Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's largest national park, known for large elephant herds and one of the country's healthiest lion populations, with far less vehicle traffic than northern circuit parks like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

The park sits at the meeting point of eastern and southern African wildlife, which shows up in a species list that includes both greater and lesser kudu alongside more familiar plains game. Ruaha's lion prides are among the largest recorded in Tanzania, and the park's baobab-studded landscape along the Great Ruaha River makes for a distinct backdrop compared to the open grassland of the north.

Best visited June to October, in the dry season, when wildlife gathers near the river. Ruaha is reached by a short flight from Dar es Salaam and combines naturally with Nyerere National Park for travelers wanting a full southern-circuit safari with minimal overlap with other visitors.