Ruaha National Park at a glance
Ruaha National Park lies in southern central Tanzania. The park covers 20,226 km², which makes it one of the largest national parks in the country. The landscape is not flat grassland. Miombo woodland, baobab savanna, rocky kopjes and seasonal rivers shape it, and the Great Ruaha River is the main water line through the park.
Animals in the park include greater kudu and lesser kudu, lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles. Sable and roan antelope live in the miombo, and cheetahs and wild dogs roam widely. Ruaha is the southern limit of the lesser kudu's range. More than 570 bird species occur here. A species list is not a promise of sightings, so plan for good chances rather than certainty.
Game drives use a 4×4. Guided walking safaris are possible with a ranger and have to be arranged in advance through a licensed operator. Msembe and Jongomero are the park's airstrips. By road, the trip from Iringa via Tungamalenga takes roughly 2 to 3½ hours, depending on the condition of the track, and a 4×4 is recommended, especially in rain.
What this guide covers
This site is a planning guide to Ruaha and the road to it. You will find the park fees with the vehicle and walking charges, the lions, the wild dogs, the greater kudu and the other wildlife, the Great Ruaha River, the weather and the best time to go, camps and lodges by location, and the way in from Dar es Salaam by air or via Iringa. If you want to compare trips, start with the Ruaha safari page or the Ruaha tours page.
Ruaha is also the main stop on the southern route. Nyerere and Mikumi are separate national parks with their own fees and are mentioned only briefly here. Both have their own guides: the Nyerere guide and the Mikumi guide. The southern Tanzania safari page explains how the three fit together.
Our picks: Ruaha safaris
The Morogoro trip bundles park fees, two nights and a 4x4 in one price, while the Zanzibar fly-in swaps most of the driving for flights to Iringa. The Mikumi combinations suit a longer southern circuit, and the day trip from Iringa is the quick option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
5-day Ruaha and Mikumi safari from Arusha
- Park and vehicle fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Government taxes
Two days in Ruaha, a transfer day and a day in Mikumi before the return to Arusha. International flights are not part of it.
Check availability →
8-day safari: Mikumi, Ruaha and Udzungwa
- 4x4 Land Cruiser
- Driver-guide
- Park fees and meals
Mikumi, Ruaha and the Udzungwa Mountains over eight days. Ask whether lodging is included before you book.
Check availability →
5-day Mikumi and Ruaha safari from Dar es Salaam
- Park entry fees
- 4x4 with pop-up roof
- Electric train ride
A day in Mikumi, two days in Ruaha and the way back via Morogoro by train. Lodging inside the parks and meals are part of the price.
Check availability →
3-day Ruaha safari with flights to Iringa
- Return flights to Iringa
- Park entry fees
- 2 nights in park bandas
The flights land in Iringa, from where the road to Ruaha takes about three hours. Game drives, meals and the road transfers are part of the price.
Check availability →
3-day Ruaha safari from Morogoro with lodging
- Park and conservation fees
- 2 nights, full board
- 4x4 with pop-up roof
Game drives in a private 4x4 and two nights in a lodge or tented camp. Flights to Iringa are not part of it.
Check availability →
Ruaha day safari from Iringa
- Park entry included
- Transport from Iringa
- Guided safari
One day of guided game drives with the transfer from Iringa. No overnight stay, so it suits a tight schedule.
Check availability →Ruaha and southern Tanzania safaris
Guided safaris in southern Tanzania with live prices and availability. Check what each price covers, in particular park fees, transfers and the way you reach the park.
Ruaha as part of a Tanzania safari
Where the park sits on a trip through the country.
A Tanzania safari often means the northern parks around Arusha. Ruaha is a different trip. It lies in the south, it is reached by a short flight or a long road, and it is usually combined with other southern parks rather than with the Serengeti. Nyerere and Mikumi are the two parks most often linked with it. For the northern parks, see the guides to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire; this site stays with Ruaha and the south.
All Ruaha pages
Pick the topic you need.
Ruaha safari
Game drives, the way a day runs and what to budget.
Ruaha tours
Fly-in, road trips and combined safaris.
Southern Tanzania safari
Ruaha with Nyerere and Mikumi.
Park fees
Entry, vehicles, permits and payment.
Lions
Large prides, research and conservation.
Greater kudu and wildlife
Kudu, sable antelope and the other animals.
Wild dogs
Wandering packs, habitat and conservation.
Great Ruaha River
The lifeline of the park and its dry season.
Walking safari
Rangers, rules and planning.
Iringa
The gateway town, Isimila and Kalenga.
Weather and best time
Dry season, rains and what each brings.
Lodges and camps
Where to stay in and around the park.
Dar es Salaam to Ruaha
Flights, airstrips and the Iringa road.
History of Ruaha
From game reserve to national park.
A few things to know before you go
Points that change how you plan.
Fees follow a tariff year
International adults pay $30 or $70 per person, depending on the rate TANAPA applies. The 2023/24 tariff gives $30 without 18 percent VAT. Ask for the current amount in writing before you book, and ask whether a quote includes tax.
Ruaha park fees →Numbers belong to a wider landscape
Lion and elephant figures often describe the whole Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem, which is larger than the national park. Read them as figures for the landscape.
The lions of Ruaha →One long rainy season
The rains come as one continuous season from late November to May, with June and July the coolest months. It is not the two-rain pattern of northern Tanzania.
Weather and best time →Travel insurance applies on the mainland
Since October 2026 the state travel insurance covers the Tanzanian mainland as well as Zanzibar. It costs $44 for stays of up to 92 days. Exceptions differ by nationality and residence, so check your own case.
Getting to Ruaha →More independent guides to Tanzania
Separate guides from the same team.
Ngorongoro
The crater, fees, crater tours and the highlands.
Serengeti
Safaris, the Great Migration, park fees and the best season.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing routes, day hikes, park fees and trips from Moshi.
Tarangire
Elephants, baobabs, day trips from Arusha and park fees.
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, Mto wa Mbu and park fees.
Arusha
Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, the city and its airports.
Lake Natron
Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Engare Sero waterfall.
Nyerere
Boat safaris on the Rufiji, wild dogs, park fees and trips from Zanzibar.
Selous
The Selous name, Frederick Selous, the World Heritage Site and Selous safaris.
Mikumi
Safaris from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, the SGR train and the Udzungwa Mountains.
Stone Town
Walking tours, Prison Island, spice tours and the ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Beaches, Mnemba snorkeling, Jozani Forest, the best time to visit and entry rules.
Ruaha National Park: frequently asked questions
How big is Ruaha National Park?
The park covers 20,226 km². It is one of the largest national parks in Tanzania. The wider Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem around it is much larger, so figures for animals often refer to that landscape rather than to the park.
What animals can I see in Ruaha?
Animals in the park include greater and lesser kudu, lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles, plus sable and roan antelope. Sightings depend on the day, the season and your guide. See greater kudu and other wildlife.
How much does it cost to enter?
International adults pay $30 or $70 and children aged 5 to 15 pay $10 or $20, depending on the rate TANAPA applies. Children under 5 enter free. The 2023/24 tariff gives $30 and $10, without VAT. Vehicle fees come on top. Details are on the park fees page.
How do I get to Ruaha?
Either by air to the Msembe or Jongomero airstrips, or by road from Iringa via Tungamalenga, roughly 2 to 3½ hours depending on the track. A 4×4 is recommended, especially in rain. See Dar es Salaam to Ruaha.
Can I go on a walking safari?
Yes, with a ranger and arranged in advance through a licensed operator. Walks are guided, and you leave the vehicle only where it is allowed. The walking safari page explains the rules.
Is ruaha-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to TANAPA, a camp, an airline or a tour operator. Use it to plan, and confirm fees and conditions with your operator before you travel.