Wildlife Safari 7-Day Southern Tanzania Safari: Mikumi & Ruaha
Dar Es Salaam · Mikumi National Park (2) · Ruaha National Park (3)
Explore Destination · Tanzania
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha safari: Ruaha National Park covers about 20,000 km² of central Tanzania, the country's second-largest national park after Nyerere.
- CountryTanzania
- Best timeJune to October
- Trips5 sample trips
- Destinations nearbyUdzungwa Mountain National Park, Udzungwa Mountains
Ruaha safari: what to know
Ruaha National Park covers about 20,000 km² of central Tanzania, the country's second-largest national park after Nyerere. It is a rugged landscape of baobab-covered hills, rocky ridges and wide sand rivers, and it receives a tiny fraction of the Serengeti's visitors. On most drives you will not meet another vehicle.
What to know before you go
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Predators
Ruaha and the land around it hold one of the largest lion populations left in Africa. Prides here are big, sometimes twenty animals or more, and they hunt buffalo and even giraffe. Leopard are seen regularly along the river, cheetah on the open plains in the east, and the park is one of the better places in the country for African wild dog.
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Where east meets south
The park sits on the boundary between East and southern African ecosystems, so you find species side by side that seldom overlap elsewhere: greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, and Grant's gazelle. Elephants are numerous, and in the dry months they dig in the bed of the Great Ruaha River for water. More than 570 bird species have been recorded.
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Getting to Ruaha
Scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Nyerere land at the Msembe airstrip, and there are connections from Arusha. By road the park gate is about 130 km from the town of Iringa. Walking safaris are available from several camps.
When to visit Ruaha National Park
June to October. As the Great Ruaha River shrinks to pools, wildlife crowds in and predators wait nearby. November to April is green and good for birds, but animals scatter, some roads become impassable and several camps close for March and April.
Where It Is
Ruaha National Park and the other places we travel to nearby.
Ruaha National Park
Trips that include Ruaha National Park
Sample itineraries. Every trip is private, so we change the days, lodges and pace to suit you.
Wildlife Safari 
Luxury Safari 8-Day Fly-In Safari: Nyerere & Ruaha National Parks
Dar Es Salaam (2) · Nyerere National Park (3) · Ruaha National Park (2)
Wildlife Safari 9-Day Southern Tanzania Safari: Mikumi, Ruaha & Nyerere
Dar Es Salaam (2) · Mikumi National Park (2) · Ruaha National Park (2) · Nyerere National Park (2)
Wildlife Safari 8-Day Southern Tanzania Safari: Mikumi, Udzungwa & Ruaha
Dar Es Salaam (2) · Mikumi National Park (2) · Udzungwa Mountains · Ruaha National Park (2)
Wildlife Safari 10-Day Southern Tanzania Safari: Mikumi, Udzungwa, Ruaha & Nyerere
Dar Es Salaam (2) · Mikumi National Park (2) · Udzungwa Mountains · Ruaha National Park (2) · Nyerere National Park (2)
Plan Your Safari to Ruaha National Park
Our team in Arusha answers in English, French, German and Spanish.
Questions about Ruaha National Park
Is Ruaha the largest national park in Tanzania?
It was until 2019. Nyerere National Park, created from part of the Selous Game Reserve, is now larger. Ruaha is second.
How many days do you need in Ruaha?
Three or four nights. The park is large and remote, and that gives enough time to explore different areas at an unhurried pace.
Is Ruaha good for a first safari?
It can be, but it suits travellers who value wilderness over ticking off sightings quickly. Many people visit after a first trip to the northern parks.
Shall we plan your trip?
Tell us your dates and what you would like to see. A specialist in Arusha sends a route and a clear proposal within 24 hours.
Plan this trip
