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.
Plan your Safari trip to
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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Based on 145 reviews
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Bob HVerified
Serengeti safari without the rush It was a 7 day family safari with us and our 2 adult children. We all had a fantastic time helped by Alpha and Josephete being excellent driver and guides. They seemed to be able to predict where animals were heading and be there. Rather than using the radio and following the crowd, we took it slow and saw so many more animals and birds that we would have otherwise missed. We stopped for a bird, saw several others, then realised we were right next to 6 dik diks that were almost invisible in the scrub. We saw 2 crossing events and other unexpected interactions like an elephant chasing off 3 lions and elephant baby’s cavorting and playing with each other. We saw a serval cat and followed it for a while then saw it pounce and catch dinner. Circle of life in action. The daughters got right into bird spotting and both the guides were very knowledgeable and helpful and quick with identifying, while not being worried to contradict and make suggestions. Both of them were conscientious and sensitive to our needs on the whole safari and we had a wonderful time. I would recommend them to anyone wanting a great safari experience.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Ambassador710997Verified
Expertise and care by a true professional. We had an incredible family trip to Marangu waterfalls and a safari in Tarangire National Park, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Alpha. From the very beginning, Alpha took the time to understand what we wanted from our trip. Rather than pushing a particular itinerary, he gave us all the information we needed, explained our options, and helped us choose what would work best for our family and the time we had. Throughout the trip, he embodied the warmth, kindness, and hospitality of the Tanzanian people. His knowledge of the wildlife, culture, plants and local area made every part of the journey more meaningful. He is Masai after all!). He welcomed our endless questions, never rushed us, and always made sure we had plenty of time to enjoy each stop and capture great photos from the best locations. On safari, Alpha and his team were exceptional. Their ability to spot wildlife was incredible- they noticed animals we would never have seen on our own. They thoughtfully chose different routes to avoid the crowds, giving us better viewing opportunities and a much more authentic experience. Thanks to their expertise, we saw an amazing variety of wildlife and had far lots of great sightings. What impressed us most was that their care extended beyond the tour itself. When we experienced a hotel mishap, Alpha stepped in to help, even though it wasn’t his responsibility. That level of genuine care says a great deal about the kind of person he is. His entire team was equally friendly, professional, and dedicated to making our experience special. Together they made our visit to Tanzania truly unforgettable. We wholeheartedly recommend Alpha to anyone visiting Tanzania. If you’re looking for someone who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, genuinely caring, and passionate about sharing his country, look no further. We will definitely be back, and when we do, Alpha will be our first callPosted on Tripadvisor![]()
Martin MVerified
An unforgettable Kilimanjaro trip We chose Oserok Trips for our 7-day hike in Kilimanjaro. We wanted to do this adventure with a local company and we were not disappointed. The guides from Oserok, Francis and Daniel, were great as was the rest of the team who had a great time with us. I remember only fond memories of this experience with a small professional team that put us in a family atmosphere during this incredible week. Asante sana kaka!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Fatiha BVerified
Go with your eyes closed Stayed in June 2023 and June 2024. Very nice meeting! Top organization. Alpha introduced us to its culture and region, with such kindness. We shared some great moments. Very nice discovery. I recommend. Asante sana. FatihaPosted on Tripadvisor![]()
David RVerified
Hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro My father and I went on a tour to the Materuni Falls with Alpha, our guide and had a wonderful time 😎 Alpha has allowed us a fantastic guided tour of the magnificent surroundings of Mount Kilimanjaro!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Inoek VVerified
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.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Jen KVerified
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!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Travel543451Verified
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% recommendablePosted on Tripadvisor![]()
Julieta JVerified
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 heartsPosted on Tripadvisor![]()
Julieta JVerified
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.
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