Ruaha National Park
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 located in the middle of Tanzania about 130 kilometres (81 mi) from Iringa and covers an area of about 13,000 square kilometres. The addition of the Usangu Game Reserve and other important wetlands to the park in 2008 increased its size to about 20,226 square kilometres (7,809 sq mi), making it the largest park in Tanzania and East Africa. The park is thus a 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. The park is found West of the Selous Game Reserve, and South of The Serengeti. Since 2005, the protected area 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.
Highlights
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. 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. During the dry season, the majestic Ruaha River becomes nothing more than a few precious waterholes that predators take complete advantage of by laying silently in wait, knowing that thirst will drive herds of impalas, gazelles and other antelopes to come drink. The riverine vegetation on the shores around the river helps provide enough cover for lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas making it the best hunting ground in the park.
Ruaha National Park has a bimodal pattern of rain forest; the short rainfall season begins November to February, while the long season is between March and April. The park experiences its dry season between June and October.
The park is home to 10% of the world's lion population, contains one of four cheetah populations in East Africa and has the third largest wild dog population in the world. The lion viewing around the Mwagusi area is especially rewarding.
Wildlife
The park is one of the Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species and some of them are known to be migrants from within and outside Africa. Among the resident species are hornbills, the endemic Ruaha red billed hornbill, kingfishers, sunbirds, black collared lovebirds, ashy starlings, ground hornbills, bateleurs, fish eagles and many more.
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.
Apart from large animals, the park also harbors a number of reptiles and amphibians such as crocodiles, poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards and frogs
The park is characterized by semi-arid type of vegetation, baobab trees, Acacia and other species. There are over 1,650 plant species that have been identified.
Climate
Ruaha National Park has a bimodal pattern of rain forest; the short rainfall season begins November to February, while the long season is between March and April. The annual mean rainfall ranges between 500mm-800mm with the average annual temperature of about 280c. The park experiences its dry season between June and October.
The main activity is a Ruaha Safari daytime game drive. Night safaris are not permitted. Due to the high numbers of elephant in Ruaha some camps have chosen not to operate walking safaris. Those that do (Kwihala, Jongomero and Kigelia) have some superb guides and can offer amazing walking safaris. Jongomero is the only camp to operate fly camping trips with adventurous nights spent out under the stars.
Balloon safari
If you want a unique perspective on the beautiful landscape of Ruaha, yet still search for wildlife then a balloon safari is perfect for you.
Bird watching
The park is one of the Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species and some of them are known to be migrants from within and outside Africa. Migrating species from Europe, Asia, Australian rim and Madagascar have been recorded in the park. Species of interest in the park include Ruaha red-billed hornbill (Tokus ruahae) which is dominant in the area. The recently annexed wetland, the Usangu basin is one of the country’s important bird area (IBA) as recognized by Birdlife International. Though birds can be seen all the year around, the best time for bird watching is during the wet season. The birding from December through to March is exceptional.
Ruaha Safari - When to go
Like the Selous, Ruaha is a classic dry season park. Game gets progressively better towards the end of the dry season as the water holes and rivers dry up and the game concentrates around water. Like the Selous, travelling to Ruaha out of season will virtually guarantee that you see no other people whilst on safari and there are pockets in the park where the game concentrations are good at any time of the year.
Getting to Ruaha National Park
The park can be reached both by air and road:
By Air- There are both scheduled and chartered flights into the park mainly from Arusha, Dodoma, Kigoma and Dar-es-salaam. The park’s two airstrips are; Msembe airstrip at Msembe (park headquarters) and Jongomero airstrip, near the Jongomeru Ranger Post.
By road- It is about 130km drive from Iringa town and 625km from Dar-es-salaam city. The road into the park is passable throughout the year.
