Ruaha

Ruaha National Park takes its name from the Ruaha River, which flows along its southeastern border. The river provides permanent water in the park, during the dry season animals concentrates along its banks providing an unique spectacular. Ruaha National Park is about two to three hours drive from Iringa, a famous town on the Dar es Salaam / Zambia highway. Currently covering an area of 13000 kmq, Ruaha National Park, which will have its boundaries extended to include Usangu Game Reserve, is expected to become the biggest National Park in Tanzania with an area of around 20226 kmq. The process initiated by the government aims on protecting the Ihefu wetland and the Great Ruaha River with associated catchment areas and biodiversity. This unspolt wilderness is rich in flora and fauna, and contains a wide variety of animals that includes Greater and Lesser Kudu, roan and sable antelopes, which are rarely seen in most other game parks especially in Northern Tanzania. Ruaha National Park is famous for its herds of elephant and buffaloes. The Ruaha River, which plays an important role in the ecosystem of the park, provides sanctuary to a large number of hippos and crocodiles. During the dry season the river attracts great quantity of wildlife including lions, leopards, hunting or wild dogs, impalas, waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, and elands. In the plain areas you can see ostriches, cheetahs and grants gazelles among others. The park is rich in bird life throughout the year, with over 450 bird species recorded.