3-day Ruaha National Park safari leads you to a legendary gem in Tanzania. Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania. The park was first gazetted as Saba game reserve in 1910 with its name being changed to Rungwa game reserve in 1946. In 1974, the southern portion of the reserve was then gazetted as Ruaha national park in 1974. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its South-Eastern margin; the name “Ruaha” originates from the Hehe word “Ruvaha”, which means “river.” The park is part of the 45,000 square kilometres (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.
Ruaha national park is one of the few Tanzania’s famous wilderness area where one can have a rare experience of game viewing spiced up by the fascinating landscape. The park is rich in over 1,650 species of identified plants and animals such as Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) which can not be found in any other national park. Ruaha boasts of her almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making visitors’ safari experience very unique. The vegetation in within the park differs drastically between flat treeless savannahs, Miombo woodlands, dry bush lands, swamps and riverine forests. This vegetation hosts a plethora of animal species that call this their home. Ruaha is believed to have high concentration of elephants than any National Park in East Africa. It is also a place where magnificent mammals like Kudu, Sable and Roan antelopes can easily be spotted in Miombo woodland. The park is also a habitat for endangered wild dogs. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, hyena, buffalos, hippos, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and Jackals. Grant's gazelle, defassa waterbuck and the hartebeest also exist within the park.
The park is also punctuated by several rivers like the Great Ruaha River, Mwagusi, Jongomero and Mzombe which serve as the life line of the park. There are also some few natural springs. The remaining water falls along the Great Ruaha River are also important habitat for hippopotamus, fish and crocodiles. These are part of what make the 3-day Ruaha National Park safari exciting.
For bird enthusiasts, the park is one of Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species, some of which are migrants from within and outside Africa. Some of the resident species include the: hornbills, the endemic Ruaha red billed hornbill, kingfishers, sunbirds, black collared lovebirds, ashy starlings, ground hornbills, bateleurs, fish eagles and many more. Apart from the birds, the park also harbors a number of reptiles and amphibians such as crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards and frogs.
There are over 1,650 plant species that have been identified.
This 3 day Ruaha National Park safari altogether combines the art of nature and the thrill for pleasure, offering the best so deserved.
Activity of the Day
Transfer from Dar es salaam to Iringa.
Pickup at your hotel in Dar es Salaam early in the morning for a drive to Iringa city 10 hours drive via Morogoro town. You will have scenic views of the country side and spectacular valleys and mountain. The area around the Ruaha river valley is stunning. Arrive in Iringa for dinner and overnight at the hotel of your choice.
Activity of the Day
Ruaha National Park game drive
After an early morning breakfast, you will enjoy a full day game drive in Ruaha. The game drive offers great chances of viewing a plethora of animals like lions, leopards, elephant, wildebeests, elephants, zebra, lions, hippos, hartebeest, impala, antelope, giraffe, buffalos among others. Since 2005, Ruaha is considered a Lion Conservation Unit with the Usangu basin being one of the country’s important bird areas (IBA) as recognized by Birdlife International. Therefore, you will have great views of nature. Dinner and overnight.
Activity of the Day
Walking safari, game drive and departure to Dar es Salaam.
After breakfast enjoy 2-3 hours of game drive and a walking safari with armed rangers. You will walk to the nearest area of animal concentration and have views of impalas, zebras among others. After the game drive and walking safari, you will be transferred to Iringa city, which is a 2 hours drive. From Iringa, you will drive to Dar es Salaam for your departure which brings the safari to an end.