RUAHA
"A landscape of ancient baobabs and bone-dry riverbeds, where 1,000 lions rule the silence."
Volume
20,226 km²
Predators
1,000 Lions
Flora
Giant Baobabs
Lifeline
Great Ruaha River
The Land of Goliaths
Ruaha's landscape is a rugged transition zone between the Miombo woodlands of the south and the East African savannah.
Great Ruaha River
The park's pulse. During the dry season, wildlife converges on the remaining pools, creating intense predator-prey hotspots.
Sand Rivers
The Mwagusi and Jongomero are seasonal sand rivers that flow periodically but teem with hidden life beneath the surface year-round.
Kopjes & Baobabs
Ancient granite outcrops and thousands of massive baobab trees provide a prehistoric backdrop for photography.
Predator
Country
Ruaha holds 10% of the world's remaining lion population. It is one of the few places where you can see Greater and Lesser Kudu alongside Sable and Roan antelope.
| Season | Window | Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Dry | Jun - Oct | Intense predator action at the river. |
| Green | Nov - Apr | Birding paradise (575+ species). |
The Ruaha Advantage
Visitor density here is less than 1% of the Serengeti levels, offering a true "private safari" feel in a public park.
Expedition Planning
Logistics & Intel
Remote Access
Fly-in is the gold standard. Flights from Dar or Arusha land at Msembe or Jongomero airstrips. Driving from Arusha is a grueling 2-day journey.
Tsetse Fly Guard
Flies are present in woodland patches. Advise guests to wear neutral colors (khaki/olive) and avoid blue/black which attracts them.
Night Safaris
Available only at certain licensed lodges. A $50 per person supplement usually applies for these nocturnal tracking experiences.
The Professional's Edge
"Position yourself near the Mwagusi sand river at dawn. The dust haze combined with elephants digging for water creates the most iconic, atmospheric shots in all of Africa."