Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania making it the largest park in East Africa. 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 private plane and there are 2 airstrips – Msembe airstrip at Msembe (National Park Headquarters), and Jongomeru Airstrip. Noted animals found in this park are East African cheetah and lion, African leopard and wild dog, spotted hyena, giraffe, hippopotamus, African buffalo, and sable antelope. Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit. The park is known for its large elephant population. More than 571 species of birds have been identified in the park. The only lodge inside the park is the Ruaha River Lodge that can be visited at any time of year. Wildlife converges on the dwindling water reserves and river in front of the Lodge. Game can be seen throughout the day from the veranda.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Ruaha National Park
The area
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
- Hedda COslo, Norway5 contributionsThe safari was an impressive experienceHonestly we were hesitant to add Ruaha to our safari package but thanks to Brighton and Halisi African Adventures for clearing our doubts. I must admit it was worth it. Of course we saw lots of elephants and it was such a thrilling adventure to see these gentle giants in such a close distance. If you love elephants you don't want to miss Ruaha No because the experience is extraordinary. We were lucky enough to see other residents of Ruaha like giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, monkey, lions, cheetahs, e.t.c. Thanks to our safari guide, Richard, who knows this park very well. Seeing giraffes and elephants and their calves drinking was amazing. All in all was amazing experience and we definitely recommend Halisi African Adventures to anyone.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 28 September 2023
- HarrySwindon, United Kingdom5 contributionsFabulous Safari in the Ruaha National ParkAn absolute fabulous place to enjoy and experience our first Tanzanian safari. An abundance of animals in their natural habitat which could all be approached within a few yards, under the guidance of our very experienced guide who possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of all that we saw. When preparing a short list of safari locations ensure that the Ruaha National Park makes it.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 22 October 2023
- Vincent Jurriens8 contributionsRuaha on his finestIt was a beautiful Safari experience during our first visit in Tanzania. Our guides Silas and Lewis showed us the African wild life in their own habitat. They have shared a lot of information with us about the animals. It didn't matter if it was a little bird, a dikdik or a african elephant, they shared a lot about the different animals we've seen. We have spotted a male lion with 2 lionesses and this was probarly his honeymoon. But also nice groups of elephants, kudu's, giraffes, zebras and so much more other animals. We recommend Ruaha NP but also the tour guides Silas and Lewis.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 November 2023
- George S1 contributionSolo safari in ruahaFifth time in Africa, first time in Tanzania, was lucky enough to have the best guide you could ever find. You can't go wrong with Gilberto, he definately knows how to offer you the best safari experience, guiding you to the best places so you can be sure to observe all the wildlife you were expecting to see: Leopards (we saw 5 of them!), wild dogs (a once in a lifetime solo spotting opportunity), bat eared foxes, etc. Regarding the park itself, Ruaha is definately the best of all I have visited so far. Quite and peaceful (no big crowds etc), nice bandas and good food, it has everything you need for an unforgetable safari. Overall an A+ experience, Highly recommended! Thank you very much mr. Gilberto, thank you Zepisa, looking forward to visiting you again!Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 19 November 2023
- Tanzania Offroad TripsArusha, Tanzania12 contributionsAuthentic, scenic, and reach in wildlifeI have recently completed a familiarization tour of southern Tanzania as a tour operator. I need to stay up-to-date on the destinations we offer our clients. I am writing to confirm that this vast wilderness is authentic and offers diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes. I highly recommend this park to all nature lovers.Visited March 2024Travelled on businessWritten 13 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
353 reviews
Excellent
292
Very good
49
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
0
sensia g
Chile1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Friends
Super organized safari with Tanzania Horizon Safaris, it was just super nice. We can 100% recommend this tour and this organizer. The lodges: Ruaha Hilltop Lodge. Lodge incl. food, service, the guides and driver was All in all, perfect, not forgetting the contact to Tanzania Horizon with their help, support, advice and tailor-made to our wishes. Absolute satisfaction. One highlight followed the next, so that we were just happy about these 4 wonderful days at Ruaha National Park.Thanks a lot
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael C
17 contributions
Oct 2021
Ruaha NP offers something that is hard to find in other tourist locations in East Africa: solitude. Ruaha is remote and hard to get to but the variety of wildlife and the scarcity of tourists make the effort worth it. This is probably not the park for a first time safari but it provides a nice contrast to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro experiences. We spent 5 full days in the park at the end of the dry season yet we visited a very small fraction of this enormous National Park. The variety of wildlife made the trip very worthwhile.
Written 1 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mulcky
Germany2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I highly recommend Tanzania Horizon Safaris, I have been on safaris with other companies, which have also been wonderful experiences, but I rate Tanzania Horizon Safaris as the best of the companies I have traveled with. Thank you Elizabeth for being so responsive. You made our experience worry-free.Our 8 Days Ruaha National Park Selous Game Reserve was once in a life time experience! spectacular!
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice
United States3 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
What fantastic 8 days we have had. Tanzania Horizon Safaris had arranged everything down to the last detail for us. We visited Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park & Ruaha National Park . The guides were really super. What lovely men and how much they knew about all the places that we visited. I will recommend anyone who wants to plan a safari to do this through Tanzania Horizon Safaris. Thank you for this unforgettable journey. You can contact Elizabeth who made all the plans for this trip +255 716-597071
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
benson z
The Netherlands2 contributions
Mar 2021
It was a very nice tour organized with Boker Adventures at Mikumi and Ruaha National Park in the southern part of Tanzania.
After climbing mt Kilimanjaro we ask Peter the Director to assist in organizing a tour to the southern part of Tanzania that will cover 3 days 2 nights and the experience was really amazing. He booked a local flight from JRO to DAR and the guide was at the airport already to pick us. We overnight in Dar es salaam for one night and the next day start our tour to Mikumi and Ruaha.
We were able to see a number of animals especially my favorite animal Girrafe feeding itself on the tall acacia trees. The guide was very knowledgeable in vegetation, birds, and animals.
We appreciate indeed Boker Adventures kindness and flexibility in all activities. Every day and all activities make us love Tanzania but also wish to come back as soon as possible.
We recommend Boker Adventures to safari as well.
Thanks
Benny
After climbing mt Kilimanjaro we ask Peter the Director to assist in organizing a tour to the southern part of Tanzania that will cover 3 days 2 nights and the experience was really amazing. He booked a local flight from JRO to DAR and the guide was at the airport already to pick us. We overnight in Dar es salaam for one night and the next day start our tour to Mikumi and Ruaha.
We were able to see a number of animals especially my favorite animal Girrafe feeding itself on the tall acacia trees. The guide was very knowledgeable in vegetation, birds, and animals.
We appreciate indeed Boker Adventures kindness and flexibility in all activities. Every day and all activities make us love Tanzania but also wish to come back as soon as possible.
We recommend Boker Adventures to safari as well.
Thanks
Benny
Written 19 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mandos69
Panama City, Panama13 contributions
Jan 2021 • Friends
Beautiful park. Great views. Great potential if better managed.
Besides the point of visiting in rain season when it gets harder to see animals, the visit was disappointing.
In first place they tell you you can use a guide who is supposed to guide you. They don’t recommend one or have a list. You have to blind choose one of the 10 that start to appear around.
We chose one that seemed to speak English and a bit after when we started the drive we saw he just had a map with some of the tracks and animals where they might be found. The same we could do with that map is what he did. Try and see if...
They do not communicate between them when some other spots something interesting. He confessed he had done it only 15 times. He had been there only for 3 months. So we ended up cutting our three day visit to one and going somewhere else (Mikumi) where we found better everything (park, people, options, lodging, etc).
Sadly a waste of time and gas getting there.
Besides the point of visiting in rain season when it gets harder to see animals, the visit was disappointing.
In first place they tell you you can use a guide who is supposed to guide you. They don’t recommend one or have a list. You have to blind choose one of the 10 that start to appear around.
We chose one that seemed to speak English and a bit after when we started the drive we saw he just had a map with some of the tracks and animals where they might be found. The same we could do with that map is what he did. Try and see if...
They do not communicate between them when some other spots something interesting. He confessed he had done it only 15 times. He had been there only for 3 months. So we ended up cutting our three day visit to one and going somewhere else (Mikumi) where we found better everything (park, people, options, lodging, etc).
Sadly a waste of time and gas getting there.
Written 12 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rudolf
30 contributions
Oct 2022
Ruaha NP is the second largest NP of Tanzania. It is a bit hard to reach, a 3-4 hour drive from Iringa using a sand road, thought the quality of the road is good. It has an air strip, but from environmental point of view, you should not use that.
There is a nice diversity of landscapes but the major landmark is the great Ruaha river. In October unfortunately there was no water streaming, though we have seen a fair number of pools.
You cannot miss to see elephants. It is the most dense area for elephants we have ever seen. We saw 400-500 in three days but according to official records there 10000 elephants in the park. Also you will see a large number of kudu, both the greater and the very shy lesser kudu. We have seen a few leopards and lions as well, but to find them you need a good guide.
Because it is not yet well known, you can travel large distances without seeing other tourists.
There is a nice diversity of landscapes but the major landmark is the great Ruaha river. In October unfortunately there was no water streaming, though we have seen a fair number of pools.
You cannot miss to see elephants. It is the most dense area for elephants we have ever seen. We saw 400-500 in three days but according to official records there 10000 elephants in the park. Also you will see a large number of kudu, both the greater and the very shy lesser kudu. We have seen a few leopards and lions as well, but to find them you need a good guide.
Because it is not yet well known, you can travel large distances without seeing other tourists.
Written 11 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris P
Shanghai, China6,043 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
We had an amazing 2 days in Ruaha National Park. It was the rainy season (it was SO green), but we mostly avoided the rain, except for the second afternoon. Game is not massively plentiful, but what we did see was amazing. I think the roads can get really bad later in the season. Our guide and driver from Tatanca Safari was excellent. It does take a while to enter the Park (paperwork) each day - we stayed outside the Park and drove in each day. Great experience and I would definitely go back
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabriel_H61
Canton of Ticino, Switzerland256 contributions
Jun 2019
Having done several trips and safari in Africa (included the north parks of Tanzania), Ruaha was a real positive surprise.
We visited toward the end of June. Beginning of the high season.
However there were few turists around and during the game drive it happened to be alone for more than 3 hours without crossing any other vehicle.
The park has a variety of landscapes, many elephants as also lions.
One of my favourite places and wish to go back in the future, away from the crowd of the northern parks
We visited toward the end of June. Beginning of the high season.
However there were few turists around and during the game drive it happened to be alone for more than 3 hours without crossing any other vehicle.
The park has a variety of landscapes, many elephants as also lions.
One of my favourite places and wish to go back in the future, away from the crowd of the northern parks
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G J
United Kingdom1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Couples
We have booked an individual 6-day tour to Ruaha National Park .The communication was easy and professional from the booking time and onwards. We met in the airport just in time. Our guide, Joel, is an amazing, very professional and experienced guide and driver. He was always polite, ready to answer any questions, very punctual. He knows every meter in the parks, every animal and bird. He sees 360 degrees around at the same moment - he pointed to the animals we could hardly find with binoculars! Food and living were very good, everyone tried to do our vacation the best. And the safary itself was a miraculous experience! Every day was different: we saw fighting elephants, hunting cheetahs, lions bypassing the jeep... And many more impressions! This was definitely a lifetime experience. We are very grateful to the guys from Tanzania Horizon for making our dreams come true.
Written 21 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hei se on sallittua, ota meihin yhteyttä kautta voimme auttaa safarissa ja kaikessa retkessä siihen sisältyy kävelysafari, peliajo, venesafari ota yhteyttä kautta. WhatsApp +255 787 528 550
Written 17 November 2021
Bonjourdid you visit the park in february
have you seen animals
negative reviews on the internet for this season
What do you think
cordially
annie chalais
Written 2 October 2018
We visit in september: it was dry season . I don't know for february but you can ask directly to the lodge or camp. They are friendly .
Written 3 October 2018
Stiamo organizzando un viaggio in Tanzania per l’agosto 2019 e vorremmo farlo affittando l’auto con autista ma acquistando direttamente gli altri servizi (pasti e alloggi). Mi servirebbe sapere quanto costa a persona e ad auto l’ingresso al Ruaha National Park e se si paga per ciascun giorno di soggiorno o solo l’entrata.
Eventuali altri consigli o suggerimenti sono ben accetti!
Grazie!
Written 21 August 2018
ciao, possiamo aiutarti con il safari in ruaha e siamo una compagnia di viaggi in Tanzania, possiamo aiutarti in tutto questo processo di safari. ,per l'auto abbiamo un autonoleggio e possiamo aiutarti su tutte le informazioni grazie. whatsApp + 255 787 528 550
Written 17 November 2021
francescaderosa2018
Vicenza, Italy
Ciao, la radura in cui vivono i leoni ha un nome preciso anche in italiano? In inglese si chiama the Glade.
Grazie in anticipo
Written 14 June 2018
Is Ruaha a good Selfdrive destination?
Written 11 June 2018
Hello,
My husband and I we are planning to make a self drive safari in Ruaha. We will startin Iringa and we will want to know how or with which company you arrange the rent of the car and tent....
Thanks.
Anaïs
Written 14 March 2018
Ciao a tutti, tra due settimane partirò per la Tanzania e vorrei fare un safari al Ruaha. Volevo chiedere, qualcuno di voi si è vaccinato contro la malaria? sono molto indecisa!
Written 13 November 2017
E' una zona malarica, io l'anno scorso ho fatto la profilassi.
Written 13 November 2017
Dear all, in August, how cold will it be at night near Tungamalenga, near the entrance to the park / Ruaha River Lodge? I will be camping and need to choose a sleeping bag. Also do I need a mosquito net that is tight enough to keep out no-see-ums? Will a 'normal' mozzy net do?
Written 14 July 2017
This is the dry season and can average 27C/81F during the day and 14C/57F at night. I would assume a good netting without holes and tucked in should be good.
Written 14 July 2017
Vorrei sapere i costi di ingresso al Parco Ruha per due gruppi di 16 studenti ciascuno più tre accompagnatori nel periodo di luglio e di agosto
Grazie
Written 12 April 2017
l'ingresso al parco per i Non Resdienti ed i Non Tanzaniani è USD 60 /24 Ore +l'auto
Written 14 April 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 18
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Airport exclusive: extra 20% off beauty
Sponsored by Armani Beauty, YLS & Lancôme
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing