Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park
508 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ruaha.
Mr & Mrs J
Ashbourne
"Holiday of a Life-time!"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 3 Sep 2011 and 14 Sep 2011
"Fantastic. It far exceeded our expectations (was our first time in Africa).
We found all the dawn starts and long days a bit tiring, but well worth it. The amount of wildlife and how close we saw it was amazing.
I was impressed with the amount of help and knowledgable suggestions we had from Eleanor in putting together the trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
We found all the dawn starts and long days a bit tiring, but well worth it. The amount of wildlife and how close we saw it was amazing.
I was impressed with the amount of help and knowledgable suggestions we had from Eleanor in putting together the trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms H
Maida Vale
"AMHarris trip to Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 3 Sep 2011 and 14 Sep 2011
"Overall half was very satisfactory and I am grateful to Liz for recommending Kwihala, when I had originally been looking at Mwagusi. I have no hesitation in recommending this lovely camp and will be returning there myself next year! Sand Rivers was my choice because friends had stayed there previously but I would have liked a bit more of the "flavour" of the camp in my discussions with Liz as in hindsight I would have preferred to go elsewhere, plus 5 nights there was too long.
I would also have appreciated a very clear "you must get a visa" as opposed to a recommendation to get one - other African airports issue visas on arrival with no trouble and I had thought Dar es Salaam would be the same - how wrong I was. Suggest you beef up your guidance on this point even more!!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
I would also have appreciated a very clear "you must get a visa" as opposed to a recommendation to get one - other African airports issue visas on arrival with no trouble and I had thought Dar es Salaam would be the same - how wrong I was. Suggest you beef up your guidance on this point even more!!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Good
Miss C & Mr S
London
"First Safari Experience"
I visited Tanzania between 28 Aug 2011 and 9 Sep 2011
"We had a wonderful time staying at Mdonya and Lake Manze and the trip completely exceeded our expectations.
Within 5 minutes of landing at the airstrip we couldn't believe the amount of wildlife we saw so quickly. At both camps the staff were excellent and the accommodation was very comfortable.
We will definitly be recommending these camps to friends and family.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
no, it was perfect" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Within 5 minutes of landing at the airstrip we couldn't believe the amount of wildlife we saw so quickly. At both camps the staff were excellent and the accommodation was very comfortable.
We will definitly be recommending these camps to friends and family.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
no, it was perfect" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs F
Harrow
"A full on safari holiday"
I visited Tanzania between 23 Aug 2011 and 9 Sep 2011
"The whole trip worked very well. The organisation was superb. We had no worries or hiccups.
A thoroughly enjoyable holiday with abundant game, birds, great fishing and bush walks in the Selous. We were really very pleased with everything.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari
A thoroughly enjoyable holiday with abundant game, birds, great fishing and bush walks in the Selous. We were really very pleased with everything.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr N Bledlow
UK
"Great trip to Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 16 Aug 2011 and 3 Sep 2011
"Once again we had a great time and appreciate the advice and planning that went into it on the part of Expert Africa.
You had a hard act to follow after our Zambia trip four years ago and on balance I think that one had the edge over Tanzania. However, BehoBeho is definitely the best camp we have been to and that made the trip for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I had a very helpful discussion with Chris McIntyre before embarking on the planning stage of the trip and I think his input certainly helped to put together an excellent itinerary. Without that it may not have been as good. If this is not a normal part of the service you offer it may be useful to build such a discussion into your process as a regular feature." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
You had a hard act to follow after our Zambia trip four years ago and on balance I think that one had the edge over Tanzania. However, BehoBeho is definitely the best camp we have been to and that made the trip for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I had a very helpful discussion with Chris McIntyre before embarking on the planning stage of the trip and I think his input certainly helped to put together an excellent itinerary. Without that it may not have been as good. If this is not a normal part of the service you offer it may be useful to build such a discussion into your process as a regular feature." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs & Mrs M
New York
"An extraordinary experience!"
I visited Tanzania between 12 Aug 2011 and 27 Aug 2011
"We just got back from our trip to Africa. I'm swamped with work right now but wanted to take just a few minutes to tell you that the two-week Safari you orchestrated for us in Tanzania came off flawlessly. That means that all of the multiple travel transfers went off without a hitch, the camps you put us in more than exceeded our expectations, the guides we had in the various camps were without exception excellent.
I know I speak for my wife Audrey, and Ann and Kevin when I send you a very warm and enthusiastic “thank you” for turning our many phone conversations back in December into such an extraordinary experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Clearer guidelines on how much cash one needs to bring to cover tips and drinks (such as Lake Manze, where drinks were not included and credit cards not accepted) would have been a great help. We had only one opportunity to use an ATM (which worked for us but not for our friends), which was quite lucky in terms of the timing when we'd run out of cash, and the location, being the one day we were driving through Karatu where there is an ATM. Not having enough cash, and not being sure of where or when we could get some, caused a fair amount of anxiety and stress that would have been eliminated if we'd simply brought enough to begin with.
We also didn't realize that everyone accepted U.S. dollars even for cash tips, so could have bypassed all the trouble trying to get Tanzanian shillings in the right amounts." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
I know I speak for my wife Audrey, and Ann and Kevin when I send you a very warm and enthusiastic “thank you” for turning our many phone conversations back in December into such an extraordinary experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Clearer guidelines on how much cash one needs to bring to cover tips and drinks (such as Lake Manze, where drinks were not included and credit cards not accepted) would have been a great help. We had only one opportunity to use an ATM (which worked for us but not for our friends), which was quite lucky in terms of the timing when we'd run out of cash, and the location, being the one day we were driving through Karatu where there is an ATM. Not having enough cash, and not being sure of where or when we could get some, caused a fair amount of anxiety and stress that would have been eliminated if we'd simply brought enough to begin with.
We also didn't realize that everyone accepted U.S. dollars even for cash tips, so could have bypassed all the trouble trying to get Tanzanian shillings in the right amounts." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs H & Mr S
UK
"The Hellicar and Smiths go to Tanzania!"
I visited Tanzania between 9 Aug 2011 and 21 Aug 2011
"The whole trip was simply fantastic. Everything went to plan, there were no hold-ups or problems and all the complicated arrangements worked like clockwork. We were touched by the kindness and helpfulness of the Tanzanians and have swapped addresses with one of our waiters.
We experienced three very different camps but they were all superb for different reasons. Flying from the Selous to Ruaha was amazing and we loved the contrast in landscape between the two locations. We were very pleased that we did not do the usual finishing off on a beach in Zanzibar that most people seem to do but used our time to see more of the wild, stunning Tanzania with its lovely people and fabulous creatures.
Many thanks to Liz for all her help and advice. It was the trip of a lifetime and went way beyond all our wildest dreams. Thank you.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No!!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Tanzania safari
We experienced three very different camps but they were all superb for different reasons. Flying from the Selous to Ruaha was amazing and we loved the contrast in landscape between the two locations. We were very pleased that we did not do the usual finishing off on a beach in Zanzibar that most people seem to do but used our time to see more of the wild, stunning Tanzania with its lovely people and fabulous creatures.
Many thanks to Liz for all her help and advice. It was the trip of a lifetime and went way beyond all our wildest dreams. Thank you.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No!!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs P
Waterloovi
"south tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 2 Aug 2011 and 10 Aug 2011
"apart from land rover overcrowding at mdonya the trip was very good
i do feel the information provided should be clear around the scarcity of the leopard/cheetah/wild dogs in the parks as had we not seen these on our previous african trips this would have been a major disappointment
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
ensure that the specific trip goal eg leopard opportunities is fully understood" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
i do feel the information provided should be clear around the scarcity of the leopard/cheetah/wild dogs in the parks as had we not seen these on our previous african trips this would have been a major disappointment
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
ensure that the specific trip goal eg leopard opportunities is fully understood" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Good
Ms F
C London
""
I visited Tanzania between 2 Aug 2011 and 12 Aug 2011
"A good trip overall but slightly disapointed by Kinasi. Safari was good as far as game drives went but I think they could make time at the camp a little more special.
Oyster Bay was the 5 star start and end to the trip" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Oyster Bay was the 5 star start and end to the trip" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Good
Mr & Mrs P
Germany
"Tanzania southern circuit"
I visited Zanzibar and 1 other country between 28 Jul 2011 and 14 Aug 2011
"Great trip - went perfectly to plan (apart from trying to enter Ruha on August 1st - I will provide separate commentary about this).
Accomodation and transfers could not be faulted. Staff throughout very very good, and invariably excellent. We felt each of the lodges went out of their to make a stay special.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It seems worth keepng an eye on the Authorities in Tanzania. Politically there are issues and undercurrents that, on this occasion, broke the surface.
Just as an aside: having gone to trouble of getting Visas in advance, immigration managed to to process none Visa holders more quickly that us: management of arrivals hall was rather desperate." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday
Accomodation and transfers could not be faulted. Staff throughout very very good, and invariably excellent. We felt each of the lodges went out of their to make a stay special.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It seems worth keepng an eye on the Authorities in Tanzania. Politically there are issues and undercurrents that, on this occasion, broke the surface.
Just as an aside: having gone to trouble of getting Visas in advance, immigration managed to to process none Visa holders more quickly that us: management of arrivals hall was rather desperate." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
508
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.
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 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.
