Reviews of Ikuka Safari Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
61 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Ikuka Safari Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
The team at Ikuka thought of every detail, always anticipating what you might need before you did. The food was fantastic, the accommodation was beautiful, and of course the safari was great.
We went to Ruaha as we wanted to see leopards and ended up with 6 sightings of them!
Every member of the staff from our guide, Luka, to Seif in the restaurant and Chavie and all the guys who helped us walk to and from the room were so friendly and welcoming (and knowledgable about the area and wildlife).
We definitely want to go back!" See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania; 2n in Zanzibar
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
From the welcome as we entered the camp property to the community cocktail time and dinners to the incredibly delicious food to the dreamy accommodations! I found my dream bathroom overlooking the wilderness - listening to elephants munch on trees while brushing my teeth!
Habibu, our guide, was phenomenal with his wealth of knowledge, kind spirit, and sense of humor. Throughout a few precarious moments with up close lions and elephants, our safety was always in check thanks to his assuring words and calm.
Mark and Chevy and all the staff were so fun to get to know and learn of their personal stories related to the lodge, their journey to Tanzania, their homes and families, and their commitment to preserving and sharing the beauty of Ruaha.
The decor of the camp was impeccable and the service wonderfully consistent." See all these reviews: 13n in Tanzania
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
The views are spectacular and the thatched rooms very spacious, well equipped and comfortable. It is really difficult to find anything to fault, food was great as was the service from the willing friendly team. If there is a downside, the location requires a 20 minute trip down to the park and back on every drive which is actually a fair chunk of evening drives in particular. This is very minor though.
The wildlife was excellent, both mammals and birds, and even though we stayed for five days, it was a wrench to move on. It was particularly good to catch the wild dogs. Unbeknownst to us the pack spent one night sleeping under the water tower in the camp!" See all these reviews: 17n in Tanzania
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
At this camp we had our own driver/guide for all the four days. He was excellent, full of useful knowledge and tried really hard to proved sightings of all sorts of animals and birds, often going off the main routes and into the bush to follow fresh lion tracks or animal calls. With other camps in the area, guides did call each other when they spotted an animal. So when a pride of lions was found lunching on an Impala, our guide was able to take us there.
Likewise, when a leopard was spotted, our guide changed plans and headed off in that direction and we were lucky to have the leopard walk right by our vehicle. This is not to give the impression there were lots of vehicles converging at these spots all at once, there weren't. For most of the time we never encountered anyone else, so enjoyed the landscape and animal sightings in isolation and peace. Breakfasts and sundowners out in the wild were a great start and end to the day.
Loved every minute!" See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 6n in Zanzibar
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
This was almost certainly the best camp we have ever been in on safari. The managers, Tommy and Chevy, could not have done more to make our stay completely unforgettable. Everything was thought through in order to make the stay memorable. They and the staff were always there to see us off and to welcome us back, hot water bottles, hand warmers, water, drinks all provided as a matter of course.
Our guide Festo, equally, was fantastic both as a really knowledgeable and professional guide and also great company when out on game drives." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
The vehicle that I was in broke down 3 times, once in the morning when it didnt really impact on the drive. It was apparently repaired over lunch only to break down again twice in the afternoon. This did have a considerable impact on the afternoons drive and it also affected other guests as their vehicle was sent to push start my stricken vehicle. This was poor, the camp apologised for this.
The other problem I had was with my guide, Mashaka. I made it very clear that I did not want to be at a sighting with many other vehicles and that I was quite happy to see the small things as a consequence of this. This is not what a happened, he was also constantly on his phone, radio, text messages etc I am sure this was to other guides in the park finding where to go, there was a leopard sighting that we drove quite a distance to see and there were 10 vehicles already there jostling for position. This is not my idea of a good safari. I am sure he was knowlegable but he repeated the same facts to me everytime about any animal. I did not learn anything!
My biggest gripe with him was on my penultimate drive. We spotted a leopard on the ground, rather than putting the vehicle in a good place for me to see the leopard, he called and radioed other guides to tell them, this went for some 4 to 5 minutes with me asking several times to stop and to move the vehicle. He eventually did this and put me in a good position to see and photography the leopard.
Then almost immediately the other vehicles started arriving and he moved so I no longer had a sighting. I did express my great displeasure at this. I am an experienced safari goer and have never had a guide behave in this way, they have always ensured that I have the best possible view first, and after a short while ask if it is OK to call the sight in to others. I did not feel I was this guides priorty, the other guides where. I was so insenced by this that on return to camp I spoke to the manager, who apologised and agreed this was not how he should have behaved.
The above has left me with a very negative view of Ikuka." See all these reviews: 10n in Tanzania
Ikuka responded by sincerely apologising to this traveller for this guide's poor behaviour which they said was completely out of character. They entirely agreed with her – and with Expert Africa – that this was not the safari etiquette they expect from their guides. As a result of this feedback, they took time with their guiding team to look at what this traveller reported on her experience, and to ensure the highest standards of guiding and guest experience would always be provided.
Regarding the vehicle breakdowns, the camp told us there was an issue with the starter motor, which was resolved during her stay, but they apologised for the impact this had on her experience.
Expert Africa continues to have the highest confidence in Ikuka, based on our long, personal contact with the owner-managers. Our traveller feedback for Ikuka has been overwhelmingly positive, including specifically for this guide. We believe it is an excellent camp, and while we were unhappy to read this report, we were convinced, after communicating about it at length with Ikuka, that it was an unusual case that does not represent the camp's standards of guiding.
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
We spent four nights at Ikuka and we had an excellent time. The standard of guiding is generally very good and we saw plently of animals including lions several times and three leopard sightings.
The best of the latter being on our last morning, en route to the airport, which our guide personally tracked down having noticed footprints on the road." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
The rooms were very big and every room has a nice view from the top of the hill.
The decoration of the camp is marvellous.
The food was excellent. We didn't expect such a good chief in that camp. Every meal was really great and very nice decorated on the plate.
We loved the big common table." See all these reviews: 21n in Tanzania
"Ikuka Safari Camp review"
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