Ruaha National Park.
Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s unique and then attractive safari destination that is located in the West of Iringa town in South-Central Tanzania, the addition of the Usangu Game Reserve and other important wetlands to the park in 2008 increased its size to about 20,226km2 (7,809 sq mi). The park is about 130 kilometers (81 mi) West of Iringa. The park is a part of the 45,000 square kilometers (17,000 sq. mi) Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem, which includes the Rungwa Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River which flows along it southeastern margin and is the focus for game viewing.
Attractions in Ruaha National Park.
Wildlife.
Ruaha national park has wonderful wildlife in that it is a perfect for Tanzania wildlife safaris, the park has a vast number of elephants in the country, large number of the lions, more number of the cheetahs not only that the park has a quite number of mammals like the grant’s gazelle’s, roan antelopes, hartebeests, sable antelopes, elands, wild dogs, leopards, jackals, topi, southern and Bohor reedbucks and many more. The park has reptiles like the crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards and many more.
Hot Springs.
Hot Springs are among the spectacular attractions in Ruaha National park, these hot springs are associated with the base of the western rift valley escarpment. Hot springs in Ruaha National park are many but the notable ones include the Mkwawa, Mwayembe, Makinde and the Majimoto hot springs.
Wildlife.
Ruaha national park has amazing wildlife in that it is a perfect for Tanzania wildlife safaris, the park has a vast number of elephants in the country, large number of the lions, more number of the cheetahs not only that the park has a quite number of mammals like the grant’s gazelle’s, roan antelopes, hartebeests, sable antelopes, elands, wild dogs, leopards, jackals, topi, southern and Bohor reedbucks and many more. The park has reptiles like the crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards and many more.
Bird species.
Ruaha National park is a birding destination, the park has more than 574 bird species with migrants from Europe, Australian rim, Madagascar and many more from African continent. The bird species in Ruaha national park includes the Giant Kingfisher, Black-billed bustard, White-browned coucal, Spur-winged goose, Ashy starling, Collared palm-thrush, Goliath heron, Long-crested eagle, Namaqua dove, Sothern ground hornbill, Tanzanian red-billed hornbill, yellow-collared lovebird and many more. In the park the birds are best seen in the period of November to April as migratory birds come in the park, and it can be the breeding period of the birds in the park hence more number of bird species.
Vegetation and Spectacular Landscapes.
Ruaha national park is dominated by the semi-arid type of vegetation which is also one of the tourist attraction in the park, the vegetation cover consists of baobab trees, Acacia trees with over 1560 plant species. The park is one of the breathtaking areas perfect for Tanzania scenic viewing safaris, the landscapes are the plains, wetlands, rolling hills, rocky escarpments and the great Ruaha River. The hills in Ruaha national park are Nyamasombe, Nyanywa, Chariwindwi, Igawira, Mwayiui, Kilimamatonge, Kibiriti, Magangew, Ndetamburwa, Iasukanvyiola, these hills act as Kopjes thus providing habitat for animals living in the park.
Historical and cultural sites.
Ruaha national park consists of many historical and cultural sites, which is perfect for the Tanzania cultural safari. The area of the park is hailed as the land of the brave Chief Mkwawa the chief of the hehe people, the people believe that the area of Ruaha national park knows the secrets of the chief Mkwawa and there are many cultural sites in the park such as the Idinda rock paintings, Mapenza grave, the Nyanywa rock paintings, The Ganga La Mafunyo rock.
Activities to do in Ruaha National Park.
Ruaha national park is blessed with various animal species such as the elephants, African wild dog, greater and lesser kudu, leopards, lions, cheetah, impala, bushbuck, giraffes, roan antelopes, elephants, the park offers the game tracks to the tourists where they carry game viewing while exploring the various animal species in the park.
Game drives.
Game drives in Ruaha National Park offers a rugged and authentic safari experience, renowned for its uncrowded vastness and spectacular wildlife. Visitors can go on morning, afternoon even thrilling night game drives in open sided 4×4 vehicles. The park is the best safari destination for spotting the large herds of elephants and buffaloes, as well as an abundance of predators, including one of Africa’s largest lion population and elusive leopards. Great Ruaha River is a lifetime during the dry season, attracting a high concentration of animals. It’s an ideal location for tourists looking an off the beaten path safari with exceptional big cat and rare antelope sightings.
Guided nature walks.
The tourists in Ruaha national park carry out walking trails to experience the nature wilderness on foot, while they are spotting a lot of birdlife, animal species and a number of plant species, this activity normally takes 2 to 3 hours as led by the experienced park ranger.
Bird watching.
Ruaha national park is a birding paradise in Tanzania with over 574 bird species, where the park has the resident bird species, migratory bird species the best period for bird watching is during the rainy season as this is when the migratory birds come in the park and when the birding breeding rate is too high, bird species in the park to be watched include the African fish eagle, black billed bustard, bateleurs, emerald spotted wood dove, crested barbet, long crested eagle, Goliath heron and many more.
Best time to visit Ruaha National Park.
Ruaha National park is atypical dry season park, the best time see larger mammals and predators being the between mid-May and December, as water becomes scarce towards the end of the dry season, the game gathers around available water sources, offering unbeatable game viewing opportunities.
Where to stay in Ruaha National Park.
Ruaha National Park has great accommodation for the tourists in the park, in that the park offers camping sites, like the Kwihala camp, Mwagusi camp, Kichaka camp, and many others, the park also has great accommodation minus campsite, like the budget, Mid-range, luxury like the Jabali Ridge, Mdonya Old River, Ruaha River Lodge and many more that provides comfortable beddings to the tourists.
How to get to Ruaha National Park.
Ruaha national park can be accessed by both road and flight from either Arusha or Dar es Salaam.
By Road means.
Ruaha national park can be accessed by road from Iringa which is about 130 kilometers squared.
By Flight means.
Ruaha national park can be accessed using the charter domestic flights that operate within the parks airstrips.
Ruaha national park is particularly famous for its large predator sightings, research conducted by the Ruaha Carnivore Project, established in 2009, showed that the park is a home to a whopping 10 percent of Africa’s lions, including large prides with 20 or more members.
