Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park
510 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ruaha.
Mr & Mrs R
Hants
"Southern Tanzania - great holiday!"
I visited Tanzania between 8 Sep 2012 and 21 Sep 2012
"We started with 4 nights at Mdonye Old River Camp in Ruaha, a simple but comfortable and friendly camp, before moving on to the excellent Beho Beho in Selous. Both camps provided excellent game viewing, supported by knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides.
Both camps have significant wildlife in their immediate areas but both are some distance from the permanent wet areas that attract most animals during the dry season. If you accept this (as we did), you will have a excellent holiday at these camps - but if you want to minimise your travelling, other camps might, in our view, be more suitable.
We then had 3 nights on the coast at Ras Kutani - a very comfortable, friendly and laid-back location for a couple of days relaxation.
The internal logistics worked excellently with the Coastal Aviation flights all being more or less on time (or even early).
However our return BA flight was delayed by over 2 days due to mechanical problems which resulted in an unexpected (and unwanted) weekend in Dar es Salaam - a situation compounded by a lack of information from BA on the status of the repairs.
Despite that final hiccup, this was an excellent holiday in a great safari area - and a complete contrast to the more popular and crowded north of Tanzania." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Both camps have significant wildlife in their immediate areas but both are some distance from the permanent wet areas that attract most animals during the dry season. If you accept this (as we did), you will have a excellent holiday at these camps - but if you want to minimise your travelling, other camps might, in our view, be more suitable.
We then had 3 nights on the coast at Ras Kutani - a very comfortable, friendly and laid-back location for a couple of days relaxation.
The internal logistics worked excellently with the Coastal Aviation flights all being more or less on time (or even early).
However our return BA flight was delayed by over 2 days due to mechanical problems which resulted in an unexpected (and unwanted) weekend in Dar es Salaam - a situation compounded by a lack of information from BA on the status of the repairs.
Despite that final hiccup, this was an excellent holiday in a great safari area - and a complete contrast to the more popular and crowded north of Tanzania." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss D
Worksop
"Our September trip to Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 5 Sep 2012 and 14 Sep 2012
"In a word, fabulous!
We have already decided to return in a couple of years time. Everyone in Africa was so very friendly and they made our trip into the fantastic memories we will cherish." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
We have already decided to return in a couple of years time. Everyone in Africa was so very friendly and they made our trip into the fantastic memories we will cherish." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs E
Surrey
"My Aug 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania between 28 Aug 2012 and 7 Sep 2012
"Overall an awesome trip which lived up to the recommendations made by Expert Africa based our requirements.
Many thanks for organising yet another great tailor made holiday." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Many thanks for organising yet another great tailor made holiday." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Bristol
"My Aug 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania between 28 Aug 2012 and 14 Sep 2012
"The trip was well organised and we liked the advised sequence of camps. We especially enjoyed the land transfers between Jongomero and Mwagusi and Selous and Beho Beho."
Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The C family
S London
"A wonderful holiday well organised"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 7 Aug 2012 and 22 Aug 2012
"This is the fourth time we have booked an African holiday with you (the first back in 1997 when it was simply Sunvil) and every time you have come up trumps.
You really know what you're talking about and I have the greatest faith in your judgement on camp choice and in your operations. Uganda next I think!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
You really know what you're talking about and I have the greatest faith in your judgement on camp choice and in your operations. Uganda next I think!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr R & Ms J
N London
"Our trip was everything we wanted and more!"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 17 Jul 2012 and 29 Jul 2012
"The trip was really well paced with enough time in each place to feel like you had enjoyed everything on offer. Also a great mix of relaxation focussed places and camps who excelled at giving a really excellent safarii experience, plus enough time at the end for some culture and history.
I think we both came away feeling we wouldn't have wanted anything else in our honeymoon and wouldn't have changed a thing." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
I think we both came away feeling we wouldn't have wanted anything else in our honeymoon and wouldn't have changed a thing." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The W family
Thatcham
"Brilliant first trip to Africa!"
I visited Tanzania between 13 Jul 2012 and 22 Jul 2012
"This was the first trip to Tanzania, or indeed Africa, for me and my husband. My daughters, who were with us, have been before though. We had the most brilliant time. My daughters and husband climbed Kilimanjaro then flew down to Ras Kutani to meet me and have a day or so to recover. It was a perfect place for that! Loved the monkeys there! Expert Africa did brilliantly in recommending Ruaha and Selous for our safari time. Neither had hordes of other vehicles rushing round and the former gave some wonderful close encounters with the wildlife whilst The Selous was such a beautiful landscape. Both Mdonya and Beho Beho were wonderful experiences and I would happily return there in a trice. Expert Africa also kindly arranged a road transfer for me to Ras Kutani so I was able to see some of 'normal' life on the way.
All of us felt it was a very special and exciting holiday and I cannot thank Expert Africa enough for their help in creating such a good experience. Hopefully that will be the first of many African adventures we have with you!" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
All of us felt it was a very special and exciting holiday and I cannot thank Expert Africa enough for their help in creating such a good experience. Hopefully that will be the first of many African adventures we have with you!" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The A family
Suffolk
"My Jul 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 12 Jul 2012 and 27 Jul 2012
"Brilliant experience - need to invent some new adjectives
Holiday of a lifetime
Very well organised, with camp sites and hotels taking real care to ensure you were getting the most out of the experience
The guides in Kwihala were world class going way beyond the call of duty - not that they saw it as a duty
It shows how important it is to do your research because the camps were very different and complimentary." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Holiday of a lifetime
Very well organised, with camp sites and hotels taking real care to ensure you were getting the most out of the experience
The guides in Kwihala were world class going way beyond the call of duty - not that they saw it as a duty
It shows how important it is to do your research because the camps were very different and complimentary." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr I
Kent
"Some good sightings: not the best destination"
I visited Tanzania between 26 Jun 2012 and 6 Jul 2012
"Some very good wildlife sightings and scenery, particularly in Ruaha - a good place for lion, elephant and giraffe. The Mdonya Old River Camp was good, the camps in the Selous less so. The Selous is a reasonable choice for your first safari, particularly if not travelling alone, but I think less suitable for experienced safari goers or those travelling solo. The travelling takes up quite a lot of time and coastal aviation are not that reliable. Overall I would consider Zambia a better destination than Southern Tanzania.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I'm slightly biased (and lucky) in having been to Zambia on safari, which is much more laid bad, good for individuals and where you see similar species. There seems to be a lot more hassle visiting Tanzania - Dar International Airport is one of the worst (worse than Lusaka) and coastal aviation are very unreliable." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I'm slightly biased (and lucky) in having been to Zambia on safari, which is much more laid bad, good for individuals and where you see similar species. There seems to be a lot more hassle visiting Tanzania - Dar International Airport is one of the worst (worse than Lusaka) and coastal aviation are very unreliable." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Average
Mr G
Portslade
"My Jun 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania between 24 Jun 2012 and 4 Jul 2012
"A fantastic trip, only wish we could have afforded to stay longer.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Nothing comes to mind." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Nothing comes to mind." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
510
reviews of Ruaha by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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Inspire meWhere 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.
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 Zumbua
Kichaka Zumbua is a small, luxurious camp offering on outstanding walking safaris in a remote area of Ruaha.
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.
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.
