Unique Tourism Activities to do in Ruaha National Park

Unique Tourism Activities to do in Ruaha National Park : The Ruaha National Park is one of the most remarkable wild areas in Tanzania. Its where wildlife from  southern and eastern Africa  gathers, giving visitors a chance to witness something truly extraordinary. The park is famous for its rich   variety of animals, including greater and lesser Kudu, Roan and Sable antelope in one park. magnificent and constantly changing landscapes adds a touch to the whole experience.  You’ll find majestic Baobabs tress scattered across rocky hillsides, the cool green shade, along the river, the open grassy plains, all make for a wonderfully varied and exciting Tanzania trip. During the dry season, when game viewing is at its best, animals are drawn to the Great Ruaha River and other water sources.

Ruaha National Park is extraordinary with a wide range of Tourist Activities offered in the National Park, tourists who are interested in visiting Tanzania’s largest national park can undertake Tourist activities in Ruaha National Park which include;

Game drives

Game drives are a highlight for visitors to Ruaha National Park, where you can hop into open 4×4 vehicles to see a variety of wildlife up close in their natural surroundings. The park offers game drives in the morning, afternoon, and at night.  During your day game drive, you will have the chance to spot variety of wildlife species including predators such as lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, serval cats, Lesser and Greater Kudu, Roan antelope, Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Topi, Bohor reedbuck, Buffalo, Wild Dogs, and Elephant among others.

A night drive will give you the opportunity to see Ruaha national park like never before with a chance of seeing nocturnal wildlife and predators when they’re more active. You’ll head out with your guide and a spotlight either at the end of your afternoon game drive, or after an early dinner. Are available on request, but a ranger has to be obtained from Park head quatutors and booked in advance.

Bird watching

Ruaha National Park is a great place for bird watching because its diverse ecosystems, from open savannahs to wetlands, provide homes for many types of birds. The park is home to over 570 different species, including some that migrate from various regions in Africa and beyond.  During your bird watching tour, you might see unique birds like the Ruaha red billed hornbill , bateleurs, sunbirds, ashy starlings, fish eagles, rattling cisticola, helmeted guineafowl, red-necked spurfowl, lesser striped swallow, European-bee-eater, yellow-collared lovebird, brown-headed parrot, green-backed camaroptera, wire-tailed swallow, emerald-spotted wood-dove, black-faced sandgrouse, bare-faced go-away-bird, green-winged pytalia, African palm swift , kingfishers, ground hornbills and others. The best time to visit for bird watching is between November and April, when migratory birds flock to the park and many species are in their breeding season.

 Guided nature walk

A guided nature walk is a fantastic way to explore the wonders of Ruaha National Park. You can join a walking safari led by a skilled ranger and knowledgeable local guides as you stroll along well-marked paths through the bush, shrubs, swamps, and forests. While on walk visitor can enjoy the smaller elements of the bush, tracking animals by their footprints, stopping to admire birdlife in the trees, and watching smaller creatures and their behaviours without the noise and disturbance of a vehicle. The activity is available upon request from the park. This activity also lets you discover more about the local wildlife and visit nearby villages. You can interact with the Maasai community and learn about their music, traditions, and sustainable ways of living.

Boat cruise

Boat cruise is also another exciting activity offered to visitors while on a Tanzania safari in Ruaha National Park. Boat cruise in the park is done along the great Rauha River. River cruises offer the opportunity to see hippos basking in the sun and crocodiles. Several wildlife species are seen along the shores of the river to quench their thirst in dry season

Spot Fishing

The park is equipped with a variety of fishing techniques including trolling, spinning live and dead bait as well as flying fishing. The Park practices and supports a strict catch and release policy. Don’t ever miss out this chance by planning your trip to Ruaha National Park.

A hot air Balloon Safari

A hot air Balloon Safari is another exhilarating safari activity to embark on while on a Tanzania wildlife safari in Ruaha National Park. Experiencing spectacular aerial wildlife game viewing with herds of elephants, antelopes, giant kudus and giraffes quenching thirst by the river, predators; a hundred birds chirp around your open-air-flight.

Cultural Tour

Nothing will put you in the heart of a unique African Adventure quite like including a cultural safari to the neighboring local communities around the park. cultural tours offers you with a chance to interact with the amazing local people namely the Masai people and have an insight into their unique and yet interesting cultures, traditional beliefs and lifestyle which will leave you with wondrous moments. During your cultural tours, you’ll also have the chance to visit burial site of Gogo Chief, located on the road to Mpululu. You’ll also explore other Historical and cultural sites include: Ganga la Mafunyo, Nyanywa, Chahe and Painting rock, Ismila pillars near Iringa town, kalenga, mlambasi, Lugalo and God’s bridge just to mention a few, to learn about the history of the country.

Best time to visit Ruaha National Park

The ideal time to visit Ruaha National Park is during the dry season, from June to October. This period offers great wildlife viewing as animals gather around the after sources. The weather is pleasantly warm, making it easier to explore the park and enjoy its stunning landscape and diverse wildlife. For bird lovers, the ideal time to visit the park is during the wet season, which runs from in Ruaha is November to April when Palearctic and intra-African migrants are present. At this time, many resident bird species are nesting and are in breeding plumage.

Where to stay while on a safari activity in Ruaha National Park

There are numerous accommodation options offered in Ruaha National Park, with beautiful locations in distinct areas both inside and outside the Ruaha National Park. These accommodations in Ruaha National Park is well designed in its natural setting perfectly blending with nature in categories of lodges, bandas, hostels and tented camps and have varying standards of rustic luxury, mid-range, and affordable budget facilities which all greatly have value for money while they provide the perfect wild stay experiences. Some of the Accommotion facilities available here includes Jongomero Camp, Jabali Ridge, Mwagusi Safari camp, Ruaha River Lodge, Kigelia Camp, Kwihala Tented Camp, Ruaha Hilltop Lodge, Old River Camp, Ikuka Safari Camp, Kichaka Lodge, and many others like Ruaha River Campsite, Mdonya River Campsite. for those interested to stay outside the park you can choose from options like Sunset Mountain Lodge, Tandala Tented Camp, Chogela Camp and many others.

How to get to Ruaha National Park

By Road: Ruaha National Park is located 108 kilometers from Iringa, and the road is accessible all year. It is about 625 Km from Dar es Salaam as well as 480 Km from Mbeya City. Most roads within the park are all weather though a 4x wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended.

By Air: The quickest way to reach Ruaha from Dar es Salaam or Arusha is by plane. There are airstrips at Msembe and Jongomero that serve regular flights. Airlines like Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and Safari Link all have schedules to Ruaha