Ruaha National Park
Description: Ruaha National Park is the second largest National Park in Tanzania. The Great Ruaha River fascinates with its variety of mammals and birds coming to drink. This is one of Tanzania’s least accessible parks and as a result it is relatively untouched. Ruaha is known for its large elephant and buffalo herds and one of its principal attractions lies in being able to see greater and lesser kudu as well as the majestic sable and roan antelope within the same area. As well as an abundance of lion, leopard and cheetah it is also home to the increasingly rare wild dog.
Location: Southern Central Tanzania, reached by flight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Works nicely with a visit to Selous
Things 2 Do: Game Drives, Walking Safaris
Time: Given the distance, spend at least 3 nights. Best during the dry season.
Animals: All the usual: Elephants, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. Some of the unusual: Sable and Roan Antelope and Wild Dogs.
Accommodations
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Mdonya Old River Camp
Ruaha River Lodge
$$$$$
Kwihala Camp
Jongomero
Kigelia Camp (seasonal)
Mwagusi Safari Camp
“Access 2 Tanzania was awesome! Visiting Africa and going on Safari was on my bucket list and A2T fulfilled it completely. My husband likes spontaneity but I insist on long term planning so when my husband told me he wanted to go to Tanzania in just over 3 weeks I laughed. Two days later he came to me with a plan that Casey and he put together. I was dumb-founded. It was not a canned tour planned by A2T for a group. It was a private itinerary planned by my husband and Casey to accommodate exactly what WE wanted to do and where WE wanted to go. We left for Tanzania 3 weeks later! Amazing!
We changed plans many times after the initial plan and Casey was very patient and accommodated us with no resistance. Casey always had answers to our questions and gave us recommendations that we would never had thought of. A2T didn’t just give ‘lip service’ they provided what they said they would and told us what they could not. I questioned this because they offer so many wonderful options and I wondered what we would actually get when we arrived. Another thing I was pleased with is that during our planning Casey did not constantly try to ‘up sell’ us.
‘Wilfred’ was our guide and he was wonderful. He is such a nice, good and fun person. We felt so lucky to have him. That said, we spoke to others from A2T and they also felt the same about their guides so it is clear A2T chooses their guides carefully. (We still feel lucky to have Wilfred throughout our safari!)
I wish I could remember the names of all the others that we met and who helped us from A2T. We didn’t run into one bad seed. It’s been 5 months since we returned from Africa and although the names are not clear in my mind the warm, wonderful and exciting feeling of Africa will never fade.
If you have the opportunity to go to Africa go with Access 2 Tanzania! AMAZING!!”