Page 28 - Foxes Safari Camps EBrochure

28

Getting to Know

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is named after the river that runs through the southern portion of

the Park. The area was only gazetted as a ‘National Park’ in 1964 and has been recently
increased in size to make it the second largest National Park in Tanzania.

The ecosystem which covers the entire conservation area is centred around the

watershed of the only 2 perennial rivers within the Park, the Great Ruaha and The

Nzombe Rivers. As would be expected with such a variety of habitats, the vegetation
changes from treeless grasslands and swamps, to evergreen forests. The river valleys

sport acacia species, fig species, tamarind trees, clumps of palms as well as patches of
open black cotton soil grassland. The more undulating terrain is covered with Baobabs

accompanied by Combretum and Commiphora woodland, with occasional flat-topped
acacias.

Ruaha stands out due to it’s position in the zone between northern and southern
hemispheres where species (bird migrants, mammal species, and plant species) from
both overlap. For example, you find Roan antelope, Sable antelope, Greater kudu,

Lichtensteins hartebeest, all rarely found further north and yet at the same time you can

find Lesser kudu and Grant’s gazelle not common further south. It is the southern most
point for typical nykia plants such as evergreen and thorny shrubs and some perennial

grasses. The varied topography also results in a correspondingly varied diversity of
species so that there are 1600 plant species and over 500 bird species, which approximates

half of that found in the entire country. You will find the full range of predators such
Lion, Cheetah, Striped and Spotted hyaena, Leopard, Side striped Jackal, Black backed

jackal and there are good populations of Wild dog.

No major game migration occurs in Ruaha so game can be seen in Ruaha at any time of

the year. Although the game is most concentrated along the river during the long dry
season the park becomes a different world after the rain in December with the trees

erupting into leaf and the River swelling into a bursting torrent. A safari during this time
will open your eyes to a completely different Africa to the one you thought you knew

well. The road infrastructure is excellent and all weather.