Ruaha is now the largest national park in Tanzania. Known for its great populations of elephant, buffalo, greater and lesser kudu, hippo, crocs, it is also one of the countrys best national parks, and because of its location, it is one of the least visited.

Ruahas scenery is spectacular. The landscape is characterised by miombo woodland with rocky hills on a plateau ovet 3,000 feet (1,000m) in altitude. Park elevation ranges from 2,460 feet (750m) in the Ruaha Valley to the 6,230 foot (1,900m) Ikungu Mountain in the west of the park.

Once referred to by the early explorers as the Garden of Eden, Ruaha was originally part of the Saba Game Reserve formed in 1910 before becoming part of the Rungwe Game Reserve that was established in 1946. The Ruaha National Park was gazetted as a park in 1964 when all hunting was prohibited. In 2008 it was extended from 5,000-square-miles (12,950km2) in area to 8,500 square miles (22,000km2) by incorporating the former Usangu Wildlife Management Area.

The Great Ruaha River, with its impressive gorges, deep pools and rapids runs for 100 miles (160 kms), close to the parks southern boundary, and it is home to many hippo and crocodiles. Black riverbed rocks are contrasted against golden grasses and baobab trees that line the riverbank, creating a unique and beautiful sight.

The Park is about 2.5 hour charter flight from Dar-es-Salaam, or a 2 hour drive from Iringa. Park headquaters is located at Msembe, 70 miles (112 km) from Iringa and 385 miles (615 kms) from Dar-es-Salaam.