Ruaha was gazetted as a protected area in 1964. Ruaha National Park is located just south of the central midpoint of Tanzania. The national park encompasses an area of 7,809 square miles (20,226 sq km) making it the largest national park in Tanzania and one of the largest in Africa. The park derives its name from the Great Ruaha River which flows through the south-eastern section of the park and attracts a broad range of wildlife.

Ruaha is an integral part of the Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem. The ecosystem spans across an area of 45,000km², and it includes the Rungwa Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves, and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area.

The Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem fuses the best of Southern and East African nature.

In 1910, the German colonial regime created the Saba Game Reserve, and the British colonial authorities renamed it as the Rungwa Game Reserve in 1946. In 1964, the southern part of the reserve was elevated to national park status.

Ruaha has a stunning and diverse landscape with a vast savannah, a river which attracts a plethora of wildlife, and mountains in the south and west. Ruaha is home to rare species, including wild dogs, cheetahs, and leopards.

Ruaha is often overshadowed by its bigger sisters on Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. This – in many ways – is one of its biggest strengths. 

At Ruaha, you can experience Tanzania’s wilderness without the drone of surrounding safari engines. Its remoteness – and utter vastness – is what makes it so compelling. Ruaha is part of Tanzania’s southern safari circuit, often combined with Selous.

Although Ruaha does not contain rhinos, it is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Tanzania, lions, and even crocodiles on the shores of the Great Ruaha River.

Ruaha’s remote location means that it is difficult to access, but the long journey is rewarded ten times over by the secluded safari paradise that awaits. The Southern Safari Circuit is less popular, so flight connections are not as frequent.

How to Get to Ruaha

Ruaha national park is served by 2 airstrips that are Msembe airstrip and Jongomero airstrip, flights to Ruaha national park are offered by many domestic carriers such as Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Regional Air, ZanAir, Safari Air Link and Coastal Aviation.                   

Ruaha is 625 km away from Dar es Salaam and the road journey takes around 9 hours. You can also drive from Iringa which is only 130 km away.

Attractions in Ruaha National Park

• Wildlife in Ruaha National Park

Ruaha has the largest concentration of elephants in East Africa with a population of around 10,000 of these gentle giants. Ruaha is also home to 10% of global lion populations.

You also have a chance of seeing leopards, cheetahs, zebras, elands, giraffes, impalas, bat-eared foxes, snakes, crocodiles and jackals.

Ruaha’s unique position on the verge of Southern Africa means that it is home to species from Southern and Eastern Africa. The greater and lesser kudu can both be found at Ruaha. While the greater kudu is traditionally found in Southern Africa, the lesser kudu is found in East Africa.

• Reptiles and Amphibians in The National Park

You can also find Reptiles and amphibians here! And crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor and agama lizards and frogs live in and around the river. Ruaha National Park has an almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem. It will make your safari experience unique!

• Birds in Ruaha

Not only is Ruaha the ideal place to watch elephants, but it is also a bird lover’s paradise! Around 571 different species of birds live in Ruaha National Park, including the Crested barbet, Dickinson’s kestrel, Pale-billed hornbill, Violet-crested turaco, Racket-tailed roller, Plovers, Kingfishers, Hornbills, Green-wood hoopoes, Sunbirds, Bee-eaters and Egrets.