Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s largest national park, encompassing roughly 13,000 square kilometers. Situated in central Tanzania, about 130 kilometers from Iringa, it forms part of a larger ecosystem that includes the Rungwa Game Reserve, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas.

Named after the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its southeastern edge and serves as a focal point for game viewing, the park can be accessed by car from Iringa or via an airstrip at Msembe, the park headquarters.

Ruaha experiences a bimodal rainfall pattern: the short rainy season occurs from November to February, while the long rainy season spans March to April. The dry season extends from June to October.

The park is renowned for its avian diversity, hosting over 571 bird species, including both resident and migratory birds from within and beyond Africa. Ruaha is believed to have the highest concentration of elephants of any national park in East Africa. It is also home to remarkable mammals such as kudu, sable, and roan antelopes, which are often spotted in the Miombo woodland. Additionally, the park supports endangered wild dogs and features a range of other wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, bat-eared foxes, and jackals.

In addition to its large mammals, Ruaha is home to various reptiles and amphibians, including crocodiles, both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, monitor lizards, agama lizards, and frogs.

The park’s vegetation is predominantly semi-arid, with baobab and acacia trees among the many species present. Over 1,650 plant species have been identified in Ruaha.