About Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park Flora & Fauna
The Ruaha National Park is home to more than 1600 plant species. This place is heaven for plant fanatics with its four main ecological zones, each having its own plant life. The Ruaha river is banked by plants like fig, acacia, tamarind, baobab and doum palm. In the park’s southwestern region you can find black cotton grassland which is impenetrable in monsoon and miombo woodland. The vegetation here mainly consists of palms, patches of grasslands, baobab trees and scrubby. Brachystegia, Combretum, Commiphora, Miombo, MoeritheriumAcacia, Baobab, Candelabra, Doum Palm, Sausage, and Umbrella Plant are some of the best flora this park has to offer.
Ruaha National Park is home to around 80 animal species, 529 bird species and 38 fish species. Out of these hundreds of species of fauna, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, kudu, impala hartebeest, sable, roan antelope, lion, spotted hyena, and wild dog are present in great numbers. Ruaha National Park has the most number of elephants in the entire Tanzania. African fish eagle, ashy starling, black-bellied bustard, eleonora’s falcon, emerald-spotted wood dove,and yellow-collared lovebird are some of the beautiful bird species found in the park. The park also has crested barbet, a famous bird and its consistent thrilling sound is the characteristic sound of southern bush. Ruaha has the largest population of greater kudu in East Africa. Animals which are not easily visible at other safaris are also easy to observe here, like wild dogs. Lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope are some of the rare species found in the park.
Ruaha National Park Tour Packages
This tour is best for solo travelers and one can even customize this budget friendly package. You will enjoy game drives on the banks of Ruaha, Mwagusi and Mdonya river where you can see animals like hippos, leopards, waterbucks, and many more.
- Inclusions:
- Park fees (for non residents)
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals and drinking water
- Prices: Ranges between $585- $944
Also Checkout: Ruaha National Park Safari Tour
This is the best selling package amongst all and offers an adventurous safari experience. The first three nights you will lodge at Nyerere National Park and enjoy some great games along the banks of Rufiji river. Next you will head to Ruaha National Park on day four and stay here for the next three nights. The game viewing here is incredible and you and you can see some lesser known animals like the kudu, Roan and Sable antelope. After your private safari in both the parks you will spend the remaining 5 nights on the tropical Mafia Island in the Indian Ocean.
- Inclusions:
- Park fees (for non residents)
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals and drinking water
- Prices: Ranges between $4240.28- $5048.49
Must Checkout: Tanzania Safari Holiday Packages
This is one of the best tour packages to Ruaha National Park. You will get to see the park with all the varying landforms and rivers. You will enjoy a game viewing experience with buffalo, zebra, giraffe, bushbuck, waterbuck, both greater and lesser kudu, and lots of elephants roaming near the Ruaha great river.
- Inclusions:
Park fees (for non residents)
All activities (unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation
A professional driver/guide
All transportation
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals and drinking water
- Prices: Ranges between $760- $1298
This tour will take you around two national parks, Dar es salaam and Nyerere national park, before taking you to the Ruaha National Park. You can enjoy boat safari, walking safari and open vehicle safari during these 6 days. You will be able to spot hippos, crocodiles, lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, impala, giraffes and along with the flocks of birds.
- Inclusions:
Park fees (for non residents)
All activities (unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation
A professional driver/guide
All transportation
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals and drinking water
- Prices: Ranges between $860- $2,000
If you are going in a group this is definitely one of the best packages out there for Ruaha National Park safaris. You will get to enjoy game drives through different habitats in the park making it possible to see various animals and birds. You will also get a chance to go on a two hour walking safari in the park.
- Inclusions:
Park fees (for non residents)
All activities (unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation
A professional driver/guide
All transportation
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals and drinking water
- Prices: Ranges between $850 to $930
You should definitely take a look at this package if you are planning to visit with your family or friends. You will get to explore two national parks under this package, Mikumi National Park and Ruaha National Park. During the game drives you will get to see lions, hartebeest, buffalo, wild dogs, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra and elephants. Along with safari drives you will also enjoy safari walks accompanied by a guide.
- Inclusions:
Park fees (for non residents)
All activities (unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation
A professional driver/guide
All transportation
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals and drinking water
- Prices: Ranges between $1,000 to $1300
Things to Do at Ruaha National Park
It is a must do activity when in Ruaha National Park as it has hundreds of bird species including endemic species, migratory species and water species. This experience is best enjoyed early in the morning, during which you may see beautiful birds including bateleur, namaqua dove, and African fish eagle. Other bird species that you can watch here are goliath heron, ashy starling, Tanzanian red billed hornbill, and yellow collared lovebird.
Suggested Read: Things to Do in Tanzania
These tours are for those who are eager to know about different people and their cultures. In this activity you can visit the people in nearby villages and interact with them to learn about their culture, history, food, crafts, and much more. You can visit the schools, their home and entertain yourself with the local dance performances.
Also Read: Destinations to See in Tanzania
Game Drives are one of the major activities that can be done in Ruaha National Park. You can drive around the park with or without your guide and witness the wildlife this park has. During the drive you will be able to see large herds of elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, greater kudu, lions, wild dongs, etc. Game drives are usually done in mornings when the wildlife is active.
Ruaha National Park is considered safe and thus one can even go on night game drives to see the nocturnal animals when in the park. During this you will be accompanied by a professional driver with a 4WD safari vehicle with spotlight torches along with an armed guide. Along with the animals that you will see, you can also enjoy the beautiful night sky and sounds.
This is the best activity for those who want to see the wildlife up close as you will be exploring the park on foot. An armed park ranger will accompany you while on the trail, you can walk around for 1-5 hours according to your capacity. You will get to see animals in their natural habitat and birds, plants and butterflies with a beautiful sunset/sunrise.
Camps and Lodges in Ruaha National Parks
This camp is one the newest additions to Ruaha and offers great value for money. It is a luxurious and intimate camp with just 6 bedrooms. This small frontier-style camp has access to the park's huge populations of big cats, buffalo and elephants.
- Location: Mbagi area, Ruaha National Park Tanzania
- Price: US $600 to $1000 a night per person
- Amenities:
- Free breakfast
- Bar / lounge
- Restaurant
- Free shuttle or taxi services
- Laundry service
Must Check: Ruaha National Park Lodges
This camp is the most luxurious camp of Ruaha National Park and is considered the best for game drives. The camp is set high on a rocky kopje overlooking a landscape which is full of spiky palms and bulbous baobabs.
- Location: Ruaha National Park Tanzania
- Price: US $750 to US $1250 per person/night
- Amenities:
- Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
- Pool
- Free breakfast
- Free airport transportation
- Spa, Concierge
- Gift shop
- Private check-in / check-out
Also Checkout: Tanzania Safari Lodges
This camp is well known for its services, the owner of the camp is almost always around making sure that every visitor is comfortable. This will surely feel like home if you decide to stay here.
Location: Chris Fox Mwagusi Safari Camp Ruaha National Park Iringa, Ruaha National Park Tanzania
Price: US $600 to US $850 per person/night
Amenities:
Free parking
Bar / lounge, Restaurant
Breakfast available
Free airport transportatio
Airport transportation
Laundry service
Ironing service
Complimentary welcome drink
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
This camp is one of the best camps inside the Ruaha National Park which is known for providing walking safaris around its beautiful location. You will get to go on the best walking safaris with an expert guide and a safe environment from this camp.
Location: Ruaha National Park Tanzania
Price: US $580 to US $725 per person/night
Amenities:
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Free airport transportation
Laundry service
Mdonya Old River is a secluded and elegant camp with running water, beds and covered verandah out the front. It is perfect for someone who wishes to spend time with nature on a limited budget.
Location: Mdonya River, Ruaha National Park Tanzania
Price: US $450 to US $600 per person/night
Amenities:
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Free Airport transportation
Outdoor fireplace
Laundry service
Plan Your Visit to Ruaha National Park
How to Reach
Safaris to Ruaha typically starts from Dar es Salaam. You enter the country through Julius Nyerere International Airport(DAR).
- By Road: You can get to Dar es Salam by private vehicle, the drive to Ruaha from Dar es Salaam takes about 10 hours, but the roads are full of dust and bumps.
- By Air: Chartered or scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam are the easiest way to reach Ruaha. There are flights connecting all the parks of the southern circuit safari. Thus making it very easy to travel between them. After reaching the airport your tour operator will pick you up and handle all further transportation.
Best Time to Visit
June to October are the best months to visit Ruaha National Park for a Safari as the vegetation becomes scarce and spotting the animals becomes easier. One can see the animals gathered around the leftover water sources very easily during this time. If you wish to enjoy bird-watching then visit the park in the months from November- April, as the migratory birds are present during this time. Also it's more affordable to go on safaris during these months because of less crowds coming here.
Warm clothes if traveling between June to September.
Sturdy walking shoes
Raincoat if you are visiting the park during the wet season( Nov- Apr).
Hat or cap
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Mosquito repellent
Binoculars
Flashlight and a camera.
First aid kit with some anti-allergy medicines
Get vaccinated as required, anti-malaria medication and insect repellent with DEET formula are strongly advised.
Don’t forget to lock your bags and keep all the valuables in hand luggage.
Don’t raise your voice when in close proximity to animals.
Always stay in the vehicle and get out only when the guide allows you.
When on a walking safari, don’t wear too colorful clothes or perfumes, always stay close to the guide and walk in a single file.
Don’t run in the area and don’t leave food in the tent as they might attract wildlife.
Dark colored clothes attract stinging flies and are thus not recommended for tsetse-fly areas.
FAQ's of Ruaha National Park
What is Ruaha National Park famous for?
Ruaha National Park is famous for having the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania.It is also known for having a scarce number of camps despite its large size, making the experience much more unique.
Also Checkout: Masai Mara Safari
How much does it cost to enter Ruaha National Park?
For someone of age 16 or above, it costs around USD $30 to enter Ruaha National Park for non East Africans and USD $10 for East Africans. For someone aged between 5 to 16 the entry fee is USD $10 and USD $5 for non East Africans and East Africans respectively. Entry is free for children below the age of 5 irrespectively.
How long do you need in Ruaha National Park?
You will need about 1-7 days in Ruaha National Park depending upon the safari you choose. One can choose from overnight tours, full day tours, adventure tours, shore excursions, private and luxury tours according to their preference.
What is the best time of year to visit Ruaha National Park for a Safari?
June- October are the best months to visit Ruaha National Park for a Safari as the vegetation becomes scarce and spotting the animals becomes easier. During this time, one can see the animals gathered around the leftover water sources.
Which are the best camps in Ruaha National Park?
Kwihala Camp, Jabali Ridge, Mwagusi Camp, Kichaka Camp and Mdonya Old River are some of the best camps in Ruaha National Park.