Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
If you can only see one park in all of Africa, it should be Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. The combination of stunning scenery, rugged landscapes, and animal variety is unmatched
Ruaha River Lodge stands on the banks of the Great Ruaha River, which is the lifeblood of this arid region. Run by Peter and Sarah Fox, who offer an in-depth knowledge of the park and a life-times experience of running safari camps, the lodge is welcoming and friendly while the riverside bandas have been designed blend seamlessly into the surroundings.
Each local stone and thatch room has minimal impact on the environment, while game viewing from the veranda is a relaxing and enthralling option. Ruaha River Lodge is unfenced and the animals are free to move in and out of the lodge. Ruaha River Lodge offers just 20 thatched bandas, and a central dining and lounge area with glorious views over the nearby river.
Ruaha River Lodge Activities
• Game drives in open 4-wheel drive vehicles.
• Excellent birding.
• Game walks with professional walking guide and TANAPA ranger.
• Walking safari.
Wildlife
Ruaha National Park covers a unique transition zone- a meeting of Eastern and Southern African species of flora and Fauna. In addition to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and most of the common antelope, predators including elusive wild dogs, some of the rarer antelopes such as Sable and Roan, as well as greater and lesser kudu occur. Birding in Ruaha National Park is unparalleled, with some 530 species recorded.
The seasons
• June to October: Dry and warm days with temperatures cooling down considerably at night. Vegetation becomes sparser and animals are drawn to dwindling water sources. Nights can be cold.
• November - mid March: Hotter and greener. Nights still cool. This is the season for bird and plant lovers and is the main reproductive time of year so a good time for seeing young.
Ruaha National Park
Home of the ‘Great Ruaha River'
A pristine and largely undiscovered wilderness, the 12,950 square-kilometre Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's second-largest park. An unforgettable landscape, one of the last remaining tracts of the original Africa as it existed millions of years ago, Ruaha National Park is dominated by the Great Ruaha River, from which it takes its name (Ruaha means ‘great').
Undeveloped and undisturbed, Ruaha National Park offers spectacular wildlife, glorious scenery (more than 1,600 species of plants) and over 400 species of birds. With herds of more than 10,000 elephants, vast concentrations of buffalo, gazelle, and over 400 bird species, Ruaha's limitless wilderness, together with the surrounding game reserves of Rungwa and Kisigo -- stretches over 40,000 square kilometres. Elephants are found in some of the highest concentration in the country, travelling in matriarch-lead herds through ancient grazing lands and seasonal supplies of water.
Tanzania luxury safari lodge: location
Ruaha National Park has two airstrips (Msembe and Jongomero), which host flights from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar via the Selous, and from Arusha. Ruaha is 115km (4 hour's drive) from Iringa (502km from Dar es Salaam)
Your Tanzania luxury Ruaha River Lodge safari
Undeveloped and undisturbed, Ruaha National Park offers spectacular wildlife, glorious scenery (more than 1,600 species of plants) and over 400 species of birds. With herds of more than 10,000 elephants, vast concentrations of buffalo, gazelle, and over 400 bird species, Ruaha National Park‘s limitless wilderness, together with the surrounding game reserves of Rungwa and Kisigo -- stretches over 40,000 square kilometres
Elephants are found in some of the highest concentration in the country, travelling in matriarch-lead herds through ancient grazing lands and seasonal supplies of water. The Great Ruaha River is the main feature of the park, and meanders through its borders. On its banks, the game viewing is spectacular, whether done by land or by water
Hippos yawn under the midday sun and crocodiles lie lazily along the banks. Fish eagles dive and swoop along the riverbanks, and at night the sound of frogs croaking in the reeds extends across the hills and plains. Boating safaris are starting to gain in popularity, and provide a popular alternative to viewing the area by car.
Most of Ruaha National Park is located on the top of a 900 metre plateau whose hills, valleys, and plains make the game viewing topography beautifully unique. Small mountains run along the southwest borders of the park and their tree-covered slopes are visible in the distance. During the rainy seasons, dry river beds swell with the biannual deluge and within days, a thin coat of green covers all the land in sight.
Because of its rather remote location, Ruaha National Park is largely unexplored. Because of this, a safari to the national park often has the feel of a private adventure and an unique experience. For the intrepid wilderness lover and the avid safari explorer, a trip to Ruaha is uniquely rewarding and a perfect piece of Africa.
Safari highlights
Safari sightings in Ruaha National Park will include: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, greater and lesser kudu and Grant's gazelle. Birds: more than 400 species of birds have been recorded.
Accommodation: Tanzania luxury safari lodge
Ruaha River Lodge offers just 20 thatched bandas, each of which has either twin or double beds. Each banda has an ensuite bathroom has a shower, toilet and wash basin with solar-heated hot water. The rooms are protected with mosquito gauze on the windows. A generator provides electricity for lights and battery charging until 11pm each night. Hurricane lamps are provided at dusk. Services include complimentary tea and coffee all day, limited tent service and complimentary laundry service.
Tanzania luxury lodge: dining and bars
Ruaha River Lodge menus feature Tanzania and international choices and meals are typically buffet. Ruaha River Lodge offers a full bar service. Food is prepared from fresh produce from the Fox family's Highland farm. A full English breakfast is complimented by freshly baked cinnamon bread, fresh fruit, tea and coffee.
• Lunch is a cold buffet with a selection of meats, pastries or pizzas and salads, followed by dessert. Dinner is a three-course meal with a vegetarian option.
• Drinks are served around a campfire on the riverbank or high up in the elevated bar with its spectacular views up and down the river.
Conference and event facilities at Ruaha River Lodge
Ruaha River Lodge does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings.
Weddings and honeymoons at Ruaha River Lodge
This Tanzania luxury lodge makes an ideal Tanzania honeymoon destination.
Child-friendly facilities at Ruaha River Lodge
Ruaha River Lodge welcomes children and will be pleased to supply additional beds.
What to see and do at Ruaha River Lodge
You will rarely meet any other vehicles on your game drives around Ruaha's extensive and well-maintained road network. Our highly trained English speaking guides will lead you to an abundance of leopard, lion, cheetah and hunting dog, not to mention several rare species including Greater and Lesser Kudu, Roan and Sable antelopes
Our guiding is superlative with specialist guides having built up an extensive local knowledge whilst living and working in the park. This ensures you don't miss out on the flora and fauna that normally go unnoticed to the untrained eye.
Game drives are taken in specially adapted open 4 WD vehicles. The seating is tiered to maximise visibility for each passenger.
• -Each car is extremely well-maintained and is equipped with a two-way radio.
• -Game drives are led by an experienced guide with a driver.
• -Refreshments are served on longer excursions and a packed lunch can be taken on a full day's game drive.
• -Game drives usually follow the pattern of a full mornings drive returning to the Lodge for lunch and an afternoon siesta, followed by a shorter evening drive starting at 4pm. A full day's drive can also be taken.
• -The guides, trained and led by Peter Fox, your host at Ruaha River Lodge, are all locally born and bred with an instinctive knowledge of the bush.
• -The roads in the park are all weather roads and remain open all year round.
• -There is no off road driving or night driving allowed in Ruaha National Park.
Walks can only take place during the dry season (May-November).
• For your security all walking safaris are accompanied by an armed Park ranger.
• Walks are taken either first thing in the morning, or leaving at around 4pm
Ruaha River Lodge activities
• Game drives in open 4-wheel drive vehicles.
• Excellent birding.
• Game walks with professional walking guide and TANAPA ranger.
• Walking safari / mobile bush camping (fly camping) in pristine surroundings (pre-booking essential). From July to end of November. (subject to weather conditions and availability TANAPA ranger).
When to visit Ruaha National Park
Visiting a luxury lodge is Ruaha National Park possible during both the dry ‘yellow' season and the wet ‘green' season, even in January when the rain is heaviest due to the fact that the rains here tent to be short and the roads are generally good. However, in the wet season the grass is long which can hamper game viewing. Optimum time to visit this luxury lodge is July-December.
Safari tented camp experiences in Ruaha National Park
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at this lodge include: morning safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides), safari bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; and guided safari walks. The lodge also offers ornithological tours.
Ruaha River Lodge • Ruaha National Park • Tanzania Safari Lodges
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