4 Days – Ruaha National Park Safari
4 Days / 3 Nights Days
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (flight to Iringa) → Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (flight from Iringa on Day 4)
Wildlife
Easy
Why Choose This Safari?
Ruaha is one of Tanzania’s few truly wild safari areas, and this four-day safari from Dar es Salaam gives you three nights in the park with almost no long road transfers. The park covers about 20,226 sq km and has a rugged, mostly untouched feel, with a landscape that makes game viewing as fascinating as the animals themselves. The Great Ruaha River, along with rivers such as the Mwagusi, Jongomero and Mzombe, is the lifeline of the park, and in the dry season these rivers become the main source of water for wildlife, with elephants digging in the dry sand riverbeds with their front feet and trunks. The remaining pools are also important habitat for hippos, fish and crocodiles. You fly to Iringa, drive into the park for a game drive on Day 1, spend a morning on foot on Day 2, and then enjoy a full day of game drives, before flying back on Day 4.
Safari Highlights
- We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodation in similar Lodges/Tented Camps in case of non – availability
- Upgrades are available eg To Luxury Accommodation Safari
- Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements
Destinations to Travel
Dar es Salaam · Iringa · Ruaha National Park (Great Ruaha River)
Itinerary
Day 1 — Dar es Salaam to Iringa and Ruaha National Park
You fly from Dar es Salaam to Iringa town on a scheduled flight, where you’re met by our vehicle and driven to Ruaha National Park for your first game drive. Lunch and dinner are provided, and you spend the night at your camp or lodge in the park.
Day 2 — Ruaha National Park
You start the day with a morning walk, then spend the afternoon on a game drive, looking for wildlife along the Great Ruaha River and in the surrounding bush. The Great Ruaha River, the Mwagusi, the Jongomero and the Mzombe are the lifeline of the park, and in the dry season they become the main source of water for wildlife. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge.
Day 3 — Full Day in Ruaha National Park
You spend the whole day on a full day game drive in the park. Look out for elephants, lions, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope and the African wild dog, as well as hippos and crocodiles in the river pools and a wide range of birds. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge.
Day 4 — Ruaha National Park to Iringa to Dar es Salaam
After breakfast you depart in the morning for Iringa Airport and take a flight to Dar es Salaam, where the safari ends.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Personal items like laundry, drinks etc
- Accommodation before and after in Dar es laam
- Tips to porters/ waiters and your driver/ guide
- Visas and Government Taxes
- Flights and insurance to personal injury or luggage
Rate Excludes
- Personal items like laundry, drinks etc
- Accommodation before and after in Dar es laam
- Tips to porters/ waiters and your driver/ guide
- Visas and Government Taxes
- Flights and insurance to personal injury or luggage
Best Time to Go
No travel window was given for this itinerary, so the advice below comes from the route and general seasonality. The dry months, roughly June to October, are usually the best time for game viewing in Ruaha National Park, because rivers and pools are the main source of water and wildlife concentrates along them, and elephants can be seen digging for water in dry sand rivers. The wetter months, roughly November to May, bring lush scenery, fewer visitors and excellent birding, although game is more dispersed and some roads can be harder to travel. For the best overall balance of game viewing and travel comfort, aim for June to October. You can find more on the Tanzania National Parks Authority site.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it take?
It starts in Dar es Salaam with a flight to Iringa and a drive to Ruaha National Park, and ends with a flight from Iringa back to Dar es Salaam on Day 4. It runs for 4 days and 3 nights, with all three nights in the park.
What wildlife can we expect in Ruaha?
Ruaha is a Lion Conservation Unit and is home to elephants, lions, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope and the African wild dog, with more than 571 bird species recorded. Sightings can’t be guaranteed on any given day. You can read more on the Ruaha National Park page.
What is the Great Ruaha River like?
The Great Ruaha River flows along the park’s southeastern edge and is the focus of game viewing. In the dry season, it and rivers such as the Mwagusi, Jongomero and Mzombe become the main source of water for wildlife, and the remaining pools are important habitat for hippos, fish and crocodiles.
Can we see elephants digging for water?
In the dry season, elephants obtain water from dry sand rivers using their front feet and trunks, and your guide can look for this behaviour on your game drives. Wildlife behaviour can’t be guaranteed on any given day.
What is the morning walk on Day 2?
Day 2 starts with a morning walk, followed by an afternoon game drive. Our team will confirm the length of the walk and whether you’re accompanied by a ranger when your booking is confirmed.
How do we travel to and from the park?
You fly from Dar es Salaam to Iringa on Day 1 and are driven to the park by our vehicle, then drive back to Iringa Airport on Day 4 for the flight to Dar es Salaam. Our team will confirm exact flight times when your booking is confirmed.