Ruaha
The Ruaha is the park where game viewing can begin the moment the plane touches down. This park is one of the few of Tanzania’s famous wilderness areas where the tourist can have a rare experience of game viewing spiced up by the fascinating landscape.
The park is rich in plants and animals such as Greater Kudu which can not be found in any other national park.
The park boasts of its almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making visitors’ safari experience unique.
The Great Ruaha River like other rivers like Mwagusi, Jongomero, and Mzombe Save is the lifeline of the park.
During the dry season, these rivers become mostly the main source of water for wildlife. There are few natural springs with the same purpose.
At the peak of the dry season, elephants obtain water from dry sand rivers using their front feet and trunks.
The remaining waterfalls along the Great Ruaha River are also an important habitat for hippopotamus, fish, and crocodiles.
The Ruaha National Park has a bimodal pattern of rainforest; the short rainfall season begins November to February, while the long season is between March and April.
The annual mean rainfall ranges between 500 mm – 800 mm with an average annual temperature of about 280c.
The park experiences its dry season between June and October when the temperature at Msembe headquarter reaches 25-30˚C/77-86˚.
The park’s history dates back to 1910 when it was gazetted Saba Game Reserve by Germany then the name was changed by the British to Rungwa Game reserve in 1946.
In 1964 the southern portion of the Game was gazetted as Ruaha national park and in 1974 a small section of the South-Eastern part of the Great Ruaha River was incorporated into the park.
The name “Ruaha” originates from the Hehe word “Ruvaha”, which means “river”. Ruaha National Park is part of the Rungwa-Kizigo –Muhesi ecosystem which covers more than 45000 km 2.
In 2008 Usangu Game Reserve and other important wetlands in the Usangu basin were annexed into the park, making it the largest park in Tanzania at that time.
Though in 2020 the Nyerere National Park has been gazetted covering an area of about 30,893 km2 and brought down to the second largest park in East Africa with an area of about 20226 kilometers square.
Ruaha National Park has a high diversity of plants and animals including elephants, Buffaloes, antelopes, and some of the rare and endangered species like wild dogs.
The park serves as a water shade both for wildlife and human beings.
This makes it economically significant as it supports agricultural activities downstream and contributes to hydroelectric power (HEP) for the country at Mtera and Kidatu dams.
Ruaha National Park is renowned for its excellent wildlife-sighting opportunities. Combined with the low number of visitors, this makes it a spectacular destination.
The wider Ruaha area hosts 10% of the world’s lion population and has been a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005. It’s not uncommon to find pride in more than 20 lions in the park.
The leopard stalks the thicker woodland areas, while the cheetah can be found scanning the plains for prey.
The wild dog is endangered, but Ruaha is home to almost 100 of them. There are healthy populations of hyenas and black-backed jackals too.
Elephants are seen in high densities during the dry season when they gather around the dry riverbed to dig for water with their trunks and front feet.
There is a real mix between species more commonly associated with southern areas of Africa, and species that are widespread in the south such as; buffalo, zebra, Defassa waterbuck, impala, bushbuck, giraffe, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, greater kudu (some of the most handsomely horned males you’ll come across anywhere in Africa) also the more elusive roan and sable antelope.
Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu are also found here and are good examples of a game that is more typically associated with areas further north. (It’s also one of the few places where you can see both greater and lesser kudu in the same area.)
Ruaha National Park is also home to the largest elephant population found in any Tanzanian national park, with some 12,000 elephants migrating through the greater Ruaha ecosystem each year.
It is also an excellent park for predators. Lions are not only numerous and very habituated to vehicles, but the pride tends to be unusually large, often numbering more than 20 individuals.
Cheetahs can often be seen hunting on the open plains, and the park has a particularly good reputation for leopard sightings.
It is one of the last major strongholds for African wild dog populations with more than 100 found here. Black-backed jackal and spotted hyena are both very common and easily seen, and the rarer striped hyena, though seldom observed, also lives here.
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 types of vegetation, baobab trees, Acacia, and other species.
There are over 1,650 plant species that have been identified. This makes Ruaha National Park the gemstone of the southern highland of Tanzania
Ruaha is heaven for bird lovers with over 570 species sighted in the park once again with an interesting mix of southern and northern species.
Of particular note are substantial and visible populations of Black-collared lovebirds and ashy starlings, this is perhaps the only savanna reserve in East Africa where the crested barbet replaces the red-and-yellow barbet.
Along the rivers expect to find water birds like goliath herons, saddle-billed storks, white-headed plovers, and the white-backed night heron.
There are six species of both vultures and hornbills including the recently described Tanzanian red-billed hornbill.
Raptors are also well represented; with bateleur and fish eagle probably the most visible large birds of prey, and the localized Eleanora’s falcon quite common in December and January.
Keen bird watchers visit Ruaha National Park from mid-November to March when migrant birds swell the numbers. Then a variety of waders appear along the riverbanks, together with flocks of white and Abdim’s storks.
The sooty falcon arrives from the Sahara Desert and the rare Eleonora’s falcon from the Mediterranean. Serengeti is the crown for Wildebeest migration but here we have in Ruaha National Park we have flying birds.
The migrant birds from Europe, Asia, Australia, and Madagascar arrive during the rainy season between February and April.
This distinguishes Ruaha National Park from other parks, making it stand alone as the moon in the dark sky.
Accommodations in Ruaha National Park
Once it comes to accommodation we have the best suggestions for safari camps in Ruaha National Park and outside of the park. Something to learn about overnight stay within the park you will be subjected to overnight fees commonly known as the concession fees. So if you feel you want to save some you better opt to overnight outside the park but very near to the gate entrance. Despite that, we have the best collection of mid-range and luxurious camps within the park. We invite you to take a look for more details. Enjoy the ride with us!
Tours & Safaris
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6 Days Big Five SafariFrom US $2,1506 Days6 Days Big Five Safari
Serengeti,Manyara,Tarangire,Ngorongoro,Arusha -
8 Days Tanzania ExperienceFrom US $3,2508 Days8 Days Tanzania Experience
Serengeti,Manyara,Arusha Park,Tarangire,Ngorongoro -
13 Days Zanzibar Luxury SafariFrom US $5,28013 Days13 Days Zanzibar Luxury Safari
Serengeti,Manyara,Tarangire,Ngorongoro,Zanzibar -
7 Days Honeymoon SafariFrom US $7,2007 Days7 Days Honeymoon Safari
Serengeti,Manyara,Ngorongoro,Kilimanjaro,Arusha -
11 Days Tanzania Honeymoon SafariFrom US $9,00011 Days11 Days Tanzania Honeymoon Safari
Serengeti,Kilimanjaro,Zanzibar -
9 Days Tanzania Camping ExperienceFrom US $3,1407 Days9 Days Tanzania Camping Experience
Serengeti,Manyara,Ngorongoro,Zanzibar -
8 Days Lemosho Route +2 Days Hotel StayFrom US $2,5208 Days8 Days Lemosho Route +2 Days Hotel Stay
Kilimanjaro -
4 Days Mount Meru Trekking+ 2 Days Hotel StayFrom US $1,0204 Days4 Days Mount Meru Trekking+ 2 Days Hotel Stay
Mount Meru -
General Travel Information
Our team carefully researched and focused on trips which attract people with the same interest and naturally get on well with each other through their shared interests.
Once you confirm your booking on a tour you will be sent further practical information – packing tips, detailed itineraries, including advice on health, passport and visa requirements, and minimum and maximum numbers of guests on tours.
Memorable meals are one of the hallmarks of an excellent holiday. With the support of the best cooks, the quality of food and drink service is guaranteed. Depending on the service level or type of tour you have chosen, pre-discussion with your tour planner is a win-win situation for an enjoyable diet. Other tours are accompanied by our cook and others are inclusive service from our accommodation partners include hotels, private camps, and luxury lodges.
The answer is absolute yes! The areas where safaris are organized are safe and free of political chaos. We conduct safaris in places that are politically stable to assure our clients’ safety and enjoyment.
Our Professional Safari Guides are well trained about wild animal behaviors and they have enough experience to lead our clients in the wilderness. Our vehicles are 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rovers with a hutched roof to give maximum visibility of a game.
African safaris guarantee unlimited sightseeing; millions of animals, birds, and plant life are the core characters of the African savanna. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Cape buffalo, and Leopards (the so-called “Big Five”). On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeests, Zebras, a large variety of antelope species, Gazelles, Giraffes, Baboons, and Hippos. The birdlife is fantastic – in some areas, up to 400 bird species have been identified! Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!), and there are hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! You will also see the acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains, and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises one could ever imagine! Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent, and then the beautiful rainbow.
Tanzania destinations are accessible throughout the year but we advise you to take your tours during the dry session for the safari so as you can enjoy the best sightings at this time as the grasses and bush are at their least dense. July to October and December through February. The green session includes March through June. Discuss with us for the best option if you have also a plan to coincides with Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park’
(We suggest you remember) insect repellent (the best way to prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases), sunscreen, cap or hat, sunglasses, binoculars, detergent powder if you want to wash some clothes yourself, hand-wipes small flashlight, aspirin, diarrhea medicine, rain jacket, poncho, or collapsible umbrella, plastic bags (for wet clothes, swimsuit and for keeping dust away from camera equipment), Kleenex/toilet tissue a neck chain for eyeglasses if you take them off to use binoculars and cameras, any medical prescription you need, masking tape or labels for marking exposed films cans, film, extra camera batteries.
Although more than 200 languages and dialects are spoken throughout Africa, this presents no problem as English is spoken throughout East and Southern Africa. Apart from English, all our professional guides are multilingual so we get you covered.
African safaris guarantee unlimited sightseeing; millions of animals, birds, and plant life are the core characters of the African savanna. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Cape buffalo, and Leopards (the so-called “Big Five”). On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeests, Zebras, a large variety of antelope species, Gazelles, Giraffes, Baboons, and Hippos. The birdlife is fantastic – in some areas, up to 400 bird species have been identified! Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!), and there are hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! You will also see the acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains, and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises one could ever imagine! Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent, and then the beautiful rainbow.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are determined to ensure that you experience the luxury of genuinely memorable travel. On every trip, we aim to create a ‘charmed space’ within which you can relax, absorb fresh insights, be stimulated and charmed by new encounters – and have fun!
Whether traveling alone or with friends, Blessing Safaris guests often mention how particularly agreeable they find their traveling companions. our groups are deliberately small, comprising 2 to 7 guests especially for safari.
Our team carefully researched and focused on trips which attract people with the same interest and naturally get on well with each other through their shared interests.
Once you confirm your booking on a tour you will be sent further practical information – packing tips, detailed itineraries, including advice on health, passport and visa requirements, and minimum and maximum numbers of guests on tours.
Memorable meals are one of the hallmarks of an excellent holiday. With the support of the best cooks, the quality of food and drink service is guaranteed. Depending on the service level or type of tour you have chosen, pre-discussion with your tour planner is a win-win situation for an enjoyable diet. Other tours are accompanied by our cook and others are inclusive service from our accommodation partners include hotels, private camps, and luxury lodges
Help us to help you by organizing even better tours, and save money. If you contact us in advance you will save a big deal in terms of price as you have the best time for negotiation and customization of the tour with a safari planner and save more.
Why not? , We offer private tours whether you’re alone or with family and friends celebrating a special anniversary or planning a reunion of family and friends you can discuss with us. We can create a special itinerary away from traffic, travel in style with the itinerary specifically shaped to your requirements.
The answer is absolutely yes! The areas where safaris are organized are safe and free of political chaos. We conduct safaris in places that are politically stable to assure our clients’ safety and enjoyment.
African safaris guarantee unlimited sightseeing; millions of animals, birds, and plant life are the core characters of the African savanna. You roam across the countryside in search of Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Cape buffalo, and Leopards (the so-called “Big Five”). On any given day, you will encounter Blue Wildebeests, Zebras, a large variety of antelope species, Gazelles, Giraffes, Baboons, and Hippos. The birdlife is fantastic – in some areas, up to 400 bird species have been identified! Think of the majestic Baobab tree (some tribes believe that the tree was indeed planted upside-down!), and there are hundreds of varieties of thorn trees! You will also see the acacia-dotted landscape, endless plains, majestic mountains, and the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises one could ever imagine! Think of a late afternoon thunderstorm, short but violent, and then the beautiful rainbow.
This aspect is much overstated. You will rarely see a snake, but if you do, it will most likely be from the safety of your safari vehicle. Tents and lodges all have bug screens fitted to windows and doors. In most areas where bugs or mosquitoes are prevalent, rooms and tents are also equipped with mosquito nets, adding to the idealistic ambiance. Bear in mind that malaria is a threat in most wildlife areas, and it is necessary to consult your doctor for advice before embarking on your safari.
Tanzania destinations are accessible throughout the year but we advise you to take your tours during the dry session for the safari so as you can enjoy the best sightings at this time as the grasses and bush are at their least dense. July to October and December through February. The green session includes March through June. Discuss with us for the best option if you have also a plan to coincides with Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park
Around the turn of the century (until the ’30s and ’40s), mobile tenting was the only option, and “camp as you go” was the standard practice. Over the years the luxury connected with the traditional mobile tenting safari has increased. By the same token, one can understand that the cost of having a “luxury hotel” following one around in Africa is expensive. However, most people settle for permanent tented camps. Because they are “permanent” they can be equipped with flush toilets and traditional bathroom fixtures and conveniences. Don’t be misled by terminology – a permanent tented camp offers the comfort of a 5-star hotel but with the romance and adventure of being surrounded by the sights and sounds of Africa.
(We suggest you remember) insect repellent (the best way to prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases), sunscreen, cap or hat, sunglasses, binoculars, detergent powder if you want to wash some clothes yourself, hand-wipes small flashlight, aspirin, diarrhea medicine, rain jacket, poncho or collapsible umbrella, plastic bags (for wet clothes, swimsuit and for keeping dust away from camera equipment), Kleenex/toilet tissue a neck chain for eyeglasses if you take them off to use binoculars and cameras, any medical prescription you need, masking tape or labels for marking exposed films cans, film, extra camera batteries.
Although more than 200 languages and dialects are spoken throughout Africa, this presents no problem as English is spoken throughout East and Southern Africa. Apart from English, all our professional guides are multilingual so we get you covered
