Following its 2008 merger with Usangu Game Reserve and other notable wetlands, Ruaha is counted among Tanzania's biggest national parks, spanning more than 20,000km². It is also a sizeable elephant haven and home to buffalo, huge populations of lion, leopard, and a profusion of bird species, including kingfishers, plovers, egrets, hornbills and sunbirds. Crocodiles and hippos thrive in the Great Ruaha River, which flows along the sanctuary’s eastern border and in the dry season between July and November, animals flock to the last remaining water sources, presenting an exceptional wildlife spectacle. There are a number of accommodation options available but some close for the wet season in March and April.
Mafia Island forms part of the famous Tanzanian Spice Islands, situated in the Indian Ocean. This wonderful landmass features mangrove thickets, coastal moorlands, and lowland forest. The Mafia Archipelago’s coral reefs, sandbars, lagoons, and beaches form part of the Mafia Island Marine Park - Tanzania’s first national marine park. This spectacular, unspoiled area offers visitors rich, colourful reefs with over 50 hard and soft corals, over 460 species of fish, and a variety of marine life, making this area excellent for diving. Visitors can spot whale sharks and sea turtles in the clear waters, watch hippos wallowing in the reed-lined lakes of the interior and discover the many rustic fishing villages scattered around the island.
