5 Reasons to Visit Ruaha

By Claudia Smargiasso

If you haven’t already heard the exciting news, we are opening our second camp in Ruaha National Park – Jabali Ridge – in September 2017. With this news still hot off the press, we thought we’d give you some food for thought on why a visit to Ruaha should definitely be in your future.

1. It’s Tanzania’s biggest safaripark

At 20 226km2, Ruaha is about the size of Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Masai Mara and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park combined. That’s a staggering amount of unspoilt wilderness waiting to be explored.

2. Uncrowded, and off the beaten track

This unexplored wilderness is visited by only a handful of intrepid travellers each year. This means that any visitor here will pretty much feel as though they have the place all to themselves.

3. Diverse ecosystem

The park’s lifeblood is the Great Ruaha River which crosses the park, passing through diverse landscapes ranging from rolling hills to groves of bulbous baobabs, and in the southeastern regions, through rugged gorges and open plains.

This varied landscape is a result of the park being the transitional point between two vegetation zones: the Zambezian (characterised by miombo vegetation) and Sudanian (characterised by acacia vegetation).

4. Lion, elephant, wild dog and cheetah

When it comes to wildlife, Ruaha certainly has some bragging rights. It is home to 10% of the world’s remaining lion population and is known especially for the large size of the prides – some numbering more than 20 individuals.

In addition to lion, the park is home to the largest elephant population in Tanzania, numbering around 20 000, as well as being home to one of just four large cheetah populations remaining in East Africa.

Some lesser known species can be found in Ruaha as well, including wild dog, sable antelope, roan antelope, Liechtenstein’s hartebeest, and both Lesser and Greater kudu.

5. Walking safaris

The exceptional and unique landscape in Ruaha is best explored on a walking safari. The sheer remoteness of the park is further enhanced on an intimate, guided walk through the varied vegetation. The guiding here is top-notch, offering guests a fascinating insight into the wilderness as they walk along.

Click on the image below to explore our Ruaha gallery.

Big Cat numbers in the Ruaha National Park

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