River Ruaha Park Game Viewing

The Great Ruaha River (or Lyambangari as it is known in Kihehe, the local language) and it's flood plains form only a small part of the park in terms of area, but are not surprisingly the most significant part of Ruaha National Park in terms of game viewing.

The river rises in the swamps to the west of the park and more or less forms the southeastern boundary, running from south west to north east. Just outside the park it is joined from the north by the Nzombe River and eventually flows into the Rufiji River a short distance above Stigler's Gorge in the Selous Game Reserve.

The Ruaha River is rarely full these days, apart from at the height of the rains in April and in the driest months it all but stops flowing, so that it resembles a wide sand river. The banks of the Ruaha are lined in places with tall stands of acacia, tamarind and other riverine forest. To the north east of Msembe the river lies within wide open grassy plains and is eventually joined by the Mwagusi Sand River en route to Lunda on the eastern edge of park.

Game viewing on the Ruaha River
- The Ruaha River drive, which runs from Msembe east towards the confluence with the Mwagusi River, is one of the better areas for game viewing in the park, although it also tends to be the area most visited by tourists, so if you are going to see another car, it'll probably be here.

There are great views of the river itself as well as the wide flood plains on both sides. This area used to be heavily wooded with the oldest acacia tortillis and albida trees in living memory, but elephant forced into the relatively safe central area under the pressure of heavy poaching in the 80s, destroyed most of these trees.

The River drive is an area where you have a very good chance of seeing lion and or leopard. Elephants are never far away and the vast herds of buffalo regularly come down to the river to drink throughout the dry season.

The River also attracts large numbers of other animals to drink during the hottest time of day, which is why it's often worth being out around mid day in Ruaha (which at first seems counterintuitive). Antelope such as Roan and sable are often seen at this time as they leave the woodland to drink.

where to stay - Mwagusi safari camp is within easy reach of the Ruaha River game driving area. Jongomero is a short distance from the main river in the far west of the park and Ruaha River Lodge is built right on the Ruaha River.

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