Ukubuka umdlalo kuqala ngokushesha nje lapho indiza ifika phansi. Indlulamithi igijima eceleni komhubhe wendiza, yonke imilenze nentamo, kodwa ibukeka ngendlela exakile ngendlela exakile. Uhlu lwamadube luhamba ngendlela enqamula inkundla yendiza lulandela indlulamithi. Ekude, ngaphansi kwesihlahla se-baobab esinobukhulu, izindlovu ezimbalwa zaseRuaha ezingu-10,000 – inani elikhulu kunanoma yiliphi ipaki kazwelonke laseMpumalanga Afrika – zakha iqembu elivikelayo elizungeze amaphuphu azo.
Ilandela iKatavi kuphela endaweni yayo yehlane elingaphazanyiswa, kodwa elifinyeleleka kalula, iRuaha ivikela indawo enkulu yezwe elinogwadule, elinomile kancane elichaza iTanzania ephakathi. Igazi layo eliphilayo uMfula iGreat Ruaha, ohamba ngasemngceleni osempumalanga ngesikhukhula esikhukhula ngesikhathi semvula enkulu, kodwa ngemva kwalokho wehla waba ukusabalala kwamachibi ayigugu azungezwe isihlabathi namadwala acwebezelayo. Inethiwekhi enhle yemigwaqo yokubuka izilwane ilandela iGreat Ruaha kanye nemifudlana yayo yesizini, lapho - ngesikhathi sesomiso - impala, i-waterbuck kanye nezinye izinyamazane zibeka impilo yazo engozini ukuze zithole amanzi asekela impilo. Futhi ingozi inkulu: hhayi nje kuphela eziqhingini zezingonyama ezingaphezu kuka-20 ezibusa phezu kwe-savannah, kodwa futhi nasezingweni ezilandela utshani obuvulekile kanye nezingwe ezicashe emahlathini aphithizelayo emifuleni. Lolu hlu oluhlaba umxhwele lwezilwane ezinkulu ezidla ezinye lukhuthazwa yizimpisi ezinemigqa namabala, kanye nenqwaba yezinja zasendle zase-Afrika ezisengozini enkulu.
Ukwehlukahlukana okukhulu kwe-antelope yaseRuaha kubangelwa indawo yayo, okushintshela e-acacia savannah yaseMpumalanga Afrika kanye ne-miombo woodland belt yaseNingizimu Afrika. I-gazelle kaGrant kanye ne-lesser kudu kuvela lapha eningizimu yezindawo zazo, kanye ne-sable ne-roan antelope ehlobene ne-miombo, futhi ingenye yezindawo ezinkulu kakhulu zaseMpumalanga Afrika ze-greater kudu, uphawu lwepaki, oluhlukaniswa ngezimpondo ze-corkscrew zesilisa ezinkulu. Ukwehluka okufanayo kuphawulwe ohlwini lwezinyoni ezingu-450: izinhlobo ezifana ne-crested barbet - inyoni ekhangayo ephuzi nemnyama ezwakala ifana ne-southern bush - zenzeka eRuaha kanye nezilwane ezihlala eTanzania njenge-lovebird ephuzi ne-ashy starling.
