Ruaha or Selous which is better? If you’re thinking of going on an African safari soon, Tanzania is your ultimate destination. While northern parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater make great adventures, especially for first-timers, the southern parks are hidden gems. The Ruaha and Nyerere (formerly Selous) are off-the-beaten tracks and usually offer incredible, secluded safari experiences – something avid safari-goers want.
Ruaha and Nyerere have an incredible mix of predators – lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. And more interesting, the number of wild dogs (or painted dogs) is high compared to the northern parks. Whether you go to Ruaha or Nyerere mainly relies on your decision – and of course personal preference. In this article, we’ll compare these parks more, so, pay attention to the details.
Size
Nyerere National Park is far bigger than Ruaha National Park. It’s about 30,893 km² big, and it’s Africa’s largest national park. Ruaha spans an area of about 20,226 km² – the second-largest park in Tanzania. It lies on the west side of the Nyerere National Park. Being neighbors means these parks share the same ecosystem boasting a more diverse wildlife.
Attractions
These parks might not have a dense wildlife population like the northern parks. This is probably due to intensive poaching that was at its peak from the 1980s to 1990s. However, there is a lot to discover from these two parks.
The Nyerere has an array of animal species ranging from grazers, and hoofed animals to fierce predators. It’s home to the Big Five with many lions, buffalos, elephants, leopards, and very few rhinos. So, if you want to see animals in a less-known destination, you can count on Nyerere National Park. A quick reminder that the black rhino is extremely rare in the Nyerere.
Ruaha on the other hand, boasts the largest elephant population of any park in Tanzania. It’s common to see big herds of elephants roaming. The buffalo herds roam the grassy plains in the day. In the afternoons, they head to the Ruaha River to relieve thirst. You might also see predators I’m their excellent moves to catch prey. The rare wild dogs are pretty much here. Often living as a pack, these painted dogs are the most successful predators. Their hunting success rate is about 90%, and they achieve this through pack hunting.
So, the major highlights of the Nyerere are the Big Five, predators, pristine forests, birds, the Rufiji River, and many other animals. Ruaha is home to large elephant herds, an incredible number of wild dogs, a higher concentration of lions, the Great Ruaha River, birds, barren baobab trees, and much more.
Activities
Both parks offer wonderful activities leaving a memorable experience for everyone. They offer game drives, walking safaris, birding trips, fly camping, balloon safaris, and night game drives. Imagine navigating through the bush to see what you might’ve missed in the day. These night adventures are highly prohibited in most northern parks.
There are plenty of activities to engage in in Nyerere National Park compared to Ruaha. You can embark on a silent boat adventure on the lakes or in the mighty Rufiji River. Probably, you’re asking yourself: is the Great Ruaha River not navigable? Surely not. However, this river is not good for boat trips and doesn’t make the incredible adventure worth taking on.
So, if want a boat safari, Nyerere National Park has it all. But if you’re not, you can embrace Ruaha’s remoteness and discover a lot.
Accessibility
Nyerere and Ruaha are quite accessible from Dar es Salaam -yes the business capital of Tanzania. International tourists heading to the southern parks can touch down at Julius Kambarage International Airport in Dar es Salaam. From there, they can catch another flight to any airstrips of the Nyerere or Ruaha.
Nyerere is only a 30 to 40-minute flight from Dar es Salaam while Ruaha is about a 1-hour flight from Dar es Salaam and only 30 minutes from Nyerere National Park. So, Nyerere can be easily reached while Ruaha can be challenging.
Cost
There is little difference in cost between Ruaha and Nyerere. Both are cheaper spots offering budget-friendly safaris during the dry season. However, Nyerere can be less costly than Ruaha.
Accommodations
The Nyerere has a wide range of accommodations. You’ll find luxurious properties like Roho ya Selous, Selous Treehouse, and more here. Ruaha on the other hand, has a few options, including luxurious properties like Kigelia Ruaha and others.
So, the last thing we can say is Ruaha and Nyerere National Parks are perfect for those who have been on a Tanzania safari. These folks might have experienced the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, and other famous destinations. But even first-timers can enjoy spending their time in either Ruaha or Nyerere, or both.
We offer signature safaris to southern parks and in fact throughout the country. If you plan a safari to East Africa, don’t hesitate to contact our experts. Good luck!
