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Safari plan · 5 days · Southern parks · Midrange

Ruaha’s Predators

Four nights in one camp in Ruaha, one of Tanzania’s largest national parks, along the Great Ruaha River — time enough to follow the lion prides, look for wild dog and learn a landscape that few visitors see.

Dar es SalaamRuahaDar es Salaam
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Length5 days · 4 nights
ParkRuaha
Starts & endsDar es Salaam (DAR)
ComfortMidrange tented camp
Best monthsJune–October
OverviewThe routeDay by dayRatesWhere you sleepIncludedAdd-onsWhen to goFlights & extrasFAQEnquire
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IOverview

Four nights in one big park, and time to wait for the cats.

Ruaha is one of the largest national parks in Tanzania, and far fewer people visit it than the Serengeti. The Great Ruaha River runs along its eastern side; in the dry months it shrinks to pools and sand, and the animals — and the predators that follow them — come to it. Its lion prides are large, and it is one of the places in Tanzania where wild dog are seen, though never on demand. Both greater and lesser kudu live here.

Four nights in one camp is the point. Predators take patience, and so does a park this size. It is a fly-in plan: your drives and walks are with the camp’s own guides, usually shared with other guests unless you ask for a private vehicle, which is what we would suggest for serious photographers.

Major attractions · 3
  1. 01Ruaha National Park
  2. 02The Great Ruaha River
  3. 03Lion, leopard, and a chance of wild dog
Trip detailsPrivate, fly-in
Tour length
5 days · 4 nights
Country
Tanzania
Start / end
Dar es Salaam (DAR), both ways
Accommodation
Midrange
Tour type
Fly-in safari, camp-guided
Group size
Maximum per camp vehicle
Meal plan
Full board at the camp
Best period
Jun–Oct
Activity level
Easy — long days in the vehicle
Request a free quote →Questions? WhatsApp +255 762 914 714
IIThe route

Fly in, stay put, fly out.

5 days, 4 nights, 1 places to sleep. The solid line is this plan; the dotted lines are the other roads through the region. Point at a day to see its leg.

Route map: Dar es Salaam by light aircraft to Ruaha National Park and back Ruaha NP Mikumi NP Udzungwa NP N Ruaha (Msembe) Dar es Salaam
  1. 01Dar es Salaam → Ruaha~2 h flight · ~3 h game
  2. 02The Great Ruaha River~8 h game
  3. 03Around the camp~8 h game
  4. 04Around the camp~7 h game
  5. 05Ruaha → Dar es Salaam~2 h flight · ~2 h game
Overnight stopPassing throughSchematic, roughly to scale
IIIDay by day

Five days, one at a time.

Each day lands on top of the last as you scroll: honest road time, game time, meals and where you sleep. Times are door to door in a safari vehicle and move with the season and what you stop for.

A light aircraft landing on a gravel airstrip in Ruaha National Park, hills behind — 1600×1200
RuahaADD IMAGE · A light aircraft landing on a gravel airstrip in Ruaha National Park, hills behind
01/ 05

Roughly two hours in a light aircraft, longer if it stops, then an afternoon drive.

07°42′S 34°55′EDay 1 · Dar es Salaam → Ruaha

Fly to Ruaha

Travel
~2 h flight
Game viewing
~3 h
Meals
L · D
Sleep
Tented camp near the Great Ruaha River
  1. Morning

    A light aircraft from the domestic side of Dar es Salaam airport. Scheduled flights often call at other strips on the way, so the time in the air varies.

  2. Midday

    Met at the airstrip by the camp. Lunch, and the heat of the day in the shade.

  3. Afternoon

    A first drive along the river with a camp guide, back at dusk.

A Ruaha lion pride drinking at a pool in the dry riverbed — 1600×1200
RuahaADD IMAGE · A Ruaha lion pride drinking at a pool in the dry riverbed
02/ 05

A full day, out at first light.

07°42′S 34°55′EDay 2 · The Great Ruaha River

Along the river

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~8 h
Meals
B · picnic L · D
Sleep
Same camp, second night
  1. First light

    Out as early as the camp allows. The first hours are when lions are most active and most likely to be on the move.

  2. Midday

    A picnic in the shade wherever the morning ended.

  3. Afternoon

    Back along the river, where elephants dig for water in the sand and everything else comes to drink.

Why so many lions

Ruaha’s prides are large, which is part of its reputation. How many you see on any day is luck and patience.

Lesser kudu in dry thicket under a baobab, Ruaha National Park — 1600×1200
RuahaADD IMAGE · Lesser kudu in dry thicket under a baobab, Ruaha National Park
03/ 05

A long day into the woodland and baobab country, away from the river.

07°42′S 34°55′EDay 3 · Around the camp

Further out

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~8 h
Meals
B · picnic L · D
Sleep
Same camp, third night
  1. Morning

    Away from the river into woodland and open country, looking for kudu, and for wild dog, which range over huge areas.

  2. Midday

    Picnic lunch in the field.

  3. Afternoon

    Back towards the river for the last of the light.

Wild dog, honestly

Ruaha has wild dog, and they are seen here more often than in the north. They move constantly, and many visitors never see them. It is a chance, not a promise.

Walkers following an armed ranger across a dry sand river, Ruaha National Park — 1600×1200
RuahaADD IMAGE · Walkers following an armed ranger across a dry sand river, Ruaha National Park
04/ 05

A morning walk if you want one, and a final evening drive.

07°42′S 34°55′EDay 4 · Around the camp

On foot, then a last drive

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~7 h
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Same camp, fourth night
  1. Early

    A walk with an armed park ranger and a camp guide, where the camp offers it — or another dawn drive, if the cats were busy the night before.

  2. Midday

    Time at camp. Many camps look over the river, and the animals come past.

  3. Afternoon

    A last drive, going wherever the guides’ news points.

Elephants crossing the Great Ruaha River in the morning — 1600×1200
Dar es SalaamADD IMAGE · Elephants crossing the Great Ruaha River in the morning
05/ 05

A short drive if the flight allows, then roughly two hours to Dar.

06°52′S 39°12′EDay 5 · Ruaha → Dar es Salaam

Back to Dar es Salaam

Travel
~2 h flight
Game viewing
~2 h
Meals
B
Sleep
Homeward
  1. Morning

    A short drive on the way to the airstrip, depending on the flight time.

  2. Midday

    Light aircraft to Dar es Salaam, sometimes via another strip. You land around the middle of the day; leave a few hours before an international departure.

Not flying home today?

Zanzibar is a short hop from Dar es Salaam, and some light aircraft from the south fly straight there.

IVRates

Priced by group size, because the vehicle is shared.

Park fees, accommodation, vehicle, guide and meals as listed — per person, no booking fees. Rates move with the month and lodge availability; your quote is fixed once you book.

Midrange · price per person, sharing
Group size1 person2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people
From yearraterateraterateraterate
Single supplementamount
Children

Child policy: ages, sharing discount, lodge minimum ages

What moves the price

What changes itHow much

  • The month you travel

    June to October and the Christmas weeks are peak rates. The green season is lower, and many camps close in April and May.

  • The flights

    Light-aircraft seats are priced per person, so on a fly-in plan the flights do not get cheaper as the group grows.

  • Where you sleep

    The same night can cost several times more at one camp than at another along the same river.

  • A private vehicle

    Sharing the camp’s vehicles is included. Your own vehicle and guide is an extra per day.

  • Park fees

    Fixed per person per day by the authorities, and the same whoever you book with. We show them as their own line.

Not sure which level suits you? Tell us your dates, group and budget and we will send an itemised quote with named properties.

Request a free quote →
On request
On request
VWhere you sleep

One camp, four nights, by the river.

Each night is described by type first, because the right camp depends on your month. The properties we normally use at each level are listed below; your quote confirms them against availability.

Nights 1–44×

Ruaha

Tented camp near the Great Ruaha River

Four nights in one place: no packing, and time to wait for things to happen.

Midrange here means
En-suite tent, hot shower, solar power, no fence.
Step up
A remoter camp away from the central area, with walking and fewer vehicles.

The properties we use

WhereMidrangeLuxury
Ruaha, near the Great Ruaha Riverpropertyproperty

What ‘midrange’ means on this trip

  • En-suite. Your own bathroom, often open to the sky.
  • Shared activities. Drives are usually with other guests; a private vehicle is extra and worth it for photographers.
  • Power. Solar, sometimes only in the main area. Bring a power bank and spare batteries.
  • Food. Full board. Tell us about diets early — supplies come a long way.
VIThe fine print

What is in the price, and what isn’t.

✓Included

  • Scheduled light-aircraft flightsDar es Salaam to Ruaha and back, seats on shared flights
  • The camp’s game activitiesDrives and walks with the camp’s guides, shared with other guests
  • All park and conservation feesItemised on your quote
  • Four nights’ accommodationAs described above
  • Meals as listed each dayFull board at the camp
  • Airstrip transfersThe camp meets every flight

–Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzanian visaApply online before you travel
  • Travel insuranceRequired. It must cover medical evacuation
  • Tips for guide and camp staffWe send guidance with your booking
  • Drinks at lodges and campsUnless the property includes them
  • A private vehicle at the campOn request, at extra cost
  • Excess baggageLight aircraft take soft bags only, with a weight limit
VIIAdd-ons & changes

The plan is a starting point, not a package.

The changes people ask for most, each with what it costs you in days or hours. Not in the standard price — arranged on request, and most can be combined.

Extra costprice

A private vehicle

Your own vehicle and guide at camp, so you can wait at a sighting as long as you like and leave when you choose.

Makes sensePhotographers, and anyone patient
Photography safaris →
+2 nightsprice

Add Nyerere

Fly on to Nyerere for boat trips on the Rufiji River and its lakes. Water after the dry country.

Makes senseA first trip to the south
Ruaha & Nyerere →
Same lengthprice

More walking

Swap drives for walks with a ranger, where the camp offers them.

Makes senseAnyone fit who wants to be on foot
Walking safaris →
+3–5 nightsprice

Finish on Zanzibar

Fly to the island from Dar es Salaam, or directly where the routes allow.

Makes senseEveryone, most of the year
Zanzibar →
+2 nightsprice

Two camps in Ruaha

Split the stay between the central area and a remoter part of the park. More variety, one more transfer.

Makes senseSecond-time visitors
Ruaha →
VIIIWhen to go

Rated for this route, not for the country.

June to October is when Ruaha is at its best: the river shrinks to pools, the bush thins and predators stay close to the water. September and October are very hot. Many camps close in April and May for the long rains. The green months are quieter and beautiful, but game spreads out and is harder to find.

Jan
Hot, green, quiet
Feb
Hot, some rain
Mar
Rains building
Apr
Long rains, many camps shut
May
Camps reopening
Jun
Dry season begins
Jul
Dry, cool nights
Aug
Dry, animals at water
Sep
Dry, hot
Oct
Hottest, best game
Nov
Short rains
Dec
Green, quiet
Three bars — the route at its bestTwo — good, with trade-offsOne — possible, and quiet
IXFlights & extras

Getting there.

Arrive

Julius Nyerere International, Dar es Salaam (DAR)

The gateway for the southern parks. Light aircraft to Nyerere and Ruaha leave from the domestic side, usually in the morning, so a late arrival means a night in Dar first.

Depart

Julius Nyerere International (DAR)

The return light aircraft lands in Dar around the middle of the day. Leave a few hours before an international departure; the schedules are not guaranteed to the minute.

Via Zanzibar

Abeid Amani Karume International (ZNZ)

Several scheduled light-aircraft routes to the southern parks also touch Zanzibar, which makes beach-then-bush easy.

What else to budget.

Not part of the safari price, in order of how much they matter.

  • Tanzanian visaApply online before travel
    Current fee
  • Travel insuranceMust cover medical evacuation
    Typical cost
  • TipsGuide and camp staff, per day
    Guideline
  • DrinksAt lodges and camps
    Typical range
  • Personal spendingLaundry, crafts, extras
    Varies
  • Private vehicleAt the camp, if you want one
    Rate per day
XWhy book with us

Only what we can prove.

01

Arusha, since 2010

A Tanzanian company, locally owned, running safaris and climbs from Arusha for more than fifteen years.

02

Licensed and registered

TALA-licensed through the Tanzania Tourist Board and registered with BRELA. Ask us for the numbers; we will send them.

03

Guided by people who live there

On a fly-in trip your drives and walks are with the camp’s own guides and the park’s rangers, who know the prides and the river better than any visitor. A private vehicle can be requested at extra cost (Rate per day).

04

Every fee on its own line

Park, conservation and concession fees are shown separately on your quote, so you can see exactly what goes to the authorities.

XIQuestions

The ones we are asked most.

Perhaps. Ruaha has them, and they are seen more often here than in the north, but they range widely and many visitors miss them. We never promise a sighting.

Ruaha is big, and predators take patience. Four nights lets the guides follow a pride over several days, and gives you a second chance if the first days are quiet.

Not by default. At the camp you go out with the camp’s own guides, usually with other guests. A private vehicle can be arranged at extra cost.

Very hot in September and October, especially in the middle of the day. Mornings and evenings are when you are out; midday is for the shade.

Soft bags only, with a weight limit per person on the light aircraft. Ask us for the current limit.

Begin here

Send us your dates. We will send you the real version.

Named camps, the right direction of travel for your month, every fee on its own line — and a straight answer if another plan would suit you better.

Rather talk it through?WhatsApp us+255 762 914 714
Safari request Ruaha’s Predators 5 days · 4 nights · private, fly-in
01When, and what for?
How fixed are the dates?
What do you want from it? Pick any
02Who’s coming?
Travelling as
03How you like it
Style of camp

Not a commitment. It lets us send something realistic instead of something you have to reject.

04Where to reach you
We need a name to write back to.
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Step 1 of 4
Other safari plans
6 days · Southern parksRuaha & Nyerere, the Quiet ParksRead the plan →
4 days · Southern parksNyerere by Boat and on FootRead the plan →
4 days · Southern parksMikumi & Udzungwa by RoadRead the plan →
7 days · Northern circuitThe Great Midrange JourneyRead the plan →
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