Luxury holidays in Ruaha National Park

Stretching across 7,800 square miles of southern Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is a patchwork of landscapes that once formed a small part of the native Hehe territory. Today, this diverse expanse is still home to many of its tribe, who share the land with high concentrations of big cats, giraffes, zebras, buffalos and elephants; as well as ancient baobab forests, semi-arid plains and the guiding Great Ruaha River.

When to go

Your best bet for safari sightings is during dry season, from July to October. December brings hundreds of migratory birds, and in January, verdant riverbanks draw grazing elephants. Most of the park’s camps are closed from mid-March until the end of May.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Dar Es Salaam all have connecting flights to Ruaha National Park’s two airstrips: Jongomeru is in the far south, and Msembe, which is the more central, and popular, of the two.

  • Automobiles

    Self-driving is permitted in Ruaha, but strict rules make it best left to professionals. The park’s camps come with guide-driven vehicles to cut the need for your own.