The red sands of the semi-arid Ruaha region fed by the intermittent waters of the Ruaha river set the stage for a theatre of the wild. And with you sitting in the front row!
- An impressive array of large predators
- 10 000 Elephants, the largest population in East Africa
- 12,950sq km of untamed wilderness
- Visit stone age ruins at Isimila, near Iringa an hour away
- Don't miss Greater Kudu with their huge corkscrew horns
And positioned as it is, the park's ecosystem is a blend of Southern and Eastern Africa. Here Grants gazelle and lesser kudu occur at the very south of their range while greater kudu and others occur at the edge of the Southern range. This same duality is noticeable in the birdlife, with many species from the Southern and Eastern regions habituating the area.
The life-blood of the region is the Ruaha River. It flows strong deep and brown after the rainy season and its many tributaries provide much needed sustenance to the land and its inhabitants. In the dry season the mighty river is reduced to scattered pools and dry sandy banks where thirsty antelope risk life and limb to quench their parched throats. Preyed on by prides of hungry lion, stealthy leopard and speedy cheetah, the buck are understandably nervous. Even when the thirsty creatures reach the water they risk the jaws of huge crocodiles. It's a wonder the antelope aren't reduced to quivering wrecks.
With this is mind, we do recommend you visit the park in the dry seaon, when the game is concentrated around the last pools of water, the grass is trimmed short by hungry grazers and the predators seem to be constantly on the hunt.
