Ruaha National Park

Ruaha covers a vast area of southern Tanzania and receives a tiny fraction of the visitors the northern circuit does, which is the entire argument for going. The landscape is different too: baobab-studded hills, sand rivers and miombo woodland rather than open plains. It supports one of the largest lion populations of any protected area in Africa, and prides here are unusually big. It is also a meeting point of southern and eastern African species, so greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope occur alongside the more familiar plains game, and elephant numbers are substantial. In the dry season everything comes to the Great Ruaha river, and game viewing along it can be exceptional with barely another vehicle in sight.

Highlights

• The Great Ruaha river - the dry-season focus where game concentrates.
• Baobab country - the park's signature landscape of huge baobabs on rocky hills.
• Large lion prides - one of Africa's most significant populations.
• Kudu, sable and roan - antelope species uncommon on the northern circuit.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and by far the best game viewing, as animals concentrate at water. The wet season from March to May makes many tracks impassable and several camps close.

Practical notes

Access is the main cost: flying is expensive and driving from Iringa is long and rough. Facilities are fewer and further apart than in the north, and this is not a park for a two-night add-on. In exchange you get near-solitude at sightings, which for many people is worth more than the extra logistics.

Nearby

Iringa town and the Isimila stone age site lie to the east; Nyerere National Park is the other southern giant.

Key facts