A hidden gem, deep in the south of Tanzania, Ruaha is far removed from the hectic Northern Circuit. The Great Ruaha River is the lifeblood of this massive park, providing respite from the hot, dry climate. The numbers are staggering – at around 20,000 square kilometres, it is the largest park in Tanzania, with 10% of the world’s lion population, the third largest population of wild dogs, and sizeable populations of other predators and prey. Combine these impressive number with the fact that Ruaha gets only a tiny fraction of the visitors of the northern circuit, and you can see why this is a remarkable wilderness area.