Jabali Ridge: Our full report
Jabali Ridge is an exciting new luxury addition to Ruaha National Park.
It opened in September 2017, in a prime game viewing area with commanding views over the park and the Mwagusi River.Jabali Ridge is owned and managed by the same team who run a number of high quality safari camps across Tanzania; including neighbouring camp Kwihala. They have established an excellent reputation in Tanzania for their standards of guiding, service and food and as their flagship camp in the southern circuit Jabali is no different.
Jabali Ridge is set between rocky kopjes located in the northern area of Ruaha National Park. This is one of the best areas of the park for wildlife, and during the dry season large numbers of animals congregate in search for water. Ruaha is famous for its high lion population and sightings of elephant and giraffe are also common.
The lodge has eight bandas dotted between the boulders. They are extremely contemporary in design, with plenty of wood, stone and other natural materials. Each banda is completely open-sided to maximise the views, with louvered floor to ceiling shutters that can be closed during the evenings, or opened completely during the day. The rooms are quite minimalist in style and neutral, earthy colours are used throughout. The heavy wooden-framed king-sized beds are surrounded by stylish mosquito nets. Though if you prefer not to have a net around your bed (the ones at Jabali are quite heavy and so do restrict vision out into the room), you can instead request for netted shutters to be put in place around the edges of the room.
The furniture in the room is not always the most comfortable but it is very striking - think stylish metal chairs that look beautiful but that you can't sit in for more than an hour! Whilst outside each banda is a private veranda with a soft seating area, shaded by a chunky wooden fringe canopy. There is a large en-suite bathroom with a vast rain shower, separate loo, double sinks and complimentary toiletries.
The main quibble we had with the rooms at Jabali is that the louvered shutters that run round most sides of the bandas do not provide much privacy from neighbouring bandas. The lack of privacy is also evident when outside on the veranda, as a number of the bandas overlook each other due to poor spacing between them. The lodge have since installed sisal walling which has improved both room privacy and sound proofing.
Jabali Ridge has a spacious central lounge and bar, with a separate space for dining. As with the bandas, they are completely open-sided structures, and are set higher up the kopje so are afforded some of the best views from the lodge. The spaces are decorated in a neutral colour scheme with plenty of wood panelling, modern furnishings and striking lighting. There is an information area with a library containing a number of wildlife guides and natural history books, as well as novels to help you fill your siesta time.
One of the lodge's highlights is the beautiful stone infinity pool which offers panoramic views over Ruaha. Surrounded by wooden decking, there are also a number of sun loungers, a shaded seating area and a pop-up bar. In this area, there is also a small spa with a range of treatments on offer.
Activities at Jabali Ridge focus on 4WD game drives, either split into a morning and an afternoon session or doing an all day drive including a bush lunch. Guests can also go out on night drives here. There is also the possibility of doing walking safaris, lead by some particularly good walking guides, where you will head out on foot to discover some of Ruaha's smaller, less well-known wildlife.
Our view
Jabali Ridge aims to offer one of the most luxurious stays in Ruaha National Park and is really unique and striking in its design. The guiding, food and service are befitting of a truly high-end, well-run and stylish lodge. Initially there were few cases of 'style over substance' that did somewhat detract from the overall quality of the stay. On our previous visit we did not stay, and as such can not guarantee that these problems have been completely ironed out, however we did not experience any issues with privacy and noise as previously reported. The management were aware of previous criticisms and seem to be actively addressing them to improve guest experience. Jabali is a stunning addition to Ruaha, and certainly a highly luxurious option, but we would highly suggest discussing this lodge in more detail with us to see if it will be the right fit for your stay.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- 3-4 nights
- Directions
- Jabali Ridge is about a 45 minute drive from Msembe Airstrip.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- Jabali Ridge offers private dining, communal on request.
- Dining style
- Mixture of group dining and individual tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service is possible if requested.
- Drinks included
- Most drinks are included, with the exception of premium spirits, cellar wines and Champagne.
Special interests
- Luxury
- Jabali Ridge is an elegant retreat with beautiful views from every part of the property – a luxurious take on an African safari. This is easily one of the smartest properties ever built in Ruaha National Park!
- See ideas for Luxury in Tanzania
Children
- Attitude towards children
- The lodge has an age restriction of 5 years old but welcomes families with older children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- The lodge accepts children aged 5 and above.
- Equipment
- There is no special equipment for children.
- Generally recommended for children
- Jabali has a very adult atmosphere, is set over quite a large area and, with the exception of the swimming pool, does not have much provision to keep younger children occupied. We would recommend this lodge for older children or teenagers who will enjoy the luxury of the lodge and the game drives.
- Notes
- The lodge is set over a large area where big game regularly is seen; children must be under parental supervision at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Jabali Ridge
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Jabali Ridge have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
67% success
50% success
33% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- A very large solar farm is being built at Jabali Ridge to provide the camp with outstanding sustainable energy. There is also a backup generator.
- Communications
- Wi-Fi is available in all suites and communal areas.
- TV & radio
- There is no television or radio at the lodge.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- The bathrooms are fully plumbed and filtered water is available for drinking.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- All guides and managers are first-aid trained. There is first-aid equipment in camp and in all of the vehicles. For emergencies, Jabali is linked to the flying doctor service.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Askaris (guards) patrol the lodge and guests are escorted to their rooms, during hours of darkness.
- Fire safety
- There is a fire break around the lodge and fire extinguishers throughout.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included.
- Money
- Payment for any extras can be made in US dollars, Tanzanian shillings, British pounds or euros.
Other lodges in Ruaha National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Mdonya Old River Camp
Designed with simplicity in mind, Mdonya River Camp focuses on a great wilderness experience rather than creature comforts.
Mwagusi Safari Camp
Mwagusi is a long-established, permanent, tented safari camp, on an attractive bend of the seasonal Mwagusi River.
Kwihala Camp
Kwihala is a permanent tented camp in Ruaha National Park, offering a high level of comfort and guiding in a natural setting.
Ikuka Safari Camp
Upmarket and stylish, Ikuka Safari Camp is set high on an escarpment with spectacular panoramic views over Ruaha National Park.
Jongomero Camp
A stylish and luxurious camp in a remote part of Ruaha, Jongomero offers excellent guiding and service in a remote, wilderness area.
Kigelia Camp
Kigelia is a stylish tented camp, set amid a grove of sausage trees, and combining a simple set-up with comforts and luxury.
Kichaka Expeditions
In a remote corner of Ruaha, Kichaka is a private mobile camp focusing on superbly guided walking safaris.
Ruaha River Lodge
In a lovely location beside a rocky river, the unpretentious Ruaha River Lodge is the largest and most economical camp in Ruaha National Park.
Kichaka Zumbua
Kichaka Zumbua is a small, luxurious camp offering on outstanding walking safaris in a remote area of Ruaha.
Usangu Expedition Camp
Usangu Expedition Camp is a seasonal camp in the Usangu Wetlands – a remote and enchanting part of Ruaha National Park.
Jabali Private House
Jabali Private House in Ruaha National Park provides luxurious accommodation for private groups booked on an exclusive basis.
Jongomero Walking
Fly-camping and walking safaris from Jongomero Camp give you the chance to explore remote safari areas in Ruaha National Park.
Asanja Ruaha
Asanja Ruaha Ndembo is a smart new safari lodge in a picturesque setting overlooking the Great Ruaha River.
