Ruaha National Park (Selous Game Reserve)

Ruaha National Park has scores of wildlife. The park is famous for wild cat safaris due to its big numbers, which include (lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and spotted hyenas. Ruaha is home to Four of the” Big Five” ( Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, & Leopard). The only animal that is missing is the Rhino. Ruaha National Park has the largest herd of elephants than anywhere else in Tanzania. At least 16,000 elephants are present in the park, and the park serves as one of Tanzania’s Lion conservation units. Other wildlife species include zebras, giraffes, warthogs, hippos, the largest herd of greater kudu and the rare species of lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope. The park is also home to reptiles and amphibians, including monitor lizards, crocodiles, frogs, agama lizards and snakes, both poisonous and non-poisonous.

Ruaha is a paradise for birdwatching lovers; over 570 species of birds are recorded in the park. Ruaha is home to the rare Eleonora’s Falcon, found during December and January. Other species of birds include Bee-eaters, Raptors, Hornbills, Egyptian goose, African black duck, Helmeted guinea fowl, Scaly francolin, Little grebe, Namaqua dove, Yellow-throated sandgrouse, Fiery -necked nightjar, Alpine swift, Jacobine cuckoo, Black crake, White-bellied bustard, Grey go-away bird among others.

The weather patterns in Ruaha National Park are different compared to those of Nothern Tanzania & Kenya, with the rainy season kicking in from November to May. Ruaha National Park is an all-year-round park that one can visit anytime due to various attractions. However, the best times to visit Ruaha National Park for magnificent wildlife viewing are from June to October, a dry season with the greatest overall concentration of wildlife. For avid bird watchers, the best times to visit the park are during the rainy seasons of November to April due to the presence of migratory birds that flock to the park.

Getting There?

By Air: Flying is the most accessible and preferable choice for getting to Ruaha using a scheduled or charter flight from Dar es Salaam Julius Nyerere International Airport. Connecting flights from other parks on the “southern circuit” are also available, including flights from Arusha town and Kilimanjaro. There are two airstrips in the park, Msembe and Jongomero airstrips. The airlines operating these routes are Coastal Aviation, Safari Air Link & Auric Air, ZanAir, Regional Air & Precision Air. Flight time from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.

By Road: Ruaha National Park is accessed by road from Dar es Salaam. The journey takes about 8-10 hours, covering approximately 625km. Ruaha can also be accessed by road from Mikumi National Park, about 320km and a 5-hour drive. The nearest town to Ruaha National Park is Iringa Town, approximately 130km away.