Ruaha National Park
The name of the park comes from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its South-Eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. The eponymous Great Ruaha River serves as a lifeline for the park’s wildlife.
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania, and it has a truly wild atmosphere that all of our guests love. Relatively untouched, it’s a wilder and more remote park than its southern neighbor Selous Game Reserve and ultimately has the better wildlife, albeit without boating safaris. Safaris here offer superb value for money and some of the best you will find in the country. Located to the west of the Selous Game Reserve and south of the Serengeti, Ruaha’s relative inaccessibility means it gets far fewer tourists than the Selous and less than any comparable park in the Northern circuit. The rewards of traveling this far are a wild landscape with baobab studded hills and rocky escarpments, and with superb wildlife.
The lion viewing is especially rewarding and general predator concentrations across the park are better than many of the other parks in the country. The park is characterized by a semi-arid type of vegetation, baobab trees and acacia, and there are over 1,650 identified plant species. To sum up, Ruaha is an absolutely excellent safari destination and valuable addition to your great Tanzania Safari Holiday.
​Best Time to Visit – Ruaha National park
Like the Selous, Ruaha is a classic dry season park. The long, dry season between June and November is the best time to see large mammals and big cats. Game gets progressively better towards the end of the dry season as the water holes and rivers dry up and the game concentrates around water making them much easier to find. June is also breeding season for the Greater Kudu, so you’ll see lots of males with their elegant, twisted horns. In the dry season, visitors can expect to see golden savannah studded with baobabs and misty hills stretching along the horizon. Waterbuck, impala and gazelle come to the river to drink and predators are never far behind. You may spot lions or leopards prowling watchfully along the banks, or cheetah lying in wait on the plains, while skulking jackal and hyena are on the lookout for an opportunity to catch their next meal.
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Activities in Ruaha National Park
Avid bird watchers have an excellent opportunity to view different species of birds. With a sensational mix of southern and northern species, Ruaha’s birdlife is endearingly colorful. When in Tanzania witnessing the bird life is one of an experience. The park boasts of 580 bird varieties including fish eagles, Eleanora’s falcon, goliath herons, crested barbets and black-collared lovebirds. Ruaha also boasts endemic species such as the Tanzanian red-billed hornbill and serves as an important habitat for several critically endangered vulture populations.
Ruaha national park is home to 10% population of lions and is easier to see them when you choose to go on a game drive safari in Rhea. Game drive can be done both in the morning as well as in the evening allowing you to get up close and personal with the predator. Buffalo and elephant herds are found throughout the park but it is the park’s crazy combinations of species from east and southern Africa that excites wildlife enthusiasts. Get to know about the abundant flora and fauna of the Ruhua national park making the best safari destination in Africa.
One of the best things to do in Tanzania is wildlife photography of the endangered species and their way of living. Whether you are a professional of many years, or just a beginner, you will have ample opportunity to practice your technique while on safari. For those who are looking for perfect shots of the wild beasts, a telephoto lens is recommended, and you will see lenses of all lengths and sizes while on safari. To ensure stability sandbags are available in the vehicles, which also have charging facilities.
Tanzania is a land of many lakes and rivers traversing lands rich in wildlife. Exploring the aquatic wildlife on a boat is another level of experience. Boat safari in Tanzania offers an excellent opportunity to get close with the animals such as hippos as well as view a lot of game along the river as they come over for a drink of water. The waterways provide an excellent natural setting for boat safaris and canoeing which is one of the best things to do in Tanzania.
A bush walk safari is an excellent way to explore the wilderness of Africa. An expert ranger guides you along and gives you an insight about the flora, fauna and lush green scenery of Africa. The guiding is superb, and encountering game on foot gives you a fully immersive wilderness experience that is thrilling and memorable. To experience wild endangered species and nature both, bush walking in Tanzania can be an ideal choice to spend your South Africa tour.
Cultural tour in Africa gives you an opportunity to get to know more about the tribal people and their way of living. The villages in Tanzania have been made accessible to the visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. The country is rich in local history and culture that showcases the visitors the true ethnicity of the people living in different parts. When in Tanzania, experience their habitat and way of living which increases tourism popularity.
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Tanzania
Whether the appeal of a safari revolves around the wildlife, such as watching the Great Migration or spotting the Big Five, or you want to mark a special occasion, we can create an itinerary to match your tastes. We’ll suggest ways to tailor it depending on your interests, such as added time on the beach or experiences geared around your family.
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Words From Our Happy Clients
EXCELLENT Based on 140 reviews Inoek V2025-07-30Verified Had a great day Together with my daughter we did trips and tour to the waterfall with Alpha van Oserok, with lunch at a Chagga tribe and with a coffee ceremony. Alpha picked us up at our hotel and together we walked to the waterfall. Along the way he explained a lot about all the plants, trees and animals that could be seen there. He is a relaxed and extremely experienced guide and we had a great day. Jen K2025-03-04Verified Trip of a lifetime! Thank you Alfa!! We cannot say enough about our incredible Tanzania adventure safari!! Alfa curated an 8-day safari to include a first day visit to the hot springs and local eatery, then 6 days on safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Mayanara, and a visit with a bush tribe and an iron working tribe. The lodgings and food were lovely and the weather was perfect! It was an amazing cultural experience for our family as well as a stunning photo safari in this lovely country. We saw the Big 5 in close proximity and countless other animals. Alfa and his driver Renatos were knowledgeable, attentive, engaging and professional….they made the trip extra special and we are extremely grateful for the memories we made. Asante sana! Travel5434512025-01-11Verified Perfect activity, amazing tour leaders We were a group of 5 people with just half-day until leave Moshi. We made a walking tour in Rau Forest. We enjoy a lot lesrnig about nature and species (birds, monkeys, ancient trees).Alpha and his team (lebahati) adjust our activity according our plans and we were always in touch to make It Easy. 100% recommendable Julieta J2024-07-11Verified This place is not very touristy yet, but we went to it thanks to the agency that knows unknown places We also did our tour to Lake Chala with the Oseroktrips agency and our guide was Alfa. I was amazed by this walk full of incredible views. We always walked at our own pace and always felt safe. Beautiful views and wonderful memories will live in our hearts Julieta J2024-07-11Verified A long walk but with a path full of beautiful views and nature “This tour was a fabulous day. I would recommend it to anyone. Francis and Jackie, the tour guides, were very kind, friendly and knowledgeable about all aspects of the tour. Happy with this tour and many thanks to Oseroktrips, the best travel agency. Julieta J2024-07-10Verified We always feel safe and protected at all times thanks to Alfa The tour to Materuni with Alfa as our guide was a wonderful experience. We were able to plan everything in advance with him and he was especially flexible with our wishes. We would especially like to highlight that he knows all the important places very well and knew how to explain everything. We also visited a coffee farm where we learned the coffee process, with a fun atmosphere. All in all, a wonderful tour with an extremely pleasant and knowledgeable guide. We can recommend this tour to anyone without restrictions. Krystel Davis2024-06-08Verified Absolutely AMAZING! For a truly exceptional Tanzanian experience, choose Oserok Trips. Alpha and his team go above and beyond to provide an unforgettable adventure. Their knowledge and passion for the country are evident in every aspect of the trip, from the safari to the Maasai Village visit. A must-do for any traveler seeking a truly unique experience. Kaeden H2024-05-22Verified Great activity in Moshi This tour offered a wonderful chance to see and explore the forests at the base of Kilimanjaro, while also providing an opportunity to learn about the rich cultures of the area. Alpha and his brother were very knowledgeable. The tour is not rushed, with plenty of time to relax and explore. Highly recommend for anyone passing through Moshi. Beata O2024-03-07Verified Oserok Trips will guarantee your trip to Tanzania is a magical, once in a lifetime experience! If you have been considering a trip to Tanzania, and are still on the fence, I am here to tell you not to worry and go for it! It is a magical place, not only because of the incredible animal and plant life, or the amazing landscapes, but above all, because of the wonderful and friendly people. The man who will guarantee this trip will be an incredible, once in a lifetime experience, is Alpha and his great team at Oserok Trips.Even if you only have a few hours, Alpha will fill them with activities as best as possible, and if you are on a two-week vacation, your time will be organized in great detail according to your needs and interests. Alpha is a wonderful guide and companion for whatever kind of trip you have envisioned. He will pick you up from the airport, arrange accommodation with local residents, answer your questions, take care of you as best as he can, take care of all your needs, and dispel any concerns. Oserok Trips can also recommend various activities in each area you visit, but beyond that they will also show you the details that could easily go unnoticed by visitor. As I write this, I already want to go back, explore the places I didn’t have enough time to see, and smell grass of the Serengeti again. My husband, daughter and I traveled around Tanzania for two weeks. We spent the first eight days with Alpha and his great team, the next with his wonderful life companion and guide Dominika. We drove through Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area under the care of Alpha, a skilled driver, and a cook who prepared incredible meals for us even in the middle of the wilderness. There was no moment when we did not feel safe, even when a dozen lions were hunting a buffalo a few meters away from us. We joked that even this amazing event was planned by our guides for 4:06 pm on January 23, 2024. Witnessing such a hunt, of course, can never be guaranteed, but with a team like Oserok Trips, their expert eyes will point out every lion's ear in the waist-deep grass. After some time you too will learn to spot whole groups of animals thanks to their experienced eye! Don’t let the fatigue of travel, the dust and mud, and everything that deviates from the routine of your everyday life, dissuade you from taking this trip. Don’t delay (like us) and the rest will be taken care of by Alpha and his team at Oserok Trips. Lucy_Anne_Mel2024-01-24Verified Great local community option for those after an authentic experience Communications prompt and accurate - pay attention to the description to ensure it is for you. I had a fantastic day visiting a Maasai tribal village and surrounds but be aware this is not the sort of tour where you "attend a show" of the lifestyle - you join the tribe members for part of their day which I found really interesting and informative despite the language barrier. Employs local staff and supports the community which for me is a bonus. Wouldn't hesitate to book for a longer tour in the area if I get the chance.
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