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| Ruaha National Park |
The park, located in the southern regions of Tanzania, is expected
to be visited by travellers from different countries in the world to see
the country’s exceptional blend of scenery of wildlife and human
culture.
According to the latest report that was released by Karen Hoffman,
President of the Bradford Group based in the US and made available to
The Guardian, Ruaha has become one of the best winter trips due to its
richness in wildlife, beauty and sanctuary.
Hoffman, who is also the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB)
representative in the US and Chanel LeMond, mentioned other criteria
that made the park to be named the best as its wildlife, bird species
and provision of the best quieter, wilder environment for exceptional
game viewing and birding.
“As a TTB representative in the US, I wish to express thanks for
the National Geographic for naming Ruaha National Park as best winter
trips for 2013, which will help Tanzania to receive more tourists from
the US and other countries,” Hoffman said.
She said Ruaha National Park, which is larger than Tanzania’s
famous Serengeti National Park (home to the Great Animal Migration) is
one of the country’s 15 parks and is known for its rugged and untouched
terrain, having a high concentration of elephants and being home to over
571 species of birds.
The park’s Great Ruaha River, 300 miles long, is the lifeline of large mammals and has 38 species of fish.
Dr Aloyce Nzuki, Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board,
commenting after Ruaha was recognized by National Geographic said: “This
demonstrates that Tanzania is increasingly being recognized for its
expanding safari product in the Southern and Western region.”
He added: “Ruaha National Park has become increasingly popular with
US tourists who are looking for an off the beaten track experience,” he
said.
Tourists are eager to visit Ruaha National Park, because it is the
country’s second largest and biggest elephant sanctuary, he said.
The annexation of the neighbouring Usangu Game reserve has doubled
its size and made it, after Zambia’s Kafue National Park, the second
largest wildlife protection area on the continent.
It derives its name from the Great Ruaha River which flows along
its eastern border, creating spectacular gorges, flowing into the Rufiji
River.
On the other hand, the Great Ruaha is the home to crocodile,
waterbuck, hippo, reedbuck and buffalos venture to the river’s edge to
drink, attracting the attention of lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and
wild dog or African hunting dog as they are sometimes called.
Also various antelope species such as eland, greater and lesser
kudu, impala, sable and roan antelope, grant’s gazelle and the tiny
dik-dik thrive in the grasslands bordering the river alongside giraffe,
zebra, warthog, mangoose, porcupine, wild cat and civet are found there.
Information issued by the board indicates that birdlife is
prolific, covering over 370 species that have been recorded, and some of
which not found in the northern part of the country.
Eurasian migrants flock to Ruaha twice a year-March to April and
October to November-joining the resident kingfishers, hornbills,
sunbirds, egrets and plovers.
During the dry season from May to December, when animals are
concentrated around the shrinking water-sources is the best months for
game viewing, according to wildlife experts.
Apart from that, the park has an airstrip for light aircraft on the
western bank of the river and getting there is up to a ten-hour drive
or a one and half-hour flight from Dar es Salaam.
Ruaha National Park has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, originally covering 10,300sq km.
Source: The Guardian, www.ippmedia.com, reported by Beatrice Philemon in Dar es Salaam
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