Ruaha National Park — Simba Pride Safaris

wild, remote,and yours alone

One of Tanzania's largest parks and one of its least visited. Rocky hills, baobab forest and the Great Ruaha River hold one of Africa's largest lion populations and big elephant herds, and you can drive all day without meeting another car.

Jun to Octbest months

3nights, fly-in

20,000 km²the park

1.5 hflight from Dar

Overview

Wildlife highlights

Lion
Wild dog
Greater kudu
Elephant
Sable
Leopard
Roan
Cheetah

Lions

Prides of twenty

Ruaha's prides are among the largest anywhere, hunting buffalo along the river.

Rarities

North meets south

Greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, wild dog and both zebra races.

Solitude

A park to yourself

A handful of camps in an area bigger than the Serengeti. Sightings are private.

Season calendar

What happens when. Use it to pick your month, then ask us to confirm conditions before you book.

River game viewingJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Wild dog denningJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Birding & green seasonJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Camps closedJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Areas & highlights

Great Ruaha River

The dry-season lifeline where lions wait for buffalo and elephant come to dig for water.

Best: Jul to Oct

Mwagusi sand river

Baobab country and the classic camp area, superb for walking.

Best: Jun to Oct

Mdonya & the west

Remoter fly-camping ground with kudu and sable.

Best: Jun to Oct

Jongomero

The far south, exclusive camps and true wilderness.

Best: Jun to Nov

Things to do

Game drivesAlong the Great Ruaha River and the Mwagusi sand river.
Walking safariRuaha is one of the best parks in Tanzania for walking with a ranger.
Fly-campingA night out under a mosquito net beside the river, from selected camps.
BirdingOver 570 species, both northern and southern African birds overlap here.
SundownersOn the rocky hills above the river.

Where to stay

Mid-rangeTented camps along the river. US$300 to 450 p.p.

LuxurySmall owner-run camps with walking and fly-camping. US$600 and up.

By area

Mwagusi and river camps: the classic area, mid-range to luxury tented camps.
Far south: exclusive fly-in camps for complete privacy.
Note: there is no real budget option. Ruaha is a fly-in park.

Indicative per-person high-season rates. We hold provisional space at a shortlist of lodges in each tier and book the one that fits your route.

Getting there & around

By air

Daily flights from Dar es Salaam (1.5 hours) and Arusha via Dodoma (2 to 3 hours).

By road

10 hours from Dar. We only recommend it for overlanders.

Tip

Combine with Nyerere on a southern fly-in circuit.

Trips that include Ruaha

6 days · 6 daysSouthern WildernessFrom $3,150 p.p.

Best time to visit

Best months

JFMAMJJASOND

Jun to OctPrime time. The river shrinks to pools and everything gathers there.

Nov to FebGreen season, storms, birds, lower rates. Game spreads out.

Mar to MayLong rains. Most camps close.

JunCamps reopen, grass still tall, prices lower than peak.

Practical notes

Flights: from Dar, or from Arusha via Dodoma. 15 kg soft bags.
Heat: hot and dry in the day, cool at night. October is the hottest.
Tsetse: present in the woodland. Neutral colours.
Malaria: take prophylaxis.
Combine: three nights here, three in Nyerere, then Zanzibar, all by air.

Ruaha questions

Why so few visitors?

Distance and cost of flights. That is also the reward: whole days without another vehicle.

Best time?

Jun to Oct. Some camps close in the rains from Mar to May.

Ruaha or the Serengeti?

Different trips. The Serengeti for the migration and scale, Ruaha for wilderness, lions and having it to yourself. Do both if you can.

Can I drive there?

Ten hours from Dar on mixed roads. We recommend flying.