Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's largest national park, covering over 20,226 square kilometers of pristine wilderness in the southern circuit. The park centers on the Great Ruaha River, a lifeline for wildlife during the dry season when elephants dig for underground streams and predators patrol the riverbanks for prey.

Ruaha boasts Tanzania's largest elephant population with over 12,000 individuals, alongside significant populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the endangered African wild dogs. The park represents a transition zone where eastern and southern African species overlap, resulting in unique wildlife encounters including greater and lesser kudus found nowhere else in Tanzania together.

The park's remote location ensures an exclusive, uncrowded safari experience with some of Africa's best predator viewing. Ruaha's rugged landscapes feature dramatic escarpments, rocky outcrops, and ancient baobabs alongside acacia woodlands and open grasslands. Whether witnessing wild dog packs hunting, observing massive elephant herds, or enjoying pristine wilderness far from tourist crowds, Ruaha offers one of Africa's most authentic safari experiences for adventurous travelers.

Highlights

• Tanzania's largest national park
• Over 12,000 elephants
• Excellent wild dog sightings
• Remote and uncrowded
• Transition zone for unique species

Things to Do

• Game drives
• Walking safaris
• Fly camping
• Bird watching
• Photography

May to December for wildlife concentrations; June to October best for predators