Tanzania’s Wildest Frontier

Ruaha National Park

Tanzania’s largest national park, Ruaha National Park, is the wild, lion-rich heart of the Southern Circuit. It holds roughly 10% of the world’s lion population, vast herds of elephants, and a sense of remoteness that makes you feel like the only safari-goers in Africa.

Park Facts

At a Glance

Best Time

May to November

Park Area

20,226 km²

Recommended Stay

3–4 days recommended

Elevation

750–1,900 m

“Ready to experience Ruaha National Park? Let’s start planning your safari.”

About the Park

Discover Ruaha National Park

Ruaha is Tanzania’s wildest heart. At 20,226 square kilometers, it is the country’s second-largest national park and one of the last places in Africa where you can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle. The Great Ruaha River cuts through baobab-studded plains, attracting predators and prey in a drama played out for millennia.

Top Experiences

Signature things to do

01

Walking Safari

Track lion and elephant on foot with experienced armed guides.

02

Fly-In Safari

Charter flights from Dar es Salaam or Selous open up this remote wilderness.

03

Bush Sundowners

Cocktails on a riverbank as elephants drink in the golden light.

When to Visit

Best time for a Ruaha safari

From May to November, the dry season concentrates wildlife around the Great Ruaha River. Our team will match your travel dates with the right park combination. Talk to us about timing your safari for migration, calving, or low-season pricing.

Safari Routes

Featuring Ruaha National Park

These are starting points; every itinerary we create is customized around your travel dates, budget, and the experiences that matter most to you.

3–4 Days

Ruaha Essentials

Fly-in from Dar es Salaam or Arusha. Enough time to experience the Great Ruaha River, the baobab woodland, and multiple predator sightings.

5 Days

Ruaha in Depth

Multiple game drives, a walking safari, a night drive, and a sundowner by the river. The definitive Ruaha experience for serious safari-goers.

5 Days

Ruaha + Selous

Tanzania’s two great southern wilderness parks combined are vastly different in character but equally magnificent. A fly-in circuit covering the best of wild Tanzania.

Let's plan your Ruaha safari

Tell us your dream travel dates and style, and we’ll send a fully tailor-made itinerary within 24 hours, no obligation.

More Tanzania Parks

Continue your Tanzania safari journey

Maasai Mara

Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration across endless golden plains in Kenya’s most iconic reserve.

Amboseli

Wild northern Kenya, a land of red earth, doum palms, and the famous ‘Samburu Special Five.’

Samburu

Wild northern Kenya is a land of red earth, doum palms, and the famous ‘Samburu Special Five.’