Tanzania is one of the top and most visited tourism destinations in Africa, with almost 30% of the country’s area gazetted as national parks or game reserves. There are good chances of spotting the Big Five in almost all its national parks, and the coastline also provides some of the best beach holiday and marine life experiences in the world. The country is also a birder’s paradise, with over 1000 species of birds recorded, and Ruaha National Park is home to some 570 species recorded. Ruaha is the second-largest national park in the country and one of the most unique parks in Tanzania due to its unique diverse flora and fauna.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is one of the oldest and most spectacular of the 24 national parks found in Tanzania. It used to be famous for its numerous elephant populations, with over 30,000 elephants recorded before the number declined to less than 5000 in 2015. In the year 2008, the Usangu Game Reserve merged with Ruaha National Park, forming the country’s largest national park. The park covers an area of 20,226 square kilometers and is part of the 45,000 square kilometers Rungwa Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem. The park is characterized by savannah grasslands, miombo woodlands, baobab trees, acacia, and much more, forming its diverse ecosystem.
The park was first gazetted by German colonialists as Saba Game Reserve in 1910. In 1946, the British colonial government changed the name from Saba Game Reserve to Rungwa Game Reserve. The reserve was later upgraded into a national park in 1964 and named Ruaha National Park.
Ruaha National Park derives its name from the great Ruaha River that crosses through the park and is a major water source for its wildlife. Ruaha National Park has also been a lion conservation unit since 2005, hosting 10% of the world’s lion population. Although Ruaha National Park is a true African wilderness, the park is remote and one of the least visited in Tanzania. It’s an ideal place for tourists familiar with other national parks in the country and those who love a typical African wilderness experience.
The great Ruaha River is the main water source in the park, supporting wildlife during the dry seasons. The Ruaha River tributary basin has a catchment area of 68,000 square kilometers, and the river is 457 kilometers long, fed by many rivers. The riverbanks of Ruaha support many species of water birds.
The great African Rift Valley crosses Ruaha National Park on a 50 to 100-meter wall, creating spectacular views. The rift valley wall comes with a series of cascading hot springs like Majimoto Hot Spring, Mkwawa Hot Springs, Makinde Hot Springs, and Mwayembe Hot Springs.
Wildlife Watching
Ruaha National Park is a true pristine African wilderness, providing travelers with excellent game-watching opportunities. The best time for taking a game drive at Ruaha National Park is during the early morning and late afternoon hours when you can find nocturnal animals returning to their dens or going out to hunt. Some of the animals you can spot while on a game drive include elephants, hippos, giraffes, African wild dogs, zebras, crocodiles, spotted hyenas, lions, cheetahs, buffalos, hartebeests, greater kudus, sable antelopes, gazelles, waterbucks, bushbucks, lesser kudus, impalas, and black-backed jackals, among others.
Night game drives are also conducted at Ruaha National Park, where visitors get a chance to see nocturnal animals and birds that may not be visible during the day.
Bird Watching
There are about 571 species of birds recorded in Ruaha National Park, including 16 globally threatened species and 2 introduced species. The best time for birding at the park is from November to April when migratory birds from other countries are present. Some of the examples of birds found in the park include Ruaha red-billed hornbill, African fish eagle, white-faced whistling bird, knob-billed duck, Egyptian goose, golden-breasted bunting, cinnamon-breasted bunting, yellow-crowned canary, southern citril, chestnut sparrow, long-billed pipit, western yellow wagtail, Swahili sparrow, northern grey-headed sparrow, purple indigo bird, steel blue whydah, broad-tailed paradise whydah, Jameson’s firefinch, red-faced crimson, grey-headed silverbill, yellow-mantled widowbird, yellow bishop, golden-backed weaver, Tanganyika masked weaver, purple-banded sunbird, western miombo sunbird, western violet-backed sunbird, rufous-tailed rock thrush, bearded scrub robin, greater blue-eared starling, violet-backed starling, African spotted creeper, southern yellow white-eye, sombre greenbul, common reed warbler, black-headed apalis, red-faced crombec, black-crowned tchagara, black-throated wattle-eye, African black-headed oriole, and yellow-collared sunbird, among the rest.
Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Exploring Ruaha National Park through a game drive and nature-guided walks can’t be underrated, but for a unique experience of viewing wildlife from above, a hot air balloon safari is quite thrilling. Explore the park’s flora and fauna from a hot air balloon and end the trip with a delicious bush breakfast. The unforgettable hot air balloon safari gives visitors a chance to see nocturnal animals, as it always takes place early in the morning and late in the evening. Each trip usually takes 12 passengers, and the minimum age for a hot air balloon safari is 7 years old.
Boat Cruises or Canoe Rides
One of the best ways to make your safari more interesting is by taking a boat cruise or canoe ride on the great Ruaha River.
Nature Guided Walks
One of the best ways to experience the African wilderness is by taking a nature-guided walk. Several walking trails are established at Ruaha National Park, where an armed ranger guide will take you through the wilderness on foot. You can get close to several antelopes, spot lots of birds, and learn more about the park’s flora and fauna from a knowledgeable guide. All tourists are advised to stick to the rules and regulations during the nature-guided walks.
Visit Historical Sites
Ruaha National Park was once an area for the famous chief of the Hehe people known as Chief Mkwawa, who resisted German colonialists in the 19th century. During the fight between the Hehe community and German colonialists, the Hehe took refuge at several rocks and caves in present-day Ruaha National Park. The Hehe people have several cultural places within the park, such as Ganga LA Mafunyo rock, Nyanywa rock paintings, Idinda rock paintings, and Mapenza cave. These areas are of significant cultural value to the local people, and you can learn about their history from a local knowledgeable guide.
Cultural Encounters
The neighboring villages of Ruaha National Park are inhabited by the Hehe people of Tanzania. A visit to one of the villages would spice up your visit as you get to learn more about the locals’ way of life, cultural beliefs, food, customs, dress codes, taboos, and much more. Tourists can support the local communities by buying handmade crafts to take back home as souvenirs or gifts for your loved ones.
Where to Stay
While at Ruaha National Park, tourists can choose from various accommodation options depending on their budget and preferences, although there are not many hotels and lodges within the park. Some of the hotels found there include Jabali Ridge, Jabali Private House, Jongomero Camp, Kwihala Camp, Ikuka Camp, Kigelia Ruaha, and Mdonya Old River Camp, to mention a few.
Best Time to Visit
Ruaha National Park can be visited all year round, but some months might be more favorable than others. Therefore, the best time to visit the park is from June to August and December to February when the roads leading to the park are in good condition. During this time, wildlife is also easier to spot because the vegetation is not thick, and animals are concentrated around water points. Bird enthusiasts can visit from November to April when migratory birds from North Africa and Europe are present.
Getting There
Ruaha National Park is located 130 kilometers from Iringa town and can be accessed in a 9-hour drive from Dar es Salaam. Tourists can also reach the park by booking scheduled or chartered flights from Dar es Salaam or Arusha to Msembe or Jongomero airstrips within the park. The flights usually take about an hour, and you can book them on your own or with the assistance of a tour operator.
Entry Fee
Foreign non-resident adults will pay $30 per person, while foreign non-resident children will pay $10 per person. Foreign resident adults pay $15, and foreign resident children pay $5 only. Please note that the entry fee to the park can change from time to time, so it’s always better to check for the current updates before visiting the park.
Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park, formerly known as Selous Game Reserve, is located to the east of Ruaha National Park, and tourists can combine their visit to Ruaha with Nyerere National Park. This is the largest protected area in Africa, gazetted in 1922 as Selous Game Reserve, named after Sir Frederick Selous, who was a famous big game hunter during that time. The reserve was upgraded to a national park in 2019, making it the country’s newest national park, and it was renamed Nyerere National Park in honor of Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere.
