SOUTHERN CIRCUIT
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SAADANI
GAME RESERVE
- SELOUS
GAME RESERVE
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MIKUMI
NATIONAL PARK
- RUAHA
NATIONAL PARK
- UDZUNGWA
MOUNTAINS
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Ruaha National Park
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Ruaha
National Park derives its name from the Ruaha River, which
flows along its southeastern border. The river provides
permanent water in the park and, during the dry season,
animal concentration along its banks is spectacular.
Ruaha National Park is about two to three hours drive from
Iringa, a famous town on the Dar es Salaam to Zambia
highway, and covers an area of 12, 950sq km, making it the
second largest National Park in Tanzania, after Serengeti.
This unspoilt wilderness is rich in flora (about 1650
plant species) and fauna, and contains a wide variety of
animals that includes Greater and Lesser Kudu, roan and
sable antelopes, which are rarely seen in most other game
parks especially in Northern Tanzania. Ruaha National Park
is famous for its herds of elephant and buffaloes.
The
Ruaha River, which plays an important role in the
ecosystem of the park, provides sanctuary to a large
number of hippos and crocodiles. During the dry season the
river attracts great quantities of game including lions,
leopard, hunting or wild dog, impala, waterbuck, warthog,
giraffe, and elands. In the plains ostriches, cheetahs and
Grants Gazelles can be seen. The park is rich in bird life
throughout the year, with over 370 bird species recorded.
The best time for game viewing is during the dry season,
from May to December.
During the wet months from January to April some tracks
become impassable.
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