Wild and remote Ruaha, Tanzania's second-largest national park, is home to scattered baobabs, grasslands and rolling hills. Along with Nyerere, it is the main stop on Tanzania's southern circuit, which draws relatively few tourists compared to the country's northern hotspots.

Arguably better for wildlife spotting than Nyerere (and more affordable too), Ruaha supports one the world’s largest lion populations, along with massive herds of elephants and various grazers. There are cheetahs, leopards and African wild dogs too.

When it comes to accommodation, Ruaha offers a mixture of luxury lodges and basic fly-camping operations for walking safaris – the park's speciality. For self-drivers, there are simple but affordable self-catering huts at the park headquarters,