Ruaha National Park: Introduction
Ruaha National Park is in the southern part of Tanzania. The park covers an area of 20,226sq km (7,809 square miles), making it the second largest park in Tanzania after Nyerere National Park. Ruaha is part of the larger Rungwa-Kizigo -Muhesi ecosystem, which covers an area of 45,000sq km (17,000 square miles). Ruaha National Park is one of Tanzania’s most remarkable wilderness areas named after the great Ruaha River, which travels along the southeastern border and is a water source for abundant wildlife, drawing visitors to the area. The second river is River Njombe, which wanders through gorges and broken rocky landscapes.
There are three primary areas where one can go on game drives; the park landscape is diverse and most spectacular as it constantly changes from one area to another, adding a magical touch to your safari experience, along with the Mbage -Mwagusi circuit and Mdonya woodlands. Other attractive features that draw guests to the park include Ngalambulwa Mountain, the tallest point with an altitude of 5,250 feet (1,600m), grasslands and rocky terrain surrounding this massif, contributing to the diverse landscape
Locate the Ruaha National Park
How to get there & Best time to visit
How to get 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.
Best time to visit
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.