Ruaha National Park

The name “Ruaha” originates from the Hehe word “Ruvaha”, which means “river”.In 2008 Usangu game Reserve and other important wetlands in Usangu basin have been annexed into the park, making it the largest park in Tanzania and East Africa with an area of about 20226 km sq.Ruaha National Park famous for being the most rural and untouched National Park.The Great Ruaha River is full of hippos and crocodiles, making for some exciting game viewing.Ruaha is well known for its varied dramatic scenery, which includes rolling hills; large open plains; groves of skeletal baobabs and along its southern border, the Great Ruaha River, from which the park gets its name.

Wildlife Highlights

Apart from the impressive number or hippos, crocodiles and elephants, the park is home to more than 500 species of bird as well as cheetahs, leopards, lions, wild dog, hyena, giraffe, buffalo, sable antelope and more!

Along the rivers expect to find water birds like goliath herons, saddle-billed storks, white-headed plovers and the white-backed night heron. There are six species of both vultures and hornbills including the recently described Tanzanian red-billed hornbill

What to do:

Game drive, Birds watching

When to go:

The best game viewing in this national park is generally from May to November, but the bush is greener and prettier from January to June, and birding peaks during the European winter months of December to April.