Ruaha National park gates

Ruaha National park gates : The Ruaha National Park is a genuine African wilderness and one of the most unspoiled, off-the-beaten-path wildlife havens in the entire world. It should be on the travel bucket list of every nature enthusiast because it is in the South of Tanzania, off the beaten path for tourists.

 The Great Ruaha River, which sustains life, and the other rivers that flow through the park improve the overall experience. The Ruaha National Park used to be Tanzania’s biggest national park until the Nyerere National Park was created in 2019.

Huge baobab trees, rocky hills, open grass plains, and miombo forest are just a few of the interesting and diverse features of this park’s landscape, which is also home to a profusion of wildlife. Anyone entering the park through the gates drives into an unspoiled, vibrant natural world that defies description.

When was the Ruaha National Park established?

The Ruaha National Park was created by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) in 1964, and since then, more nearby areas have been gradually incorporated. A portion of land in the southernmost portion of the Great Ruaha River was added ten years after it was first created, and by 2008, an important wetland area near the Usangu Game Reserve had also been included. Up until 2019, when Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) was established in the South, it was Tanzania’s biggest national park. At 20,226 km2, Ruaha National Park is currently Tanzania’s second-largest national park.

The history of Ruaha National Park

Although Ruaha National Park was formally added to TANAPA’s list of parks in 1964, its history actually began in 1910, when Germany first designated the area as the Saba River Game Reserve. The Rungwa Game Reserve was given a new name by the British government in 1946, and three years after Tanganyika gained independence from Britain, Ruaha National Park was given to the southeast portion of the Rungwa Game Reserve. The Hehe word “Ruvaha,” which means “river,” is the source of the name “Ruaha.”

What is unique about the Ruaha National Park?

Ruaha National Park is one of Tanzania’s least frequented national parks due to its isolation as a popular tourist destination. Due to this and its enormous size, safaris there feel extremely exclusive and are made even more special by the lack of game vehicle traffic. It is uncommon to encounter other vehicles or lines for sightings, in contrast to well-known and more iconic national parks or private concessions. Such naturally wild areas are becoming increasingly rare in our world. The Ruaha has a healthy, unpolluted ecosystem. The park is famous for the majestic old baobab trees that you can find scattered throughout it. During the dry season, these enormous trees lose their leaves, exposing their branches.

The ‘upside-down tree’ moniker comes from the way the branches resemble roots. Poachers used to conceal themselves inside baobabs in the past due to their size. These lovely baobab trees bloom in a flush during the rainy season, creating a lovely bonnet.

 A major draw and important source of water during the dry season, the Great Ruaha River is a magnificent arterial route to explore on a game drive and frequently yields rewarding and exciting wildlife sightings.

What is the wildlife experience like in the Ruaha National Park?

A spectacular safari destination, the Ruaha offers unhurried, uncrowded game viewing thanks to its exceptional wildlife experience and low annual visitor numbers. The Ruaha National Park is home to 10% of the world’s lion population and has the highest density of elephants in East Africa. The greater and lesser kudu, roan, and sable antelopes, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, Topi, Southern, and Bohor reedbuck, and other rare antelope species can be found here. The lesser kudu and the Grant’s gazelle can only be found in this park, which is the southernmost point on the African continent.

Despite the absence of rhinos, the park is home to healthy populations of wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, hyenas, black-backed jackals, and bat-eared foxes. On the plains, huge herds of buffalo and cheetahs can be seen, while leopards live in the darker, denser shadows of the woodlands. There are a ton of crocodiles and hippos on the Great Ruaha River’s shores. Particularly during the dry season, when they congregate near dry riverbeds and begin to dig for water with their front feet and trunks, large herds of elephants can be seen. Incredibly, 10,000 or more pachyderms frequent this region.

With 574 different bird species recorded in this region, the park is home to a large variety of bird species. This is influenced by both the wide range of vegetation and altitude. The Ruaha Chat, which was first seen in Ruaha and given that name, and the red-billed hornbill that bears its name are two interesting species. The Ruaha receives migrant bird species from Europe, Asia, and Madagascar between February and April during the rainy season. Acacias, baobabs, and more than 1,650 different plant species can be found in Ruaha’s stunning landscapes.

Which time of the year is best to visit Ruaha National Park?

The dry season, which lasts from June to October, is the ideal time to visit Ruaha National Park. This falls during East Africa’s primary safari season. In comparison to the hotter months between December and March, this time is also noticeably cooler. This time of year is ideal for spotting game, game viewing, and wildlife photography because the grasslands are receding and the bush is less dense.

With the exception of the Ruaha River, most rivers in the Ruaha National Park will be dry at this time of year. Sightings are rewarding during a game drive along the bank of the Ruaha River. The ellies are visible drilling water from a great depth beneath the ground in the dry Jongomero river bed in front of the camp, using their trunks as useful tools. They are fully aware of the abundance of fresh underground water that exists here. They are followed by other animals, who then swoop in for a cool drink. The greater kudu breeds in June, so you will see a lot of males with their beautiful twisted horns.

After a protracted dry season, Ruaha typically experiences its first rains in November and December. The short rains’ are officially underway as a result of this. A few weeks after the first rains, the surroundings undergo a significant transformation. New grasses, leaves, and flowers may appear, painting the landscape in color, depending on how much rain is received. Additionally, this is the time of year when we welcome nursery herds filled with countless cuddly, newborn Impala calves with skinny limbs. The Impala ewes are biologically programmed to anticipate the impending short rains. This results in plenty of grazing, which facilitates nursing and raising their calves. The predators are also aware of this. They are surrounded by calves and eagerly await chance meals.

Even though game is still abundant, they tend to move further away from rivers as more obvious small pools or pans of water appear deeper in the bush. The ‘green season’ denotes the typical dry period that typically lasts from January through February before the long rains resume in March. The vegetation is green at this time of year, but the grasses haven’t quite retreated, making it easy to see game. It’s possible to experience brief afternoon showers at this time. A variety of migrant bird species are arriving, making it a great time for avid birders to visit Ruaha. Large herds of elephants can be seen roaming the area. The appearance of wildflowers and the transition to a lush, green landscape during this time will appeal to landscape photographers as well.

 The majority of camps in Ruaha will be closed from mid-March to the end of May during the prolonged rainy season. When it rains, the roads become muddy and challenging to drive on, and accessibility is frequently restricted. Camps reopen on June 1 to coincide with the main “safari season.” The rivers are flowing at their fullest during this time, and the bush is lush and green.

HOW TO ACCESS THE RUAHA NATIONAL PARK: RUAHA NATIONAL PARK GATES

Ruaha National Park has fewer gates than some of Tanzania’s well-known parks, including Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, and Kilimanjaro. One must pass through the entrance gate for check-in, check-up, and various other procedures and instructions in order to enter the Ruaha National Park for a safari tour. This only applies to visitors entering the park via vehicle. If you’re traveling by air, you’ll land at one of the park’s airstrips and check in for inspection, just like visitors who enter the park on foot/vehicle through the main gate.

The Ruaha National Park’s main gate is located in south-central Tanzania, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Iringa and 625 kilometers from Dar es Salaam. Jongomero Camp is 70 kilometers (43 miles) away from the main gate. The Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem includes the Rungwa Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves, and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area.

The best way to get to the park is by air due to its remote location. Scheduled flights are available frequently from Dar es Salaam, the Central Serengeti, Arusha, and Zanzibar. This route is served by a number of airlines, some of which are Coastal Aviation, Safari Link, and Auric Air. These airlines all provide dependable service and have solid safety records. Direct flights to the Jongomero airstrip are available for visitors to the camp. Depending on the type of aircraft and the number of stops, the flight from Dar es Salaam takes between 1 hour and 2 hours and 30 minutes.

From Iringa, you can also travel by road to reach Ruaha National Park. Many tour companies offer transportation leaving from Iringa. It is recommended to travel in 4×4 vehicles. Road travel from Dar es Salaam will take approximately nine hours.

How many days are ideal for the Ruaha National Park safari?

We advise you to stay at Jongomero in the Ruaha National Park for at least four nights. This will give you a good idea of everything there is to do in the region.

Where should you head next?

Most visitors frequently choose to combine a land-based and water-based safari experience in the Nyerere National Park with a visit to the Ruaha National Park in the southern part of Tanzania. One of Tanzania’s wildest and most isolated regions is home to Ruaha National Park, a hidden treasure. For anyone who enjoys exploring locations away from crowds and deep within Africa, it is the ideal safari location. We cordially invite you to travel back in time and fully savor the splendor of the natural world.