Ruaha National Park: prices, duration, best season and safari from Zanzibar (2026)
Ruaha National Park, in southern Tanzania, is the country's largest (about 20,226 km² according to most sources) and one of the least visited: people come for lions, elephants and leopards, with few vehicles around. Offers consulted in October 2026 range from 460 dollars per person for 2 days from Iringa to about 700 dollars for 3 days from Morogoro (park fees included) and from 1,140 to nearly 2,000 dollars for 3 or 4 days with a flight, including from Zanzibar. The park is far away: from Zanzibar, flying is the only sensible option. Best season: June to October.
Highlights
The landscape and the Great Ruaha River
A dry savannah landscape with baobabs; in the dry season the river shrinks to a few pools where animals concentrate, which helps sightings.
The big predators
Lions are the main attraction; listings also cite elephants and leopards. Dawn and late-afternoon drives are the most productive.
Birdwatching
A 2-day offer from Iringa is built around sunrise drives along the river and the park's bird species.
Practical info
Tips
- To sort your options: (1) 2 days by road from Iringa (from about 460 dollars, but a lot of road) for small budgets already in the south; (2) 3 days by road from Morogoro (about 700 dollars, lodging and park entry included according to the listing); (3) 3 to 4 days with a flight, from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam (1,140 to 1,984 dollars depending on the offer and the camp): the most expensive, but the only one for a beach holiday. The camps cited are Mdonya Old River, Ikuka and Asanja; check what is included (flights, entry, meals, drinks). Park entry is given between about 30 and 83 dollars per adult per day depending on the source: we could not confirm it officially. Ruaha is a malaria area: see vaccines and malaria. To compare with other safaris, see which safari from Zanzibar, Selous-Nyerere and Mikumi.
How to get there
From Zanzibar, private or scheduled flight to an airstrip in the park (one listing leaves Zanzibar at 6:30 am and returns around 2:20 pm according to the programme). By road, from Iringa (Iringa region) or Morogoro; long distances on tracks.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.