Safari & Tours Info
Ruaha National Park is a national park in Tanzania. The addition of the Usangu Game Reserve and other important wetlands to the park in 2008 increased its size to about 20,226 km2 (7,809 sq mi).
The park is about 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Iringa. The park is a part of the 45,000 square kilometres (17,000 sq mi) Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem, which includes the Rungwa Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves, and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area.
The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its southeastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. The park can be reached by car on a dirt road from Iringa and there are two airstrips – Msembe airstrip at Msembe (park headquarters), and Jongomeru Airstrip, near the Jongomeru Ranger Post.
Overview
Ruaha National Park is home to a large number of birds and mammals. Tourists visiting this park have a good chance to spot Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino and other plains game such as Giraffe and Zebra. Because this park is less visited, the animals here tend to be less familiar with humans, something that makes a safari here a more authentic African experience.
For bird watchers, there are more than 430 recorded bird species in the park combined with Selous Reserve. Some of the birds one can spot here include the Giant Kingfishers, Pink-backed Pelicans, White-fronted Bee-eaters, African Skimmers, Ibises, Yellow-billed stork, Purple-crested Turaco, Malagasy squacco Heron, Fish Eagles, Hornbill and many more birds.
Mikuni National Park fauna includes many species characteristic of the African savannah. The park contains a subspecies of giraffe that biologists consider the link between the Maasai giraffe and the reticulated giraffe. Other animals in the park are elephants, zebras, impala, eland, kudu, black antelope, baboons, wildebeests and buffaloes. At about 5 km from the north of the park, there are two artificial pools inhabited by hippos. More than 400 different species of birds also inhabit the park
Ruaha & Mikumi National Park Highlights
- Camp relaxing
- Game drive in Ruaha National Park
- Game drive in Mikumi National Park