uaha is an astonishing park which
can provide even the most experienced travellers with something new. The undulating
topography, glorious river and majestic trees combine to produce one of Africa’s
most captivating landscapes. Since visitor numbers are quite few, it possesses
a true wilderness atmosphere. Many who know Africa’s national parks consider
Ruaha to be one of the best kept secrets, listing it as their favourite.
Size and situation: 10,300 sq km. Situated in central Tanzania, Ruaha is Tanzania's 2nd biggest park. It’ll soon become the largest park in Africa (28,000 sq km), being combined with Usangu Game Reserve.
Landscapes: Ruaha’s scenery includes rolling hills, large open plains,
groves of skeletal baobabs and, along its southern border,
the wide Great Ruaha River.
Ruaha’s ecosystems represent a transition between the miombo woodlands and
the more open savannah. This is evident in the park’s vegetation, which is
thick in some areas and yet wide open in others.
The variation in altitude and topography has given rise to wide diversity
of plants and wildlife, which is greatly enhanced by the permanent water of
the Ruaha River. Enormous baobab trees are a key feature of the park, where
Ruaha’s huge elephant populations relish the succulent bark of Baobab trees.
Wildlife: The park has over 12,000 elephants, which
is the biggest population of any national park in Tanzania (Selous Game Reserve,
with 55-65,000 elephants, has a larger population). The park is famous for
its huge buffalo herds and its variety of antelope. Ruaha
is the only east African park with both Greater and Lesser Kudu,
and sable and roan antelopes.
It also offers an unusual combination of East and Southern African wildlife
and birds.
For birdwatchers, Ruaha’s birdlife is extraordinary, with over 450 species
recorded including turaco, racquet-tailed roller, red-billet fire finch and
Dickinson’s kestrel. There are six species of both vultures and hornbills,
and raptors abound.
Activities: A fine network of game-viewing roads
follows the Great Ruaha and its seasonal tributaries, where, during the dry
season, impala, waterbuck and other antelopes risk their life for a sip of
life-sustaining water.
Day walks or hiking safaris are organized through untouched
bush. An early morning bird walk will let you discover the environment of
the lodge’s surroundings. Night game drives and the visit of a traditional
and authentic Maasai Boma are activities exclusively offered
at Tandala Tented Camp.
Climate: Like the rest of Southern Tanzania, Ruaha has two rainy
seasons - at least in theory - although weather in Africa is just as unpredictable
as anywhere else in the world.
The short rains fall in Ruaha National Park between October and late November;
this is a period in which things start to turn green.
Most of the rains fall in March and April. This is the time when the sand
rivers like the Mwagusi and the Mdonya are most likely to flood.
The best time to visit the Park, especially for predators and large mammals,
is probably in the dry season. Although, the wet season is propitious to bird-watching,
lush scenery and wildflowers while the male greater kudu is most visible in
June, the breeding season.
Our lodge’s portfolio:
Tandala Tented Camp
Mwagusi Safari Camp
Mdonya Old River
Jongomero Camp
