Ruaha national park covers an area of about 20,226 square kilometers, making it Tanzania’s largest national park. Ruaha national park derived its name from the indigenous Ruaha River passing within the park, streamlined with large numbers of wildlife. It is a wonderful place to visit during your safari to Tanzania.
Ruaha National Park boasts large herds of elephants, 80 animal species, 10 percent of the world’s lion population, over 500 bird species, and a diverse range of plant life. The park was established as a game reserve in 1910 and officially became a national park in 1964. It is also uniquely known for harboring small animals such as monitor lizards and poisonous snakes. Over 1,600 plant species have been recorded to be in Ruaha national park.
Ruaha national park 239 kilometers West of Iringa and including the Rungwa game reserve, the park boasts over 500 bird species and in the year 2009 Ruaha national park had elephants numbering up to 34,000, the park has the highest population of African wild dogs recorded in the whole world. The Mwagusi area of the park is the best place to spot lions from. The parks offer very affordable holiday experiences in Tanzania.
The Ruaha Game Park is the most remote and probably the most filled with animals in the southern Tanzania circuit compared to other parks like the Selous game reserve.
Activities at Rauaha national park
It is endowed with various animals, some of which are elephants, lions, buffaloes, African wild dogs, greater and lesser kudus, leopards, lions, cheetahs, impalas, bushbucks, giraffes, and occasionally sable and roan antelopes. The park has a number of game tracks where tourists can explore this animal the best places for game viewing are in the water area during the dry season.
Birdwatching
Ruaha National Park is truly a birder’s paradise for bird enthusiasts, boasting over 500 bird species, including both migratory and residential birds. The best time for birdwatching is during the rainy seasons; among the birds found in the park are African fish eagles, ashy starlings, black-billed bustards, bateleurs, Eleanora’s falcon, emerald spotted wood doves, crested barbets, long-crested eagles, Goliath heron, and white-bellied go-away birds.
Guided nature walks
The Park provides visitors with many walking trails to experience the wilderness on foot; the trails will expose you to a lot birdlife and plant species as well as animals. A guided nature walk normally lasts for about two to three hours and provides a great opportunity to take many photos of nature to bring back home as mementos.
Night game drives
Night game drives at Ruaha National Park occur occasionally, and the park’s headquarters must be informed in advance if tourists wish to explore the park with an armed guide to view nocturnal animals like hyenas and hippos, providing a thrilling lifetime experience of Africa’s night whispers.
The best time to visit Tanzania’s best-kept secret is during the dry season, from June to October, when animals gather around water bodies to quench their thirst. During this period, the vegetation is less dense, providing excellent and clear views of the magnificent park.
For those who love birding, the best time to visit the park is from November to April, when migratory birds have arrived and the residential birds are breeding. However, the Ruaha national park can be visited all year round, though roads may be difficult to cross during the heavy rains as it gets muddy.
Ruaha national park can be accessed by road from Iringa, which is about 130 square kilometers; there are also chartered domestic flights in Tanzania that operate within the park’s airstrips.
