Remote Ruaha is an unspoiled wilderness famed for its large number of elephants. In fact, aside from rhinos, all major safari animals are present in good numbers. A large pride of lions, sometimes counting more than 20 individuals, roam the park, and even buffalo, an unusual prey, isn't safe here.
Ruaha's great diversity of birds is a function of its location, which is transitional to the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of southern Africa. The park has a checklist of 450 birds. The crested barbet – whose persistent trilling is a characteristic sound of the southern bush – occurs in Ruaha, alongside central Tanzanian endemics (restricted to Central Tanzania) such as the Yellow-collared lovebird and ashy starling. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
