Ruaha National Park is the second largest national park in Tanzania after the Nyerere national park. The park covers an area of about 20000 square kilometres.
Ruaha is found in the middle of southern Tanzania about 130 kilometres from Iringa. The park has broad ecosystem includes Rungwa Game Reserve, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas.
The name ‘Ruaha’ is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its South-Eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing.
The park is famous for being one of the Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species and some of them are known to be migrants from within and outside Africa. Also, Ruaha is believed to have high concentration of elephants than any National Park in East Africa.
It is also a home to a magnificent mammal like Kudu, Sable and Roan antelopes. The park is also a habitat for endangered wild dogs. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and Jackals.
Apart from large animals, the park also harbours a number of reptiles and amphibians such as crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards and frogs.
Back in the days, the area was used as a trade routes by the Arab caravan crossed here. In 1830 these coastal traders expanded their routes northward, and in year 1857 to 1858 other European explorers such as Burton and Speke used these routes too. Chief Mkwawa used the same routes to visit his chiefdoms in Sangu and Gogo.
The park is also hailed as the land of the brave Chief Mkwawa, the Chief of the hehe people who resisted against the German attack in the late 19th century.
The park history goes back to 1910 when it was gazetted as Saba Game Reserve by the Germany then the name was changed by British to Rungwa Game reserve in 1946. It was then upgraded to a national park level in the year of 1964 just three years after Tanganyika got its independent.
Abundance of wildlife.
Ruaha national park is home to the most magnificent African mammals. It is famous for holding 10% of the world’s remaining lion population as well as the park with the greatest number of elephants in east Africa. Also, Ruaha hosts different bird species and makes it to be the best place for bird watching.
Ruaha is where East and Southern Africa meet, resulting in a game park that has both regions’ species.
This makes Ruaha national park to be one of the amazing parks with the both the northern and southern wildlife species.
The main unique feature of the area is the Great Ruaha River, which attracts lots of animals during the Dry season. The dominant vegetation is miombo woodland and some areas are dotted with the impressive huge baobab trees.
Optional Safari Activities:
Balloon Safari (USD 590 per person)
Maasai Village Visit (USD 50 per vehicle)
Night Game Drive Tarangire or Lake Manyara (USD 120 per person)
Ngorongoro Crater Rim Walk (USD 30 per person)
Visit to the Olduvai Gorge and museum (USD 40 per person)
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