Ruaha Accommodation

Location: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

Overview:

Ruaha National Park is located south of the central midpoint of Tanzania and in 2008 the Usangu Game Reserve merged its borders with Ruaha converting it into Tanzania’s largest national park, now covering more than 20,000km² in an area of 7,809 sqm. With this large area, the park still has a handful of camps within it, giving the park a reputation as Tanzania’s best kept game viewing secret.

Ruaha borders the north of Kizigio and Rungwa River Game Reserves and together they form a 26,500sq (10,230 square mile) conservancy, one of the biggest in East Africa. The Great Ruaha River is the focal point, with its deep gorges, swirling rapids and excellent fishing making it a superb fishing destination and serves as a lifeline for the park’s wildlife with over 10,000 elephants, 30,000 buffaloes, 20,000 Zebras and huge populations of lions and leopards and over 400 bird species.

The park has a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005, leopards stalk the thicker woodland areas, as cheetahs may be seen scanning the plains for prey. The wild dog, an endangered species is home to almost 100, with a healthy population of hyena and black-baked jackal. Herds of elephants are seen in high densities during the dry season, when they dig for water from the dry river bed with their trunks and front feet.

Along the plains you may see plenty of buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, lesser kudu, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, and impala. Over 570 bird species have been recorded including the Ruaha red-billed hornbill and migrant birds from Europe, Asia, Australia and Madagascar arrive during the rainy season between February and April.

Highlights: