No other National Park in Tanzania has the diversity of Ruaha. Elephant in huge numbers are a common site and the population seems to be growing. Giraffe are everywhere, as are zebra and impala among the other herbivores. Both the greater and lesser kudu occur here, as do the magnificent eland, sable and roan antelope. The Ruaha River also provides an ecosystem on its own with its huge Nile crocodiles, pods of hippo and all the other smaller mammals and reptiles.

Ruaha has an abundance of predators, and a particularly healthy lion population - it's not uncommon to see a pride with twenty or more. We are treated to regular sightings of large males with magnificent manes. The rugged terrain of Ruaha is perfect for leopard and they are seen regularly. The African hunting dog also occurs in the Park although their huge ranges make them a little more difficult to find. The same is the case with cheetah. Hyena and jackals are a common camp visitors and their cries are often heard after dark.

At the centre of the Park is the Ruaha River which flows into the Rufiji River in the Selous, and on to the Indian Ocean. A number of smaller seasonal rivers all flow into the Ruaha including the Mzombe and the Mwagusi. These waterways are a vital life-source and make for a picturesque backdrop to the animal action. Complimenting this picture are the many low hills and the escarpment that is actually part of the Great Rift Valley. Between this and the plateau that rises in the southwest and runs all the way towards Lunda in the north is the low lying bush at Ruaha's heart.