Reviews of Mwagusi Safari Camp

"The size, layout and location of the Banda in which we stayed was excellent, overlooking the dry river bed with a variety of wildlife wandering around.

The creative dining arrangements whereby different locations away from the main dining area were used each evening (in the river bed and in the bush) is a brilliant initiative and very atmospheric.

All staff were both friendly and helpful and we liked the initiative whereby staff rotate through several of the front and back of house functions whilst training to be safari guides.

Laundry service was outstanding - very helpful to have and turnaround was extremely quick.

No hot water in the sink although plenty for showers. We understand that the solar power may not be able to cope with the provision of extra hot water to the sinks but it did make shaving slightly less pleasant." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar

"We had a superb time at Mwagusi. It was partially because of all the wildlife we saw and partially because of the hospitality of the management and staff of Mwagusi.

This camp had really great communal meals with a more African flare. I was always going back for seconds at lunch.

There was one guest during our visit though that was a chronic complainer. She should have never gone on safari. Her expectations were all wrong so if you read any degrading comments about this wonderful camp disregard them.

We saw 3 different prides of lions and fortunately (for me) missed the actual giraffe kill but saw the hunt and subsequent feast. All in all this camp was one of my favorite of the 6 times I've been to the African continent." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 2n in Zanzibar

"There is something about the location of Mwagusi on the riverbank of the Mwagusi river because, in the time we were there, it was an absolute magnet for game! From our banda we saw elephant, zebra, impala, baboon and hyena, but around the camp we saw a pack of Wild Dog on two different days and also two prides of lions walked past while we were having dinner in the bush!! Not bad going...

We stayed at Mwagusi for the second leg of the Southern CIrcuit for our honeymoon and had an absolutely brilliant time. When you enter you can really feel that the camp is geared towards giving you a true experience of Ruaha. The camp is elegently rustic, stretching along the side of the river to give the best views of any marauding animals as they go down to drink. The bandas are semi-stone with an inner tent and a very comfortable hammock with views over the riverbed. The food is very good and buffet style, we definitely didn't go hungry! Dinner is served by the brilliant staff in different locations around the camp, which certainly adds to the experience!

On the drives the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Mwagusi uses a set up where each car has both a driver and a guide. This means that you have the guide's 100% attention and two pairs of eyes to spot the things we could not!

Overall we had a wonderful stay at Mwagusi. It is a true wildlife lover's experience and will certainly not disappoint for anyone who wants to make the most of Ruaha!" See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar

"Huge heart felt thanks to James and his team, excellent service from start to finish. Good to also meet a member of Expert Africa team (Lyndsey) on site, purely by chance.

Chris Fox who owns the camp made us feel very welcome, and was an excellent host, with lots of tales to tell around the camp fire at night.

The food was outstanding, and plenty of choice, all beautifully cooked and presented. Two guests had an anniversary during their visit and a special cake and singing was done as a surprise by all the staff. Baldun's singing was superb.

All the staff were extremely friendly, polite and did everything they could to make the stay a real home from home. I cannot praise Jimmy and Abdullah enough, with their keen eyes and driving skills we saw many, many animals. Wild dogs, which we were very lucky to see as so very rare, a lion hunting, hyena, leopard, elephants, giraffe, crocodile, hippo, to name just some of them, and most of these each day of our four day stay.

We both now have the Africa bug and would love one day to return.

Erica, the site manager was very kind, and accommodating in helping us with anything we wished to know. A very genuine experience, where we felt like family members rather than guests.

Mwaguis is not a holiday, its a experience, and one that will stay with you for life. Please go." See all these reviews: 6n in Tanzania

"This is one of our favourite camps in Africa - the only one we have visited 3 times!

Why do we like it? It's kept its integrity over the years. It feels simple and comfortable (very comfortable) and you really do feel you are in the bush - no swimming pools or spas here! It also has the very best guiding. This all stems from the vision and commitment of the camp's owner, Chris Fox, who has created a very special feel here on the banks of the dry Mwagusi riverbed.

Huge thatched rooms with curved verandas overlooking the river, only solar power, and a bedroom area that zips into a tent at night to keep out curious mosquitos. The team here are fantastic - many of them have been here a long time as there is a real training programme for staff, many of whom are from the local area. The food is great and there are many surprises as the location for dinner changes every night.

The guiding is terrific - the staff really go the distance for you. We saw wild dog, lion, hyena, giraffe, zebra, and loads of elephants including many babies - and this was at the very beginning of the dry season when the game is a bit harder to spot.

Definitely a camp with an individual feel - something to be treasured." See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania

"I arrived at Mwagusi Safari camp as a female solo traveller on June 8th, 2016 and what can I say, I fell in love! This was my first safari experience and I could not have chosen better. I arrived very early in the season and for a couple of days I had the good fortune of having the camp to myself, which was a lot of fun!

The camp itself is located on a beautiful riverbed and every tent overlooks the river. The tent itself is amazing, super comfortable and has an adjoining bathroom in the back of the tent. The décor is very nice, very traditional and all made from natural elements. The camp is located in Ruaha National Park, which is also incredibly beautiful, with many boabab trees dotting the landscape and many wild animals and beautiful species of birds roaming the park.

Asides from the beauty of the camp and park, the staff at Mwagusi was incredible. Erica made sure that I was well taken care of and made me feel like part of the family. Kanu, who came to wake me up in the morning for my early morning drives, brought me coffee and the most amazing biscuits I have ever had. He also made sure all my laundry was perfectly folded and my tent was in perfect order. My guide Jimmy and my driver Dula, who I spent almost five days with, made my stay at Mwagusi one of the most special times of my life. Jimmy was always kind and attentive and his knowledge of wildlife in Ruaha is amazing. He explained animal and bird behaviour to me in such great detail I would have to read many books to learn what I learnt from him.The rest of the staff at Mwagusi was also super nice and always had a smile for me. The food was great too.

I would highly recommend going early in the season like I did. I had been told you do not see as many animals as later in the season but I had some amazing sightings (including wildogs and a leopard). The weather is not as hot during the day (it is quite cool in the morning), there is less dust, and we rarely saw any other cars within the park.

Five star review - I would go back in a minute!" See all these reviews: 10n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar

"An excellent stay, particularly after the flash floods which hit the camp only a week before we got there." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania

"We had not planned to visit Mwagusi Safari Camp ( had been there on two previous occasions and had been very slightly disappointed on our second visit ) but the unusually heavy rains had caused our chosen camp to close. Mwagusi was back to the original fantastic camp that we had visited the first time. Could it really be that one member ( now departed) of the management team had made such a difference.?

The bandas are fantastic set along a river bank with some good game viewing from the comfort of a well appointed sitting area.The sleeping area is tented so that there is no need for mosquito nets which is nice and there is a really spacious dressing area and en suite bathroom with all the hot water you could need. The whole unit is enclosed within reed and thatch.

On this visit we were lulled to sleep by the raging waters of the Mwagusi River which at less wet times is a sand river.

The food, as always ,was very good with loads of different vegetable dishes available which made another guest very happy as she was a vegetarian!!

The awful weather recently experienced in the area has taken a serious toll on the roads and as Ruaha is a National Park off roading is not an option this meant that on a number of occasions vehicles got stuck in mud and had to be towed or dug out - all part of the adventure but not one that you would normally experience in Ruaha!! Geofrey, our guide, and Isyaaah ,our driver did
sterling job

Geofrey's guiding was as good as it was the last time he guided us even with the challenging conditions of poor tracks, tall grasses and very thick foliage. He even managed to find us leopard on two occasions though the first sighting was very brief but he made up for that by finding us not one but two leopard on the second sighting and we were able to observe them for quite sometime.

Our stay was enhanced even more by the fact that Chris Fox was at the camp - his enthusiasm and passion for the wildlife, the Ruaha and the people is amazing and infectious and this is reflected in all the staff at the camp who are all helpful and charming and even those with only a little English wanted to share their knowledge with the guests. You cannot fail to enjoy your experiences in Ruaha after talking with Chris and his staff.

Having had a slight reservation about visiting Mwagusi for a third time we now cannot wait to visit for a fourth time and would not hesitate it recommending it." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania

"The camp had been flooded just days prior to our arrival, but due to the hard work of the staff you would never have known.

We have rarely encountered such good guiding ( Geoffrey) and the staff were so very friendly and helpful, Food excellent and we would certainly like to revisit this camp again" See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania

"Mwagusi is a fantastic safari camp. It is very authentic, relaxed and has a great athmosphere. Very comfortable tents which blend perfectly in the environment. Very good beds with all types of cushions.

The food is excellent, a lot of vegetables and salads. The buffet way of presenting is a great surplus value. The communal dining at different outdoor locations (the riverbed f.e.) is one of our best memories. Breakfast with the legendary cinnamon rolls is also excellent.

But the best in Mwagusi are the activities. Ruaha is a hidden gem, with it's dramatic scenery and a lot of game which isn't shy at all. We even saw leopard twice. The guiding was very informative, Isaac pointed out animals we would have easily missed.

We did the walking safari along the Ruaha river, which I would highly recommend." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania