In the heart of Tanzania, Ruaha makes a great extension to a Selous safari. It’s hotter, drier and higher here, so the environments, and several of the game species, are different. This world’s largest elephant sanctuary also has buffalo; hippos; crocodiles; lion; cheetah; leopard; wild dog, lots of antelope among other animals.
This is one of Tanzania’s best kept secrets of over 10,000 square kilometres, situated almost in the centre of the country! It is also Tanzania’s second largest park and the world’s largest elephant sanctuary. It has remained one of the most exciting game reserves (almost as large as the Serengeti). Bordered on the east by the Great Ruaha River and the west by Mzombe River, visitors are struck it is the beauty and vast expanse of wilderness stretching down towards the hazy blue hills of the Southern Highlands.
Wildlife: Most of the big game: elephant; buffalo; hippos; crocodiles; lion; cheetah; leopard; wild dog and lots of antelope; Greater and Lesser Kudu; roan and sable antelope; and Grants gazelles. Ruaha is a permanent hunting ground for lions, jackals, hyenas and the rare and beautifully marked wild dogs. They prey on zebras and numerous antelopes, with both the stunning roan and sable antelope found here as well as greater and lesser kudu. There are also thousands of elephants and buffalo.
Amongst the game found at the park are elephants, buffalos, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, leopards, a wide variety of antelope and over 465 recorded species of birdlife. Eurasian migrating birds flock to Ruaha twice a year (March/April and October/November) to join the already high number of resident species like kingfishers, hornbills, egrets, shimmering sunbirds and plovers.Ruaha Highlights
• Migrating birds: (March/April and October/November)
• Great Ruaha river in the rift valley: main centre of attraction for visitors.
• Day walks and hiking safaris through untouched bush
• Good opportunity of seeing the abstract ‘painted’ or ‘wild’ dog.
• Bird watching and photography.
• Walking safaris, and game viewing (use 4wheel drive).
• Large impressive antelopes
