Ruaha National Park
Encyclopedia
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania
. It covers an area of about 22,000 km². It is located in the middle of Tanzania about 130 km from Iringa
. The park is part of a more extensive ecosystem
which includes Rungwa Game Reserve
, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas.
The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River
, which flows along its south-eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. The park can be reached by car via Iringa
and there is an airstrip at Msembe, park headquarters.
, George Rushby. In 1951 it was gazetted by the British colonial authorities
as an extension of the neighbouring Rungwa Game Reserve. People living in the new protected area were subsequently forced to move out. In 1964 it was excised from the game reserve and elevated to full park status. In 2008 it was extended to incorporate the former Usangu Wildlife Management Area, in the upper Ruaha catchment, making Ruaha the largest National Park in Africa.
s. Presently about 10.000 are roaming the park. Ruaha National Park is also a true birdwatchers
paradise: 436 species have been identified of an estimated total of 475. Among the resident birds are different species of Hornbills, Kingfishers and Sunbird
s. Also many migrants visit Ruaha, e.g. the White Stork
Other special animals in Ruaha are: the African Wild Dog
and Sable Antelope
. Rhinoceros
were last been sighted in 1982 and are probably extinct in the park due to poaching
.
The best times to visit for predators and large mammals is the dry season (May–December) and for birds and flowers, the wet season (January–April).
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. It covers an area of about 22,000 km². It is located in the middle of Tanzania about 130 km from Iringa
Iringa
Iringa is a city in Tanzania with a population of 112,900 . It is situated at a latitude of 7.77°S and longitude of 35.69°E. The name is derived from the Hehe word lilinga, meaning fort....
. The park is part of a more extensive ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
which includes Rungwa Game Reserve
Rungwa Game Reserve
The Rungwa Game Reserve is found in Tanzania. It was established in 1951. This site is 9000km² ....
, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas.
The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River
Great Ruaha River
The Great Ruaha River is a river in south-central Tanzania that flows through the Usangu wetlands and the Ruaha National Park east into the Rufiji River...
, which flows along its south-eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. The park can be reached by car via Iringa
Iringa
Iringa is a city in Tanzania with a population of 112,900 . It is situated at a latitude of 7.77°S and longitude of 35.69°E. The name is derived from the Hehe word lilinga, meaning fort....
and there is an airstrip at Msembe, park headquarters.
History
The creation of a national park in this area was first proposed in 1949 by the Senior Game Ranger in MbeyaMbeya
Mbeya is a city located in southwest Tanzania, Africa. Mbeya's urban population was 280,000 in 2005. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region ....
, George Rushby. In 1951 it was gazetted by the British colonial authorities
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
as an extension of the neighbouring Rungwa Game Reserve. People living in the new protected area were subsequently forced to move out. In 1964 it was excised from the game reserve and elevated to full park status. In 2008 it was extended to incorporate the former Usangu Wildlife Management Area, in the upper Ruaha catchment, making Ruaha the largest National Park in Africa.
Wildlife
Ruaha is famous for its large population of ElephantElephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s. Presently about 10.000 are roaming the park. Ruaha National Park is also a true birdwatchers
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
paradise: 436 species have been identified of an estimated total of 475. Among the resident birds are different species of Hornbills, Kingfishers and Sunbird
Sunbird
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. There are 132 species in 15 genera. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders,...
s. Also many migrants visit Ruaha, e.g. the White Stork
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
Other special animals in Ruaha are: the African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
and Sable Antelope
Sable Antelope
The Sable Antelope is an antelope which inhabits wooded savannah in East Africa south of Kenya, and in Southern Africa.-Subspecies:There are four subspecies:* H. n. niger which is considered low risk conservation dependent...
. Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
were last been sighted in 1982 and are probably extinct in the park due to poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
.
The best times to visit for predators and large mammals is the dry season (May–December) and for birds and flowers, the wet season (January–April).