Jongomero Walking Safaris: Our full report

Jongomero Camp also run an excellent fly-camp.

Jongomero walking safari offers a simple bush experience whilst keeping a certain degree of luxury. A great way to break up your stay here is to spend a night or two sleeping out under the stars, and a couple of days on some of the best guided walks found anywhere in Tanzania.

Guests will leave Jongomero Camp after lunch on foot and walk to their new fly-camp. The camp is located near one of Ruaha National Park's seasonal sand rivers, which frequently has resident game walking through. You will arrive in time to have dinner around a campfire before spending your first night under the African stars.

You can retire to your dome shaped tent, which has comfortable mattresses and a mosquito net, which keeps the bugs away whilst enabling unobstructed views of the night sky. There are only three of these tents and so there is a maximum of six people at the camp at any one time, adding a feeling of exclusivity. Each tent has its own hammock and chairs outside as well as a hot bucket shower, a long drop toilet and a washstand with a basin. There is a canvas canopied communal mess area where guests can sit around the fireplace and watch the sun set with an iced drink in hand.

In the morning you will have breakfast as the sun rises before going on a long walk through the park. Ruaha National Park is home to some of the best game in the whole of Africa, seeing it on foot is a completely different experience to seeing it from the comfort of a 4 x 4. An armed ranger and a field guide take the walks, and their combined knowledge will ensure that you learn a huge amount about your surroundings.

Return to the camp before lunch and then go out on an afternoon walk or game drive, depending on your preference. Then spend one more night under the stars, listening to the sounds of the bush, before returning back to Jongomero Camp the following morning.

Our view

Doing a walking safari from Jongomero is highly recommended by the Expert Africa team. However it is not for everyone, so please give us a call if you are considering it.

Jessica Plumb

Country manager: Tanzania

Geographics

Location: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Ideal length of stay: 2-3 days
Directions: It is a two hour flight from Dar es Salaam, with the airstrip just 10 minutes from Jongomero Camp. Transfers are included from Jongomero airstrip to camp.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Children

Attitude towards children: 16+

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: The managers and a few of the staff at Jongomero are first-aid trained and there is a first-aid kit on site. For serious emergencies the camp can use the flying-doctor service.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: You will always be escorted by an askari (guard), as a precaution against wildlife. As Jongomero is so remote there is no risk of theft.
Fire safety

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: 0
Accepted payment on location: The camp prefers guests to use cash (dollars, pounds and euros) to settle bills. However, they will accept Visa and MasterCard as well as travellers’ cheques – though will add a 5% charge. Amex is not accepted.