Ruaha National Park is named after Ruaha River which flows along in southern border.
Ruaha is the largest National Park in Tanzania after the borders were extended in 2008 and Usangu Game Reserve was included to protect the Ihefu wetlands and the great Ruaha River catchment areas and biodiversity covering an area area of 20,226 square kilometres, Is home to more than 450 bird species, 1600 plant species, 50 amphibian species and a thousands of other inhabitants.
The Ruaha River is playing an important role in the ecosystem of the park, providing sanctuary to a large number of hippos and crocodiles.
It is rich in flora and fauna, and contains a wide variety of animals which are rarely to see in other National Park including, Greater and Lesser Kudu, roan and sable antelopes.
Ruaha River attracts great numbers of other animals in the dry season including, lions, leopard, wild dog, impala, waterbuck, warthog, giraffe, and elands.
In the plains ostriches, cheetahs and Grants Gazelles can be sighted. More than 8000 giraffe, herds of Elephants and Buffalo make the Park most famous.
Between January and May is a perfect time to visit for birdwatchers and butterfly collectors, and the best time for game sighting is during the warm season, from May to December.