Previous inaccessibility has ensuredthe Ruaha National Park has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Covering 10,300 sq km it is the country’s second largest park and biggest elephant sanctuary. However, plans to annex the neighbouring Usangu Game Reserve will double its size and make it, after Zambia’s Kafue National Park, the second largest wildlife protection area in Africa. Its name derives from the Great Ruaha River which flows along its eastern border, creating spectacular gorges. Flowing into the Rufiji River, the Great Ruaha is home to hippo and crocodile. Waterbuck, reedbuck and buffalo venture to the river’s edge to drink, attracting the attention of lion, leopard, cheeta, hyena and wild dog - or African Hunting dog as they should correctly be called. Various antelope species, such as eland, greater and lesser kudu, impala, sable and roan antelope, Grant’s gazelle and the tiny dik-dik thrive in the grasslands bordering the river alongside giraffe, zebra, warthog, mongoose, porcupine, wild cat and civet. Birdlife is prolific, over 370 species have been recorded, some of which are not found in northern Tanzania. Eurasian migrants flock to Ruaha twice a year - March to April and October to November – joining the resident kingfishers, hornbills, sunbirds, egrets and plovers. Best months for game viewing are during the dry season from May to December, when the animals are concentrated around the shrinking water-courses. The park has an airstrip for light aircraft on the western bank of the river.
