Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's largest park and one of Africa's most underrated safari destinations. Covering 20,226 square kilometres of rugged central Tanzania, the park sits at the meeting point of east and southern African wildlife zones. The Great Ruaha River is the park's lifeline during the dry season, drawing enormous concentrations of elephants, hippos, and one of Tanzania's largest lion populations. Ruaha sees a fraction of the visitors of the northern circuit, delivering a genuinely exclusive and wild experience.
Attractions & Wildlife
Lions of the Great Ruaha
Ruaha supports one of Tanzania's largest lion populations and one of the few places where packs regularly tackle formidable prey — hippos, buffalo, and even giraffe.
Elephant Herds
The Great Ruaha River in the dry season attracts hundreds of elephants simultaneously — massive bulls competing at the banks, family groups bathing, and the ancient baobab landscape as backdrop.
Walking Safaris
Walking safaris through Ruaha's remote terrain — tracking elephants and lions on foot through ancient dry riverbeds and baobab forest — deliver a wilderness experience of exceptional quality.
Wild Dogs and Roan Antelope
Ruaha is one of Tanzania's best parks for wild dogs and is one of very few places in East Africa where roan antelope, a large and magnificent southern African species, can be found.
Photo Gallery
Our Insider Tips
Fly in from Dar or combine with Nyerere. Ruaha is remote but well-served by charter flights from Dar es Salaam. Combining Ruaha with Nyerere on a southern Tanzania circuit is one of Africa's best undiscovered itineraries.
Jongomero and Kwihala are the benchmark camps. Jongomero Camp and Kwihala Camp are both exceptional — small, intimate, on the river, and with outstanding guiding. Book early as they have few tents and fill quickly.
The dry season is the only time to go. Visit June–October when the Great Ruaha concentrates the wildlife. The wet season makes many tracks impassable and disperses the game widely.