RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

Second largest of Tanzanian National Parks, it takes its name from the Great Ruaha's River that flows along its eastern border. The Ruaha's miombo woodland on the surface looks like a rather monotonous thicket of verdure but in actuality it is a thriving biosphere. Here more the 1600 species of plant and over 400 species of birdlife have been identified. The sharp ornithologist can easily spot the violet-crested turaco, Dickenson's kestrel, pale-billed hornbill, racquet tailed roller and occasionally, the elusive Eleonora's falcon. The park's main wildlife spectacle however centres around the Great Ruaha River.

Here crocodiles bask,hippos wallow and clawless otters zip to and fro. Grazers came down through the acacia to drink under the gaze of lion, leopard, spotted hyena, jackal and hunting dog. Eurasian migrant birds flock here twice a year and join the resident water birds- everything from kingfishers to egrets. The grassland ribbons on either side of the river team with kudu, elend, impala, Grant's gazelle, dik-dik and warthog as well as mongoose, porcupine, wild cat and the rare civet.