Ruaha National Park

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🦁 Roaring Lions Roam Ruaha's Wilderness

🌍 #10 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #7 in Africa #8 in Savanna & Grassland

East Africa, Tanzania 1166 spp. recorded

Ruaha National Park is a vast tropical savanna reserve situated in the heart of Tanzania. Its wild terrain features wide river valleys, rocky outcrops, and open grasslands that distinguish it from crowded northern reserves.

-7.380° S 34.832° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

East African Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely

Ashy Starling

Lamprotornis unicolor

60–70% · Likely

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus ruahae

60–70% · Likely

Red-necked Francolin

Pternistis afer

60–70% · Likely

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

60–70% · Likely

Flap-necked Chameleon

Chamaeleo dilepis

60–70% · Likely

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

50–60% · Likely

Meyer's Parrot

Poicephalus meyeri

50–60% · Likely

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

East African Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax

Heterohyrax brucei

40–50% · Likely

Greater Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

40–50% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

40–50% · Likely

Yellow Baboon

Papio cynocephalus

40–50% · Likely

Leopard

Panthera pardus

40–50% · Likely

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

40–50% · Likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

30–40% · Possible

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

30–40% · Possible

Banded Mongoose

Mungos mungo

30–40% · Possible

Ochre Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus ochraceus

30–40% · Possible

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

30–40% · Possible

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely

Ashy Starling

Lamprotornis unicolor

60–70% · Likely

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus ruahae

60–70% · Likely

Red-necked Francolin

Pternistis afer

60–70% · Likely

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

60–70% · Likely

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

50–60% · Likely

Meyer's Parrot

Poicephalus meyeri

50–60% · Likely

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

Green-winged Pytilia

Pytilia melba

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Flap-necked Chameleon

Chamaeleo dilepis

60–70% · Likely

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

40–50% · Likely

Dodoma Rock Agama

Agama dodomae

40–50% · Possible

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

30–40% · Possible

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

30–40% · Possible

Spotted Bush Snake

Philothamnus semivariegatus

30–40% · Possible

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible

Black-necked Spitting Cobra

Naja nigricollis

30–40% · Possible

Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise

Kinixys spekii

Insufficient data

Rock Monitor

Varanus albigularis

20–30% · Possible

Sundevall's Writhing Skink

Mochlus sundevallii

20–30% · Possible

Tanganyika Sand Snake

Psammophis tanganicus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

African Common Toad

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data

Senegal Kassina

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

Chiromantis xerampelina

Insufficient data

Giant bullfrog

Pyxicephalus adspersus

Insufficient data

Edible bullfrog

Pyxicephalus edulis

Insufficient data

Bocage's Tree Frog

Leptopelis bocagii

Insufficient data

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data

Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog

Chiromantis petersii

Insufficient data

Müller's Platanna

Xenopus muelleri

Insufficient data

African Split-skin Toad

Schismaderma carens

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elephant Herds at Great Ruaha River

JunJulSepDec

Hundreds of elephants gather at the Great Ruaha River during dry months, creating dramatic scenes of social interaction and mud bathing.

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

40–50% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

Greater Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

40–50% · Likely

🦌

Lion Prides Hunting Along Great Ruaha River

JunJulAugSepOct

During the dry season, lions congregate near the Great Ruaha River to hunt prey drawn to dwindling water sources, offering unparalleled sightings.

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

40–50% · Likely

Lion

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

30–40% · Possible

🐦

Lilac-breasted Roller Breeding Display

JunSepDec

The park's skies burst with vibrant Lilac-breasted Rollers during breeding season, showcasing aerial courtship flights and territorial displays.

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

50–60% · Likely

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus ruahae

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

30–40

40–50

40–50

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

African Bush Elephant

40–50

40–50

50–60

30–40

50–60

60–70

80–90

30–40

80–90

30–40

60–70

70–80

East African Giraffe

40–50

40–50

20–30

20–30

20–30

60–70

70–80

20–30

60–70

40–50

20–30

60–70

Cape Turtle Dove

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

Fork-tailed Drongo

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

80–90

80–90

50–60

Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

Red-necked Francolin

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

40–50

70–80

50–60

60–70

70–80

Slate-colored Boubou

40–50

30–40

70–80

70–80

70–80

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

80–90

60–70

Flap-necked Chameleon

50–60

70–80

80–90

80–90

50–60

50–60

40–50

20–30

40–50

20–30

40–50

40–50

Helmeted Guineafowl

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

30–40

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

40–50

50–60

70–80

50–60

70–80

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

30–40

30–40

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

30–40

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

Lilac-breasted Roller

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

70–80

40–50

60–70

60–70

Animal Events

🦌 Elephant Herds at Great Ruaha River

🦌 Lion Prides Hunting Along Great Ruaha River

🐦 Lilac-breasted Roller Breeding Display

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🦁 Roaring Lions Roam Ruaha's Wilderness

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

768

🐒 Mammals

224

🦎 Reptiles

120

🐸 Amphibians

54

1166 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

45 Threatened 4 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

64%

📊

Coverage (308 species at ≥5% of 1166 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

26%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 2 mammal, 1 reptile)

47% Global avg

54%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

215

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

46

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

37

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