Located in the heart of the country, Ruaha is the
'other park' on the Southern circuit. The rewards of travelling this far
are a wild landscape with baobab studded hills and rocky escarpments, playing
host to excellent levels of game including superb predator concentrations, huge
elephant and buffalo herds and a cross over of game from southern and Eastern
Africa.
Ruaha: What game
Ruaha has all the predators on show, with very good lion, leopard and cheetah as well as wild dog and hyena. Buffalo and elephant herds are found throughout the park but it is the park's ability to throw up species from east and southern Africa together that excites wildlife enthusiasts. It is not uncommon to see Grant's gazelle, greater and lesser kudu in the same area as east Africa's common species such as zebra, defassa waterbuck, impala and giraffe. Put in the hours and travel across the park to find sable, roan, hartebeest and over 500 species of bird!
Ruaha: ActivitiesRuaha has all the predators on show, with very good lion, leopard and cheetah as well as wild dog and hyena. Buffalo and elephant herds are found throughout the park but it is the park's ability to throw up species from east and southern Africa together that excites wildlife enthusiasts. It is not uncommon to see Grant's gazelle, greater and lesser kudu in the same area as east Africa's common species such as zebra, defassa waterbuck, impala and giraffe. Put in the hours and travel across the park to find sable, roan, hartebeest and over 500 species of bird!
The main activity in Ruaha is daytime game driving. Night safaris
are not permitted. Due to the high numbers of elephant in Ruaha some
camps have chosen not to operate walking safaris. Those that do (Kwihala, Jongomero and Kigelia) have some
superb guides and can offer amazing walking safaris. Jongomero is the only
camp to operate fly camping trips with adventurous nights spent out under the
stars. Led by their head guide Molly, these are some of the best fly
camping trips in Africa.
Ruaha: When to go
Like the Selous, Ruaha is a classic dry season park. Game gets progressively better towards the end of the end of the season as the water holes and rivers dry up and the game concentrates around water. Like the Selous, travelling to Ruaha out of season will virtually guarantee that you see no other people whilst on safari, and there are pockets in the park where the game concentrations are good at any time of the year. The birding from December through to March is exceptional.
Like the Selous, Ruaha is a classic dry season park. Game gets progressively better towards the end of the end of the season as the water holes and rivers dry up and the game concentrates around water. Like the Selous, travelling to Ruaha out of season will virtually guarantee that you see no other people whilst on safari, and there are pockets in the park where the game concentrations are good at any time of the year. The birding from December through to March is exceptional.
Ruaha: Where to
stay
There are a couple of great top end camps in Ruaha, with Jongomero leading the way for luxurious accommodation. It’s a very beautiful, remote safari camp that is probably one of the best camps in Tanzania. Mwagusi is the oldest lodge in the park and when the owner Chris Fox is in camp, this place can provide a safari experience to knock you sideways. The less expensive Kwihala Camp is a very affordable luxury tented camp whereas its sister camp Mdonya Old River is a great option for the adventurous with less of a budget. Ruaha River Lodge is by far the largest of camps in Ruaha in a superb location, though is not up to the standard of the others.
There are a couple of great top end camps in Ruaha, with Jongomero leading the way for luxurious accommodation. It’s a very beautiful, remote safari camp that is probably one of the best camps in Tanzania. Mwagusi is the oldest lodge in the park and when the owner Chris Fox is in camp, this place can provide a safari experience to knock you sideways. The less expensive Kwihala Camp is a very affordable luxury tented camp whereas its sister camp Mdonya Old River is a great option for the adventurous with less of a budget. Ruaha River Lodge is by far the largest of camps in Ruaha in a superb location, though is not up to the standard of the others.
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