Ruaha

Secret Savannahs

Only about 1% of visitors to Tanzania go on a Ruaha safari. It is known as one of Tanzania's best-kept secret safari spots, promising unhurried, uncrowded game viewing. This fly-in destination offers off-the-beaten-track adventure, as well as luxury and excellent hospitality at beautiful riverside lodges and tented camps.

Set where the woodlands of Southern Africa meet the savannahs of East Africa, Ruaha’s diversity of animals is matched by their numbers. Drawing its name and lifeblood from the permanent Great Ruaha River that forms its eastern border, Ruaha is home to the largest elephant herds in East Africa and has an excellent reputation for predators. All the big cats – lion, leopard and cheetah – are there in healthy numbers as are the highly endangered wild dog and spotted hyena.

These are our reasons why you should visit Ruaha National Park:

1. A Hub of Safari Activity

Ruaha National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Tanzania that offers a wide range of activities for wildlife enthusiasts. One of the most popular activities is game drives, which allows you to explore the park’s vast savannahs and spot an array of wildlife. You can also embark on walking safaris, which give you a more intimate and immersive experience of the park’s flora and fauna.

For a unique perspective, you can go on a night game drive to spot nocturnal animals such as hyenas and genets. Additionally, bird watching is another fantastic activity on a Ruaha safari, with over 570 bird species found in the park.

2. Year-Round Game Viewing & Predator Paradise

Ruaha is an excellent year-round destination for game viewing, and you can expect to see a wide range of game species such as greater kudu, buffalo, roan and sable antelope, zebra and giraffe. When the weather is hot and dry from May to October animals concentrate along hippo-and-crocodile-filled watercourses. With a bird count of around 570, it’s also an excellent destination for twitchers, especially during the November to April Green Season. But when to go to Ruaha National Park ultimately depends on what you want to do and see when on safari in the region.

3. Uncrowded & Off-The-Beaten-Track

Ruaha National Park is one of the few African safari destinations that can provide you with an authentic safari experience. Despite being one of the best safari parks for wildlife viewing, it's not as crowded as the well-known Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. Even during peak season, a Ruaha safari doesn't get congested and because of this, you may feel like you have the entire place to yourself.

4. Conservation Safaris

Conservation travel in Ruaha National Park is an opportunity to engage in meaningful and sustainable tourism while contributing to the preservation of the park’s precious natural resources. You can directly support conservation efforts, such as anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration projects, and community outreach initiatives.

Conservation efforts in Ruaha National Park also support the local communities surrounding the park. Many conservation programs in the park work with local communities to provide employment and income opportunities through eco-tourism initiatives, encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources.

5. Easy Logistics & Convenient Add-Ons

Even though Ruaha National Park is in a remote and wild region of Tanzania, it's surprisingly accessible. The park can be reached easily by air – daily scheduled flights fly into the park’s two airstrips (Msembe and Jongomero) from Arusha, Dodoma, Kigoma and Dar es Salaam. You can also book a chartered flight. Being a fly-in destination means more time on safari!

Visiting Ruaha National Park in January & February

January and February fall within Ruaha's peak green season. During these two months, the national park experiences increasingly heavy rains, ushering in a season of rebirth in the region. Travellers who visit in January and February do so to enjoy the fewer crowds and better accommodation rates, as well as the fantastic birding at this time of year – with over 530 species of bird to be spotted. You might also get to witness the freshly born baby animals finding their footing in the world.

Travelling through Ruaha National Park from March to May

March to May is low tourism season in Ruaha National Park due to the heavy rainfall in the region. It's recommended that you try to avoid booking your trip to Ruaha during this period as many lodges and camps tend to close for these three months, and the risk of malaria is at its peak.

Travelling to Ruaha National Park During June to October

June to October is regarded as the best time to visit Ruaha National Park. The national park experiences its dry season over this period, providing the ideal conditions for fantastic game viewing. Wildlife is much easier to spot during the dry season as the bush thins out and animals gather around remaining water sources, like rivers and waterholes. Additionally, the heat is less overpowering, the skies are bright, and the risk of malaria is at its lowest because of the decline in mosquitoes.

Visiting Ruaha National Park During November & December

November and December are the start of the green season in Ruaha National Park. Since the rainy weather is still in its infancy during these months, it's still a good time to enjoy a safari in Ruaha. The breathtaking scenery is at its greenest and fullest, and the arrival of migrating birds means that birdwatching is at its absolute best.

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