Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park
508 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Ruaha.
Mr & Mrs CL
SW London
"A really memorable holiday"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 29 Jan 2011 and 8 Feb 2011
"Fantastic!
Selous and Ruaha gave us the variety of countryside and wildlife we wanted, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tented camps. A few relaxing days at Unguja made the perfect end to our trip. We loved Tanzania and the people we met.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Your service was excellent, especially in one way that you do not ask about: we were not sure which country we wanted to visit, and our ideas were quite vague to start with. Your team were very skilled at questioning me, proposing ideas and narrowing the choices down gradually. This plus the layout of your website helped us make the right choice.
I am happy for you to contact us by email but I would rather not receive regular brochures; they often get thrown away, so are such a waste of paper." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Selous and Ruaha gave us the variety of countryside and wildlife we wanted, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tented camps. A few relaxing days at Unguja made the perfect end to our trip. We loved Tanzania and the people we met.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Your service was excellent, especially in one way that you do not ask about: we were not sure which country we wanted to visit, and our ideas were quite vague to start with. Your team were very skilled at questioning me, proposing ideas and narrowing the choices down gradually. This plus the layout of your website helped us make the right choice.
I am happy for you to contact us by email but I would rather not receive regular brochures; they often get thrown away, so are such a waste of paper." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs O
Somerset
"A First Tanzania Safari"
I visited Tanzania between 8 Jan 2011 and 21 Jan 2011
"I suspect our main problem is having been spoiled by too many Botswana holidays. Tanzania was quite beautiful; 2 of the camps were pretty well spot on as advertised but choosing Manze was our mistake and made against Liz's advice. Overall, the bird and game sightings were excellent, bearing in mind it should have been wet with lush vegetation. In effect the Selous and Ruaha were having a mini dry season and we benefitted greatly from it, albeit with some pretty savage humidity at times.
We were privileged in having Kwihala and Beho Beho totally to ourselves and were looked after royally in both camps. Both delivered top notch guiding and everything that there was to see, we saw. We were a little disappointed in the park rules for Ruaha and the impact that nearby shooting in Selous and poaching in both reserves is having on game and bird behaviour. Unusually I collected a small portfolio of photos of damaged animals. Coastal is a bit chaotic and BA really needs to review the standard and scheduling of catering on the return flight from Dar.
On balance we had yet another great holiday thanks to Liz and Expert Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
In respect of this holiday, the information on Kwihala will need a major update after the move and improvements this spring and I suggest potential clients should be told of the off road and driving in the dark restrictions that are imposed in Ruaha.
Coastal's 'flexible' scheduling may also need to be considered for clients with tight schedules." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
We were privileged in having Kwihala and Beho Beho totally to ourselves and were looked after royally in both camps. Both delivered top notch guiding and everything that there was to see, we saw. We were a little disappointed in the park rules for Ruaha and the impact that nearby shooting in Selous and poaching in both reserves is having on game and bird behaviour. Unusually I collected a small portfolio of photos of damaged animals. Coastal is a bit chaotic and BA really needs to review the standard and scheduling of catering on the return flight from Dar.
On balance we had yet another great holiday thanks to Liz and Expert Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
In respect of this holiday, the information on Kwihala will need a major update after the move and improvements this spring and I suggest potential clients should be told of the off road and driving in the dark restrictions that are imposed in Ruaha.
Coastal's 'flexible' scheduling may also need to be considered for clients with tight schedules." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Good
Mr E & Ms W
Uk
"Overall Feedback"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 20 Dec 2010 and 4 Jan 2011
"We both had a wonderful honeymoon - it surpassed expectations and every place we stayed was different but equally fantastic. It was an expensive trip but I felt it was worth every penny.
Liz in particular was amazing - right from advising and helping us put together an itinerary, to sorting our flights out in the Heathrow chaos and helping us when needed during our trip. Liz's achievement in swapping us from BA to Kenya Airways on 20 December (at virtually no extra cost), without any exaggeration, saved the whole trip.
I would whole-heartedly recommend Expert Africa to friends and family, and I'll be in touch when we visit Africa again!
Thanks again for all your hard work,
Neil and Jo
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work, everyone in Africa we met spoke very highly of Expert Africa." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Liz in particular was amazing - right from advising and helping us put together an itinerary, to sorting our flights out in the Heathrow chaos and helping us when needed during our trip. Liz's achievement in swapping us from BA to Kenya Airways on 20 December (at virtually no extra cost), without any exaggeration, saved the whole trip.
I would whole-heartedly recommend Expert Africa to friends and family, and I'll be in touch when we visit Africa again!
Thanks again for all your hard work,
Neil and Jo
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work, everyone in Africa we met spoke very highly of Expert Africa." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs S & Family
UK
""
I visited Tanzania between 13 Dec 2010 and 28 Dec 2010
"great time had by all. would recommend.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
no" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
no" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Cornwall
"Second time around"
I visited Tanzania between 4 Dec 2010 and 14 Dec 2010
"Yet again an excellent Africa trip.
We have yet to be disappointed with any of our trips, we do our research and choose our agents carefully, and have again been pleased with Expert Africa. Thus trip was arranged with short notice and no hitches.
The allocation of a trip advisor as "one port of call" is what we expect and the fact that there is a team of other experts to assist is also vital in our choice of agents - both these points were met and we would not hesitate to contact them for future trips.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
We have yet to be disappointed with any of our trips, we do our research and choose our agents carefully, and have again been pleased with Expert Africa. Thus trip was arranged with short notice and no hitches.
The allocation of a trip advisor as "one port of call" is what we expect and the fact that there is a team of other experts to assist is also vital in our choice of agents - both these points were met and we would not hesitate to contact them for future trips.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr M & Dr S
Middlesex
"Selous and Ruaha 10day safari Nov 2010"
I visited Tanzania between 4 Nov 2010 and 14 Nov 2010
"We had a great trip to Selous and Ruaha which was well reccommended and organised by Liz.
Ruaha has made it into our top 5 parks now and is definately my favorite within Tanzaina. Selous unfortunately was a bit of a dissapointment as there is a so much more potential there, both in the management of the game reserve and the lake manze camp set-up.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
just one little thing... a reminder for when we have to pay off the final balance would be great... this is the second time i have forgotten!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Ruaha has made it into our top 5 parks now and is definately my favorite within Tanzaina. Selous unfortunately was a bit of a dissapointment as there is a so much more potential there, both in the management of the game reserve and the lake manze camp set-up.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
just one little thing... a reminder for when we have to pay off the final balance would be great... this is the second time i have forgotten!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs R
Bath
"Tanzania: 4 camp safari holiday"
I visited Tanzania between 26 Oct 2010 and 9 Nov 2010
"Very enjoyable experience. We do wish there were more guides from the local communities being trained up."
Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
G & G
Glasgow
"Wonderful trip to Southern Tanzania"
I visited Tanzania between 23 Oct 2010 and 7 Nov 2010
"A wonderful trip for our 10th wedding anniversary and we've had some really great trips to other African destinations with Expert in the past but this was a bit special at times - particularly as Claire had notified the camps of our anniversary.
We were fortunate to have had some of our best ever wildlife sightings. Mwagusi and Beho Beho certainly are best in class in our experience and Pole Pole made for a lovely relaxing option on the coast.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do and we'll keep being customers" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
We were fortunate to have had some of our best ever wildlife sightings. Mwagusi and Beho Beho certainly are best in class in our experience and Pole Pole made for a lovely relaxing option on the coast.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do and we'll keep being customers" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Worthing
"wonderful holiday"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 14 Oct 2010 and 27 Oct 2010
"Everything went like clockwork. Places were as described or better It really was a perfect holiday.
Impressed how the staff Liz and Claire put up with all the initial date changes and put together aholiday that suited us perfectly Ruaha gave us a wave of wildlife and an authentic experience which was wonderful, Sand Rivers was luxury but stunning experiences and lovely company.
I don't understand why there aren't more people at Kwihala as it was so great I can only encourage you to talk about it more to clients because if we could like it as much only differently as Sand Rivers then I think others would too and there is so much wildlife there and no other jeeps, its a special place, abit more company in the evening would have nade it perfect.
Thank you we will be back to talk about Namibia next year
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really it worked for us as it is" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Impressed how the staff Liz and Claire put up with all the initial date changes and put together aholiday that suited us perfectly Ruaha gave us a wave of wildlife and an authentic experience which was wonderful, Sand Rivers was luxury but stunning experiences and lovely company.
I don't understand why there aren't more people at Kwihala as it was so great I can only encourage you to talk about it more to clients because if we could like it as much only differently as Sand Rivers then I think others would too and there is so much wildlife there and no other jeeps, its a special place, abit more company in the evening would have nade it perfect.
Thank you we will be back to talk about Namibia next year
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really it worked for us as it is" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs V
Harlow
"Southern Tanzania safari"
I visited Tanzania between 12 Oct 2010 and 27 Oct 2010
"We were very happy with most of our safari, Lake Manze camp excepted, and very happy with how Claire from Expert Africa helped us decide on places to go and the general organisation of the trip. Everything 'happened' as arranged and expected and that is not always the case in Africa so full marks to Expert Africa.
As seasoned African safari goers the Southern Tanzanian circuit was new to us but met our expectations with excellent game, wonderful bird life and beautiful locations in Ruaha and Selous.
If there was any blot it would be that being close to beach resorts means that you get a number of first time safari goers whose interest is superficial and where the safari is bolted on as some sort of exotic extra to a beach trip that is the tourist's main interest and some of the camps cater to this level of tourism. Selous tourism has evidently expanded in recent years and we fear that this will lead to safari tourism in the way some Northern Tanzanian (Ngorongoro) and Southern Kenyan (Mara) areas cater for" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
As seasoned African safari goers the Southern Tanzanian circuit was new to us but met our expectations with excellent game, wonderful bird life and beautiful locations in Ruaha and Selous.
If there was any blot it would be that being close to beach resorts means that you get a number of first time safari goers whose interest is superficial and where the safari is bolted on as some sort of exotic extra to a beach trip that is the tourist's main interest and some of the camps cater to this level of tourism. Selous tourism has evidently expanded in recent years and we fear that this will lead to safari tourism in the way some Northern Tanzanian (Ngorongoro) and Southern Kenyan (Mara) areas cater for" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Tanzania safari
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.
