual in one park.
The Great Ruaha River runs along the eastern boundary and is the spine of the dry-season game viewing. As the smaller water sources dry out, animals concentrate along its sand rivers and remaining pools.
Why visit Ruaha National Park
Ruaha holds one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa and is known for unusually large lion prides, which the abundance of buffalo along the river supports.
It is also quiet. Vehicle numbers at a sighting are a fraction of what the northern parks see, which changes the experience of the sighting itself rather than just the photographs.
The transition zone means the species list is broader than a northern park of comparable size, and it includes antelope that are difficult to see anywhere else in Tanzania.
Wildlife you see here
Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala and waterbuck are common. Lion are the headline predator, and Ruaha is a recognised stronghold for African wild dog. Leopard and cheetah are both present, cheetah more often on the open plains in the east.
Greater and lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope are the species people travel here for. More than 570 bird species have been recorded, with the miombo woodland holding species absent from the northern circuit.
Best time to visit
June to October is the dry season and the strongest game viewing. Vegetation thins, water sources shrink, and animals concentrate along the Great Ruaha River.
January to April is the green season. The park is at its most photogenic, migrant birds are present, and predator viewing is harder because water and cover are everywhere. Some roads become difficult and a few camps close.
How to get there
Most visitors fly. Scheduled light aircraft serve Msembe airstrip inside the park from Dar es Salaam, Selous and Arusha, usually with a stop.
By road the drive from Dar es Salaam runs through Morogoro and Iringa and takes a full day, around ten hours. Ruaha is often combined with Nyerere or with Udzungwa, both of which sit on the same route.
Where to stay
Accommodation is limited relative to the size of the park, which is part of why it feels empty. Options range from public campsites and bandas run by the park authority through to permanent tented camps and a small number of lodges.
Almost all of it is concentrated along the eastern side near the Great Ruaha River, which is also where the dry-season game viewing is.
Travel tips
Distances inside the park are long. Plan full days rather than short morning and evening drives, and expect a lunch stop in the bush.
The park is remote and services are limited. Bring anything you cannot do without, including camera batteries and any medication.
Park fees are charged per twenty four hour period. Ask for them itemised in a quote so you can compare offers on the same basis.
Things to do
- Game drives along the Great Ruaha River and the sand rivers
- Guided walking safaris with an armed ranger
- Night drives in designated areas
- Birdwatching, strongest from November to April
- Photography of large elephant and lion groups in the dry season
Trips visiting Ruaha National Park
We do not run a scheduled trip to Ruaha National Park at the moment. We build one to order: tell us your dates and group size and we will send a costed itinerary.
Safaris we run now
Safari Blue: Menai Bay Sandbank and Snorkelling
A full day on Menai Bay by traditional boat: the reef, the sandbank, the lagoon at Kwale Island…
2-Day Fly-in & Fly-Out Ngorongoro
2-day private safari visiting Manyara and Ngorongoro. Guide, 4x4, park fees and full board included.
Prison Island Half-Day Tour
A short boat crossing from Stone Town to Changuu, the island of the giant tortoises, with time to…
Combine it with
Parks on the same circuit, close enough to reach in the same trip.
Common questions
How big is Ruaha National Park?
About 20,200 square kilometres, which makes it the largest national park in Tanzania. It became the largest after the former Usangu Game Reserve was added in 2008.
When is the best time to visit Ruaha?
June to October, the dry season, when animals concentrate along the Great Ruaha River and the vegetation is thin enough to see through. The green season from January to April is better for birds and landscape photography.
How do you get to Ruaha National Park?
Most people fly to Msembe airstrip inside the park, usually from Dar es Salaam or Selous. By road it is about ten hours from Dar es Salaam through Morogoro and Iringa.
Can Ruaha be combined with Nyerere or Udzungwa?
Yes. All three are in southern Tanzania and are commonly linked, either by light aircraft or by road along the Iringa route.