Wild & Untouched Ruaha National Park

d With its harsh and rocky landscape, no other park in Tanzania epitomises the definition of "wild Africa" quite like Ruaha National Park. After the annexation of two other major conservation areas, Ruaha is now the largest national park in Tanzania, covering a vast ra ae fo ,32 000 s rauq e k rtemoli se (s sbu yllaitnat l regra naht selaW ! .) While few are familiar with the park, national park connoisseurs recognize it as one of the most spectacular in Africa. “

ForanyoneseekingatrueAfrican wildernessexperience,avisitto RuahaNationalParkisessential. One of Tanzania’s wildest parks, Ruaha can only be described as a true, unspoiled, natural wilderness. Because of its distance from any majorcity,veryfewtouristsvisitthe parkeachyear.Yetthosewhodoare

treated to unsurpassable wilderness and complete isolation. Ruahas’ greatestsecretliesinitsextraordinary diversity of animals, plants and birds.

Located in south-western Tanzania, Ruaha sprawls within and along an ancientarmoftheGreatRiftValley, covering a unique transition zone where the eastern and southern against a dramatic topographical background.Becauseofitslocation ontheriftandsurroundinggeological formations, Ruaha is extremely diverse, with access to several different habitat types.

Thevastmajorityof theparkabove the escarpment termed “Miombo Woodland ‘’ is rarely visited by

reach and known for challenging gameviewingandanabundanceof Thescenery inMiombois quitedramatic,withtallBrachystegia trees forming continuous woodland housing for some specialist species

sable, as well as several miombospecialising birds.

Thelow-altitudeRuaha Valleyisthe moredevelopedsectionofthepark, whichcoverslittlemorethanathird of the park’s total size. The Ruaha Valley has a decent road network for game viewing and a variety of vegetation types, thus offering a diverse game drive experience without the annoyance of tse-tse

knownasthepark’slifeline,attracts big herds of animals of all shapes

the Ruaha Valley. Some of Ruahas’ bestfeaturesarefoundinthevalley, frommassiverockyhillsandoutcrops to dense, impenetrable bush and open grasslands in the east. The moststrikingfeaturesarenumerous serpentine dry “sand rivers”, which crisscross the park and are lined with dense vegetation, where many animals take refuge.

Birding

For birdwatchers, Ruaha’s birdlife is suretoplease.Therearearecorded 530differentspeciesofbirdsinthe park,includinggiantherons,saddlebilled storks, white-headed plovers andwhite-backednightherons.There aresixspeciesofbothvulturesand hornbills, and raptors abound. The crestedbarbet,anattractiveyellowand-black bird whose persistent trillingisacharacteristicsoundofthe southernbush,canalsobefoundin Ruaha alongside central Tanzanian endemicssuchastheyellow-collared

lovebird and ashy starling. The park’s birds make their home among the branches of Ruaha’s 1600 species of trees, which is twice as many as the number of species in the great Selous Game Reserve, although Ruaha is only half the size of Selous.

Wildlife

wildlife at Ruaha National Park: wild and beautiful. The park holds an incredible array of animals. Among Tanzanian parks, Ruaha possesses one of the highest species counts of large mammals. The park holds an estimated 20,000 elephants alone, and it is not uncommon in the dry season to see well over 100 elephants in a single drive. Hippos rule the river, and vast quantities of these animals can also be seen sunning themselves along the stunning river sandbanks in the early morning. Massive herds of buffalo, with up to 500 animals plus seen in a single herd, coexist alongside giraffes, zebras, impalas, elands, crocodiles, lions and leopards.

Ruaha is also home to some very rare creatures. Sable antelope can occasionally be found in the Miombo areas as well as in the springs in the western part of the park. Roan antelope are also sometimes seen in the eastern area of the park. Lesser kudus and grant’s gazelle are intermittently spotted at the southernmost point of their geographical range. Dik-diks abound all over the park, and rarely does a drive return without having glimpsed the noble greater kudu. Ruaha is also home to the second largest population of wild dogs in Africa. As the majority of the park’s wild dogs live in the inaccessible wilderness areas of the north, only a few lucky visitors spot them.

Why visit Ruaha National Park? Untouched, Pristine Nature:

Ruaha is one of the less frequented national parks in

Tanzania, which means that the park’s wildlife has hardly been altered by human intervention. Personalised Wildlife Watching:

Because Ruaha is expanding in size yearly, the chances of bumping into other vehicles that can startle an animal you may be already watching are limited. Lots to Discover: In areas where park authorities have formal tracks, there are no access restrictions, which allows visitors a great deal of freedom to explore undiscovered territory. Currently, Tanzanian park authorities are adding more routes while carefully monitoring the ecological impact, thus ascertaining that the wildlife remains as undisturbed as possible. There are plans to add up to 1500 kilometres of road networks. Go by Foot: Ruaha is one of the few national parks in

Tanzania where walking safari is permitted when accompanied by an armed ranger. This liberty gives nature enthusiasts an opportunity to receive an upclose and personal experience with wildlife in dense places where safari vehicles cannot penetrate.

Getting to

There are two ways guests can reach Ruaha National Park. One is by road, through Iringa from Dar es Salaam via Mikumi, or from Arusha via Dodoma. Ruaha is also accessible by plane. available from Dar es Salaam, Selous, Serengeti, Arusha, Iringa and Mbeya through companies such as Safari Air Link & Auric Air.

When to go

To see predators and large mammals, dry season (mid-May to December); to see birds, lush season (January to April). The male greater kudu is most visible in June, which is the breeding season.

For the more discerning safari lover who is looking for an ‘off the beaten track’ pure wilderness experience, a visit to Ruaha to view its large beasts, stunning vistas, numerous baobabs and unique birds and animals must not be missed!

For booking and reservation, please contact Foxes Safari Camp Tanzania Call: +255 753 020 901Email: fox@tanzaniasafaris.info

Picture Courtesy of Moiz Husein & Ruaha River Lodge