Ruaha National Park
How to get to Ruaha
Fly into Ruaha from Dar Es Salaam or Arusha to an airstrip inside Ruaha National Park. There is one at Msembe and another at Jongomero. Always arrive half an hour before a scheduled flight.
Your tour operator can also book a vehicle to drive you there. It is a 10-hour drive. The road is not that good.
When to Visit Ruaha National Park
Ruaha always has lots to offer, but July stands out. July offers the best game viewing. Animals gather at permanent water sources like the Ruaha River.
Seasonal rivers dry up during the dry season, and you will often find elephants digging up the water to drink. Other animals benefit from resourceful elephants.
Accommodation in Ruaha National Park
- Ikuka Camp
- Kilimatonge
- Kichaka Camp
- Kwihala Camp
- Jabali Ridge
- Kigelia
- Ruaha River Lodge
- Mdonya Old River Camp
- Jongomero Camp
- Mwagusi Safari Camp
- Usangu Camp
What to wear in Ruaha
Wear long dresses and skirts or pants. Long-sleeved shirts will keep your skin covered. Bug repellant and sunscreen will protect you.
Shorts should be loose fitting. Wear neutral colors like browns and greens. Footwear should be completely waterproof with good tread. Shirts should come in breathable fabric.
Carry a jumper and rain jacket for warmth at night.
Ruaha National Park Attractions
- Ruaha National Park has many hot springs, including Mwakawa, Majimoto, Makinde, and Mwayembe springs.
- Ruaha is the best place to see elephants. The elephant population here is denser than anywhere else in the world.
- 10% of the lions in the world live here at Ruaha National Park.
- Visitors to Ruaha can find rare antelopes like the greater kudu, lesser kudu, sable antelope, roan, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, reedbuck, and topi.
- Wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and buffalo are easy to spot here at Ruaha.
- Nearly 600 bird species thrive in Ruaha. Bird watchers will be impressed. Ruaha has lent its name to two bird species: the Ruaha red-billed hornbill and the Ruaha Chat.
- Visit historical and cultural sites like Chief Mapenza’s burial site, God’s bridge, Ganga la Mafunyo, Chahe, Nyanywa, Painting Rock, Ismila pillars, Mlambasi, and Kalenga.
- Ruaha’s topography is varied. It starts with a lower topography of 750m to a high of 1,868m
- Ruaha has plateaus, river basins, high ridges, highland and riverine forests, woodlands, wetlands, hills, savanna grasslands, and valleys.
- Game drives, birding, balloon safaris, bush meals, sundowners, and star gazing are available at Ruaha National Park. Night game drives are available too.
