Common Sightings

For many years Ruaha has been known for it’s huge elephant populations and “big-tuskers” (old male bull elephants with gigantic tusks). The world’s second heaviest pair of tusks on record came from one of Ruaha’s big tuskers (one tusk weighing over 91kg). In 1970 there were an estimated 40,000 elephants in Ruaha. Sadly by the late 1980’s the elephant population had dwindled to somewhere as low as 4,000 due to ruthless poaching. With the help of an excellent park warden Ruaha was able to curb the poaching and now boasts a good elephant population estimated somewhere between 15,000 & 20,000.

Ruaha also boasts a high density of lions, and large prides of females with cubs are a common sight. It is also possible to see one of the magnificent black-mane males that dominate some of the prides. Those who are lucky can catch a glimpse of their incredible hunting-cat abilities as they stalk and chase down their dinner, a large buffalo or giraffe. Tremendously exciting but not for the faint-hearted!