Ruaha National Park

Home » Tanzania Destinations » Ruaha National Park Safaris

What is the size of Ruaha National Park: 13,000 sq km (5,000 sq miles)
What is its location: Southern Tanzania
When was it established: 1964
What is the distance from Dar es Salaam: 625 km (388 miles)

Most popular tours visiting Ruaha National Park:
We organize excursions to Ruaha National Park as tailor-made-tours only. Please contact our safari planner for a customized itinerary.

Spanning 12 950 square kilometres/5000 square km, Ruaha National Park is only marginally smaller than the Serengeti, and is a pristine and untouched feature of Africa. Bordered in the north by the Kizigio and Rungwa River Game Reserves, together they form a 26 500 square km/10 232 square km conservancy, one of the biggest in East Africa.

The Ruaha Valley is a visual treat, with rocky outcrops and mountain ranges and the Great Ruaha River, with its deep gorges, swirling rapids and excellent fishing (in season). With large herds of elephant, wildebeest and zebra, a numerous predator population and more than 400 bird species, a Ruaha safari is a naturalist’s dream. This Park is a transition zone containing wildlife and vegetation typical of both East and Southern Africa. There are 1650 varieties of plants recorded, many of which flower during March and April.

Great Ruaha River, fed by the Mzombe River up north, provides excellent game-viewing opportunities. Wildlife in Ruaha National Park is unique in both numbers and variety of species. These include Grant’s gazelle, roan antelope, eland, kudu, sable, did-dik, impala, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. Burchell’s zebra and Maasai giraffe, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, bat-eared fox and spotted and striped hyena. There are scheduled flights and an airstrip at Msembe for fly-in safaris to Ruaha’s excellent lodges.