Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park
505 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ruaha.
Traveller
UK
"My Jul 2013 trip"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 8 Jul 2013 and 16 Jul 2013
"A wonderful trip.
The two camps were both fantastic experiences and both very different in style, Mwagusi was fast paced, close up, rustic and informal, where as Beho Beho was slow paced, a bit more open plain and distant, luxury and formal.
The contrast in experiences enhanced our trip, excellent advice Liz!!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
The two camps were both fantastic experiences and both very different in style, Mwagusi was fast paced, close up, rustic and informal, where as Beho Beho was slow paced, a bit more open plain and distant, luxury and formal.
The contrast in experiences enhanced our trip, excellent advice Liz!!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs W & P family
UK
"My family's first safari trip."
I visited Tanzania between 6 Jul 2013 and 17 Jul 2013
"Although I have been on several safaris, this was my families first experience and I had several criteria.
A country I hadn't visited.
At least two camps which would give a wide range of habitat so that we could go on drives, walks and boats.
Game viewing without 50 other vehicles around
Small camps which concentrated less on luxury and more on the game viewing and the bush experience but without sleeping on campbeds and washing in buckets.
Guides who were enthusiastic and knowledgeable and who loved the animals and their country
Open vehicles and preferably ones with only 4 to 6 people.
Eleanor came up trumps in every respect. On day one, when we reached Selous camp after a stunning game drive from the airstrip, my son said "mum, if we go home now this will still have exceeded all my expectations "
Experience piled on experience - so many memorable moments - the matriarch elephant who decided to check out our vehicle and was literally eyeball to eyeball with Stella. The cheetahs strolling past us. The 8 lions on a fresh kill. The 2 hippos fighting on the bank within 50 yards of our bush breakfast.The giraffe kindergarden. The fish eagles and the goliath herons making catches.
Thank you Ellie , Expert Africa and all those fabulous people in Tanzania, from the taxi driver who picked us up and tried to teach us some Swahili, to the guides and trackers and staff at all the camps who loved their country and wanted us to love it too.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Maybe I'm undemanding but I think you are pretty damn good !" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
A country I hadn't visited.
At least two camps which would give a wide range of habitat so that we could go on drives, walks and boats.
Game viewing without 50 other vehicles around
Small camps which concentrated less on luxury and more on the game viewing and the bush experience but without sleeping on campbeds and washing in buckets.
Guides who were enthusiastic and knowledgeable and who loved the animals and their country
Open vehicles and preferably ones with only 4 to 6 people.
Eleanor came up trumps in every respect. On day one, when we reached Selous camp after a stunning game drive from the airstrip, my son said "mum, if we go home now this will still have exceeded all my expectations "
Experience piled on experience - so many memorable moments - the matriarch elephant who decided to check out our vehicle and was literally eyeball to eyeball with Stella. The cheetahs strolling past us. The 8 lions on a fresh kill. The 2 hippos fighting on the bank within 50 yards of our bush breakfast.The giraffe kindergarden. The fish eagles and the goliath herons making catches.
Thank you Ellie , Expert Africa and all those fabulous people in Tanzania, from the taxi driver who picked us up and tried to teach us some Swahili, to the guides and trackers and staff at all the camps who loved their country and wanted us to love it too.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Maybe I'm undemanding but I think you are pretty damn good !" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs P
Volcano
"Tanzanian trip, July 2013"
I visited Tanzania between 4 Jul 2013 and 21 Jul 2013
"We had a great trip, but there were a few things that could have made it even better.
The cancellation of the British Air flights to Dar turned out to be a bigger headache than we anticipated. Kenya Air service was not very good and the extra stop and layover time in Nairobi was frustrating. If others are going to Dar I'd suggest looking into other options.
We chose to be driven to Selous rather than fly. But that took 2 long days (7 hours in the car each day). When we arrived in Selous others told us that they often drove to Dar on a different road in about 6 hours. We would have missed Mikumi NP, but there really wasn't enough to see there to justify the longer drive.
We were really disappointed in Jongomero, although others there were very pleased with it. The upscale facilities, pool, etc. were enough to satisfy others (many who seem to be booked into a Siwandu/Jongomero/Ras Kutani trip), most who seemed to be on their first safari. We selected Jongomero because of the great guiding on walks that was supposed to be there. But that guide (Molly) had left. Game there was very skittish and vehicle-shy. After a fantastic 3 days at Kwihala, Jongomero was a real letdown. We took a chance on the place, knowing that Molly had left after we booked it. That turned out to be a mistake.
But on a positive note, our 3 days at Kwihala and 4 days at Chole Mjini were absolutely spectacular and the memories from there are what will stay with us from this trip." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
The cancellation of the British Air flights to Dar turned out to be a bigger headache than we anticipated. Kenya Air service was not very good and the extra stop and layover time in Nairobi was frustrating. If others are going to Dar I'd suggest looking into other options.
We chose to be driven to Selous rather than fly. But that took 2 long days (7 hours in the car each day). When we arrived in Selous others told us that they often drove to Dar on a different road in about 6 hours. We would have missed Mikumi NP, but there really wasn't enough to see there to justify the longer drive.
We were really disappointed in Jongomero, although others there were very pleased with it. The upscale facilities, pool, etc. were enough to satisfy others (many who seem to be booked into a Siwandu/Jongomero/Ras Kutani trip), most who seemed to be on their first safari. We selected Jongomero because of the great guiding on walks that was supposed to be there. But that guide (Molly) had left. Game there was very skittish and vehicle-shy. After a fantastic 3 days at Kwihala, Jongomero was a real letdown. We took a chance on the place, knowing that Molly had left after we booked it. That turned out to be a mistake.
But on a positive note, our 3 days at Kwihala and 4 days at Chole Mjini were absolutely spectacular and the memories from there are what will stay with us from this trip." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
Bristol
"Southern Tanzania Safari"
I visited Tanzania between 26 Jan 2013 and 8 Feb 2013
"Fantastic! The opportunity to stay in 2 different parks (Ruaha and Selous) was very good, as they have a quite different feel to them and also different weather. Going at low season was beneficial to us as we received more personal attention than if we were just part of a crowd. It also meant that there were not loads of other safari vehicles at a sighting.
We did experience some rainfall in both parks, though more in Ruaha, but this did not unduly affect our activities and did not present a problem. We had some excellent sightings even though the bush was green and leafy, and it was actually quite good to have them scattered throughout the parks rather than being all in one place next to a water hole.
Both camps were excellent, in their different ways.
Can't wait to go again!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, none." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
We did experience some rainfall in both parks, though more in Ruaha, but this did not unduly affect our activities and did not present a problem. We had some excellent sightings even though the bush was green and leafy, and it was actually quite good to have them scattered throughout the parks rather than being all in one place next to a water hole.
Both camps were excellent, in their different ways.
Can't wait to go again!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, none." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs F
Newbury
"Good trip very well organised by Expert Africa"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 19 Jan 2013 and 27 Jan 2013
"Expert Africa's assistance when our flight was delayed overnight was very good and helped rescue the first part of our holiday.
All of the arrangements worked according to plan." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 2 on a Tanzania safari
All of the arrangements worked according to plan." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 2 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs B & Mrs W
Oxford
"A dream experience"
I visited Tanzania between 30 Dec 2012 and 8 Jan 2013
"Just brilliant"
Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W-J
UK
"My Dec 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania between 27 Dec 2012 and 6 Jan 2013
"Another wonderful trip, our 12th (!) with Expert Africa.This was probably the simplest to arrange - thank you Ellie.
Although Mwagusi lost one paw in the marking for the temperature of the food it was definitely our favourite of the two camps - to the extent that Jane cried on having to leave!
Trip 13 is booked and 14 in the planning stages!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep going - we even toyed with the idea of trip 15 tonight." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Although Mwagusi lost one paw in the marking for the temperature of the food it was definitely our favourite of the two camps - to the extent that Jane cried on having to leave!
Trip 13 is booked and 14 in the planning stages!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep going - we even toyed with the idea of trip 15 tonight." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The K family
USA
"My Dec 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 1 Dec 2012 and 14 Dec 2012
"The planning and execution of the holiday was very well organized. We were well prepared and had very few problems that could not be solved.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No,your services were very good.
Will you be opening another similar service for Asia or South America? I would be interested!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No,your services were very good.
Will you be opening another similar service for Asia or South America? I would be interested!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms P
London
"Fantastic holiday"
I visited Tanzania between 18 Nov 2012 and 26 Nov 2012
"If you want a stunning park with lots of animals and very few people, Ruaha may well be for you.
I do recommend trying to stay both at Jongomero and at one of the camps in the north is you can: the landscapes (and weather patterns) are different, and it's a wonderful way to get a good sense for the sheer vastness of this wonderful place. Highly recommended." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
I do recommend trying to stay both at Jongomero and at one of the camps in the north is you can: the landscapes (and weather patterns) are different, and it's a wonderful way to get a good sense for the sheer vastness of this wonderful place. Highly recommended." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs K
Wiltshire
"Ruaha-a Dream come true"
I visited Tanzania between 15 Nov 2012 and 30 Nov 2012
"A superb safari which expert africa helped put together at short notice with several changes (Thankyou Angela), which enabled us to return to Tanzania with some intrepidation (could it still be as good ?). It was even better and whilst there are some issues in the modern world of conservation, we were thrilled with our experiences and the enthruing discussions around the fireplace in the evenings.
The most lions we have seen in 20 years of visiting Africa and these parks are a great place to see them.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
The most lions we have seen in 20 years of visiting Africa and these parks are a great place to see them.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
505
reviews of Ruaha by travellers since August 2007
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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.
