Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park
505 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ruaha.
Michelle Chandler
USA
"My Jun 2015 trip"
I visited Tanzania between 16 Jun 2015 and 19 Jun 2015
"Wonderful and timely feedback by James.
A perfect experience in ALL aspects!" Read full review: 3 nights in Africa; 3 on a Tanzania safari
A perfect experience in ALL aspects!" Read full review: 3 nights in Africa; 3 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
Golden CO
"Wonderful Holiday"
I visited Zambia and 4 other countries between 9 Jun 2015 and 18 Jul 2015
"Our safari to eastern and southern Africa was absolutely stunning.
My family has an active, adventurous spirit, which Claire Scott (Expert Africa) picked up on right away as we discussed options nearly nine months prior. Accordingly, Claire recommended camps that met our desires and expectations. I cannot say enough about how easy it was to work with Expert Africa and how efficiently our holiday played out. Complex logistics were well planned and execution was seamless. Well done!" Read full review: 39 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
My family has an active, adventurous spirit, which Claire Scott (Expert Africa) picked up on right away as we discussed options nearly nine months prior. Accordingly, Claire recommended camps that met our desires and expectations. I cannot say enough about how easy it was to work with Expert Africa and how efficiently our holiday played out. Complex logistics were well planned and execution was seamless. Well done!" Read full review: 39 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
J & M
Portland
"Our first trip to Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 31 May 2015 and 9 Jun 2015
"This was a trip we've been thinking about for 15 years, but when it finally came time to pull the trigger, I honestly didn't know where to start.
James was outstanding from the very beginning — helping me to shape the trip and offering some great suggestions on when and where to go. He was super patient with all my questions along the way, and we always felt like we were in the best hands." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
James was outstanding from the very beginning — helping me to shape the trip and offering some great suggestions on when and where to go. He was super patient with all my questions along the way, and we always felt like we were in the best hands." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
MW&JS
UK
"Another great trip"
I visited Tanzania between 8 Feb 2015 and 19 Feb 2015
"Great Trip - with help from Expert Africa we managed to avoid the hoards of vehicles in Serengeti and find the sort of tented camps I like best and the return to Ruaha is always a great way to end a safari.
I still feel the guiding at Kwihala is streets ahead of other camps which were good nevertheless" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
I still feel the guiding at Kwihala is streets ahead of other camps which were good nevertheless" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Canada
"Great experiences in Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 7 Feb 2015 and 24 Feb 2015
"In February we spent 3 nights in Selous, 4 nights in Ruaha, 6 nights in Paje (Zanzibar), 2 nights on Chumbe Island, and the final night in Stone Town (Zanzibar). Our trip was full of great experiences - totally unique from any of the travelling we've done in the past. This was our first trip to Africa.
I am happy that we went to both Selous and Ruaha. We experienced the most diversity and abundance of animals in the Selous (we stayed at Azura Selous), but appreciated being able to sit and watch the interaction of the 'social' animals (lions, baboons and elephants) in the Ruaha. If I was forced to just go only to one place, I would reluctantly say Selous because of the more wilderness aspect of it. We didn't see a single 4x4 when we were out in the Selous, while in Ruaha we probably saw 6 on average per day. I understand that this is nothing compared to northern Tanzania, and is one of the main reasons we chose Selous and Ruaha.
The Tanzanians that we met were all extremely welcoming and hospitable. They all wanted us to go home as ambassadors for their country. We felt totally spoiled and were willing to overlook disappointments we had with some of the food because of this.
I'm glad that we spent some time shopping in Stone Town as it was a great place to pick up inexpensive home décor items, but I probably could have done that in a few hours and didn't need to overnight there.
Coming from Canada, we found the food and drink prices to be very inexpensive on Zanzibar. Watching the kite surfing in Paje was really interesting and made spending hours on the beach enjoyable." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
I am happy that we went to both Selous and Ruaha. We experienced the most diversity and abundance of animals in the Selous (we stayed at Azura Selous), but appreciated being able to sit and watch the interaction of the 'social' animals (lions, baboons and elephants) in the Ruaha. If I was forced to just go only to one place, I would reluctantly say Selous because of the more wilderness aspect of it. We didn't see a single 4x4 when we were out in the Selous, while in Ruaha we probably saw 6 on average per day. I understand that this is nothing compared to northern Tanzania, and is one of the main reasons we chose Selous and Ruaha.
The Tanzanians that we met were all extremely welcoming and hospitable. They all wanted us to go home as ambassadors for their country. We felt totally spoiled and were willing to overlook disappointments we had with some of the food because of this.
I'm glad that we spent some time shopping in Stone Town as it was a great place to pick up inexpensive home décor items, but I probably could have done that in a few hours and didn't need to overnight there.
Coming from Canada, we found the food and drink prices to be very inexpensive on Zanzibar. Watching the kite surfing in Paje was really interesting and made spending hours on the beach enjoyable." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Steve H
Cumbria
"My January 2015 safari"
I visited Tanzania between 20 Jan 2015 and 31 Jan 2015
"Thoroughly enjoyable and memorable 10 day safari. Everything was great and there was absolutely nothing more I could have wished for.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service
I can't comment on the quotation because I haven't compared with any other. I have always found Expert Africa to be so good at organising my trips that I would not dream of contacting anyone else! I have no doubt that they are good value for such an excellent service and I have recommended them to a number of fellow travellers on safari who seemed less impressed with their agents.
To know that everything will run like clockwork from booking to returning home removes all the hassle from travelling to remote and exciting destinations and leaves us free to enjoy every minute of the experience.
The feedback form seems to cover everything that travellers might wish to raise.
Thanks for the helpful guidance and wonderful service" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service
I can't comment on the quotation because I haven't compared with any other. I have always found Expert Africa to be so good at organising my trips that I would not dream of contacting anyone else! I have no doubt that they are good value for such an excellent service and I have recommended them to a number of fellow travellers on safari who seemed less impressed with their agents.
To know that everything will run like clockwork from booking to returning home removes all the hassle from travelling to remote and exciting destinations and leaves us free to enjoy every minute of the experience.
The feedback form seems to cover everything that travellers might wish to raise.
Thanks for the helpful guidance and wonderful service" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The Y family
Vermont
"my jan 2015 to Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 19 Jan 2015 and 30 Jan 2015
"It was a 10 out of 10. A safari is a trip like no other and staying in camps makes the experience so much richer.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Your website is really good. And Claire was one of the best travel people I have worked with.
When I return to Africa, there is no question I will be calling EA!!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Your website is really good. And Claire was one of the best travel people I have worked with.
When I return to Africa, there is no question I will be calling EA!!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr J
Coventry
"Best trip yet to Africa."
I visited Tanzania between 18 Jan 2015 and 4 Feb 2015
"Brilliant trip which we thoroughly enjoyed. We wanted to see wild Africa and that is what we did.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Give me a discount on my next trip!!!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Give me a discount on my next trip!!!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr T
Suffolk
"My Jan 2015 trip to Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 17 Jan 2015 and 30 Jan 2015
"Trip met or exceeded my expectations. All went smoothly except the pre-booking of aisle seats for me. Apparently it did not appear in Kenya Airways system and I had to do it at checkin.
Also I found it very tedious at the end of a long trip to realise I would have to wait over 5 hours at Dar even though an earlier flight to Nairobi was available. I understand the need to give a safety margin on travel out of the bush, but I thought this was excessive and would have preferred to wait in Nairobi." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
Also I found it very tedious at the end of a long trip to realise I would have to wait over 5 hours at Dar even though an earlier flight to Nairobi was available. I understand the need to give a safety margin on travel out of the bush, but I thought this was excessive and would have preferred to wait in Nairobi." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
Berwick
"We wouldn't have changed a thing"
I visited Tanzania between 13 Jan 2015 and 28 Jan 2015
"After a safari to Botswana in September 2013 we decided to visit Tanzania in green season, deliberately targeting Selous and Ruaha as a less busy area. Both locations far exceeded expectations and offered a very varied landscape with wildlife to match.
Our three camps were different in character and in how they operate. We were so glad we spent five nights at each as this allowed time to fully explore each area as well as getting to know the guides and staff. We didn't travel with expectations of seeing particular animals and with the bush in full growth thought sightings might be more elusive. However, we saw everything we thought we might see and much more. The number and variety of birds, including migrants, was stunning.
Everything went like clockwork, including camps being aware that we are vegetarian (not a problem!). Without exception staff were friendly, welcoming, informative and helpful. The time flew by and more than 3,000 photographs later, we were sad to leave. We wouldn't have changed a thing." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Tanzania safari
Our three camps were different in character and in how they operate. We were so glad we spent five nights at each as this allowed time to fully explore each area as well as getting to know the guides and staff. We didn't travel with expectations of seeing particular animals and with the bush in full growth thought sightings might be more elusive. However, we saw everything we thought we might see and much more. The number and variety of birds, including migrants, was stunning.
Everything went like clockwork, including camps being aware that we are vegetarian (not a problem!). Without exception staff were friendly, welcoming, informative and helpful. The time flew by and more than 3,000 photographs later, we were sad to leave. We wouldn't have changed a thing." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
505
reviews of Ruaha by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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Where to stay in Ruaha
Our suggestions for safari camps in Ruaha National Park
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.
Jabali Ridge
One of Ruaha's most luxurious camps, Jabali Ridge nestles among kopjes and baobabs, with beautiful views of the surrounding area.
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.
