Vast and untouched, Ruaha’s secret lies in its extraordinary diversity of animals, plants and birds. Ruaha represents a transition zone where eastern and southern species of flora & fauna overlap and in all some 1,650 plant species can be found here. Ruaha possesses one of the greatest populations of elephant in any African park and the dry open hillsides littered with giant baobab trees, encourage buffalo to gather into large herds.

There is an incredible variety of antelope: eland, roan, oribi, grants gazelle, lesser kudus and sable to name a few. Giraffe and zebra are plentiful. Ruaha River is home to hippo and crocodile. Waterbuck, reedbuck and buffalo venture to the river’s edge to drink, attracting the attention of the lion, leopard and cheetah. Ruaha also provides a safe haven to rare species such as African wild dog and the ever-elusive striped hyena.

The birdlife is prolific, a birdwatcher’s paradise with approximately 580 species recorded (which is more than half of those found in the whole country), some of which are not found in northern Tanzania.