Ruaha National Park
🇹🇿 Tanzania
🦁 Roaring Lions Roam Ruaha's WildernessRuaha 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
★ 
African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ 
East African Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchi
📊 Most Spotted
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Ashy Starling
Lamprotornis unicolor
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus ruahae
Red-necked Francolin
Pternistis afer
Slate-colored Boubou
Laniarius funebris
Flap-necked Chameleon
Chamaeleo dilepis
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
Meyer's Parrot
Poicephalus meyeri
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Lion
Panthera leo
★ African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ East African Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchi
📊 Most Spotted
Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax
Heterohyrax brucei
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
Yellow Baboon
Papio cynocephalus
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Banded Mongoose
Mungos mungo
Ochre Bush Squirrel
Paraxerus ochraceus
Painted Hunting Dog
Lycaon pictus
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
📊 Most Spotted
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Ashy Starling
Lamprotornis unicolor
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus ruahae
Red-necked Francolin
Pternistis afer
Slate-colored Boubou
Laniarius funebris
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
Meyer's Parrot
Poicephalus meyeri
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Green-winged Pytilia
Pytilia melba
📊 Most Spotted
Flap-necked Chameleon
Chamaeleo dilepis
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Dodoma Rock Agama
Agama dodomae
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Puff Adder
Bitis arietans
Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus
Black-necked Spitting Cobra
Naja nigricollis
Sundevall's Writhing Skink
Mochlus sundevallii
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
Rock Monitor
Varanus albigularis
Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise
Kinixys spekii
Tanganyika Sand Snake
Psammophis tanganicus
📊 Most Spotted
African Common Toad
Sclerophrys gutturalis
Senegal Kassina
Kassina senegalensis
Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
Chiromantis xerampelina
Giant bullfrog
Pyxicephalus adspersus
Edible bullfrog
Pyxicephalus edulis
Bocage's Tree Frog
Leptopelis bocagii
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
Ptychadena anchietae
Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog
Chiromantis petersii
Müller's Platanna
Xenopus muelleri
African Split-skin Toad
Schismaderma carens
Recent sightings in Ruaha National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Lion Prides Hunting Along Great Ruaha River
During the dry season, lions congregate near the Great Ruaha River to hunt prey drawn to dwindling water sources, offering unparalleled sightings.
2Elephant Herds at Great Ruaha River
Hundreds of elephants gather at the Great Ruaha River during dry months, creating dramatic scenes of social interaction and mud bathing.
3Lilac-breasted Roller Breeding Display
The park's skies burst with vibrant Lilac-breasted Rollers during breeding season, showcasing aerial courtship flights and territorial displays.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Lion Prides Hunting Along Great Ruaha River
- 2Elephant Herds at Great Ruaha River
- 3Lilac-breasted Roller Breeding Display
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We saw around 100 species of birds, which is a great day for Ruaha, and another highlight was a group of three Lesser Kudus.
We watched elephants moving gracefully in family herds and lions lazing after their nighttime hunts.
We spent four whole days in the park and saw several prides of lions, large herds of elephant, hyenas, buffalo, ostriches, giraffe, zebra, and the greater and lesser kudu.
On our drive to the lodge, we were already spotting wildlife – lions, giraffes, elephants, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, and even wildebeest – we could not believe how much we saw and it wasn't even a game drive!
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Ruaha National Park?
The most likely sightings are Lion (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Ashy Starling (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), African Bush Elephant (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1166 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Ruaha National Park for wildlife?
September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Lion in Ruaha National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 43 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see African Bush Elephant in Ruaha National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see East African Giraffe in Ruaha National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a East African Giraffe sighting in Ruaha National Park, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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