Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park
505 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ruaha.
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
Miss P
London
"8 Days in Ruaha"
I visited Tanzania between 31 May 2012 and 10 Jun 2012
"Overall an excellent trip
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I would like to see the website/brochure with a bit more information on pricing- at least guideline prices. Also information on special offers eg "stay 4-pay 3". As a solo traveller, information on single supplements and ideas for trips with low or no single supplements would be much appreciated." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I would like to see the website/brochure with a bit more information on pricing- at least guideline prices. Also information on special offers eg "stay 4-pay 3". As a solo traveller, information on single supplements and ideas for trips with low or no single supplements would be much appreciated." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr N
Virginia
"My May 2012 trip"
I visited Tanzania between 31 May 2012 and 14 Jun 2012
"My experience with Expert Africa was completely positive. Everything on the trip happened on-time and as-promised. The camps and hotels that I used were likewise accurately represented in every way, so there were again no surprises. The communication in planning the trip was really excellent and extremely helpful. I would recommend Expert Africa to any traveller to Tanzania.
I chose to make my trip early in the season (arriving around June1). I knew that the game viewing would potentially be better later in the season when more of the water sources had dried up, but wanted to travel before the dry season became too advanced and everything really dried out. My assessment proved correct, but I have no real regrets about the timing of my trip.
However, most of the camps were just opening, with various "start-up" issues (changing staff, finding where the animals were hanging out, etc.) and animals would likely have been better acclimated to the vehicles in another week or so. A week later might thus have been better timing for the trip, but hardly a major issue." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
I chose to make my trip early in the season (arriving around June1). I knew that the game viewing would potentially be better later in the season when more of the water sources had dried up, but wanted to travel before the dry season became too advanced and everything really dried out. My assessment proved correct, but I have no real regrets about the timing of my trip.
However, most of the camps were just opening, with various "start-up" issues (changing staff, finding where the animals were hanging out, etc.) and animals would likely have been better acclimated to the vehicles in another week or so. A week later might thus have been better timing for the trip, but hardly a major issue." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Miss S
UK
"East Africa and Zanzibar"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 9 Feb 2012 and 24 Feb 2012
"Generally speaking a fantastic holiday with Selous being the high spot.
Advice from your agent was helpful and informative.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Don't go to Stone Town!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Advice from your agent was helpful and informative.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Don't go to Stone Town!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Steve H
Cumbria
"Fantastic February safari"
I visited Tanzania between 4 Feb 2012 and 17 Feb 2012
"We had an amazing time - wonderful wildlife, fantastic scenery, superb service, great accommodation and food in camp in the bush and by the beach. The planning and organisation could not have been more thorough and helpful.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The whole holiday was brilliantly put together and we had a fantastic time - but having used Expert Africa before we expected nothing less!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The whole holiday was brilliantly put together and we had a fantastic time - but having used Expert Africa before we expected nothing less!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Canada
"Tanzania for novice."
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 4 Feb 2012 and 19 Feb 2012
"Our trip to Africa far exceeded my expectations. I am not an intrepid but felt very confident before we embarked that all aspects of the trip had been covered so that there were no questions as to where we would be or how we might get to the next stage. This alleviated all anxiety.
It was most encouraging from the start of my planning with Eleanor, that she had been to Tanzania and understood that this was a once in a lifetime trip for us. Now having been there I realize it is not so far out of the ordinary, just in my world.
From our very first discussions I was unsure if our budget would allow us to fully enjoy this trip in the comfort level we would like and Eleanor worked within that budget and custom fit our needs to create what I'm sure will be our best holiday ever.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Honestly, very difficult.
I suppose I would have liked a breakdown of the costs of each leg of our trip so as to be able to compare to other places I have been. For example, 4 nights at Mdonya, 4 nights at Selous, 6 nights Matemwe and then one night Kholle. Coastal did give some information but I wasn't sure if the the dollars quoted were for one or two passengers.
Many thanks, it's been a wonderful experience." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
It was most encouraging from the start of my planning with Eleanor, that she had been to Tanzania and understood that this was a once in a lifetime trip for us. Now having been there I realize it is not so far out of the ordinary, just in my world.
From our very first discussions I was unsure if our budget would allow us to fully enjoy this trip in the comfort level we would like and Eleanor worked within that budget and custom fit our needs to create what I'm sure will be our best holiday ever.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Honestly, very difficult.
I suppose I would have liked a breakdown of the costs of each leg of our trip so as to be able to compare to other places I have been. For example, 4 nights at Mdonya, 4 nights at Selous, 6 nights Matemwe and then one night Kholle. Coastal did give some information but I wasn't sure if the the dollars quoted were for one or two passengers.
Many thanks, it's been a wonderful experience." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 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.
