Kuro Tarangire: Our full report
Kuro Tarangire is a delightful, intimate tented camp, located deep in Tarangire National Park, in an area ...
... with few visitors. Although the rooms are substantial, comfortable and well thought-out, the style is rustic, with a focus on natural rather than luxurious. The tranquil setting is also a favourite for wildlife, and animals often browse and graze nearby.We have visited Kuro on multiple occasions and have always been very impressed with the high quality of the camp. This is unsurprising given that it is run by Nomad Tanzania, which operates some of the best camps in the country – including sister camps Lamai Serengeti, Serengeti Safari Camp and Entamanu Ngorongoro.
Kuro Tarangire is situated in a very pretty part of the park, with conveniently quick access from Kuro Airstrip for guests arriving by light aircraft. If you're driving in with a private guide, it is around a 2-3 hour drive from the main Tarangire Gate, depending on what you see en route. During one visit late in the year, we saw a lot of wildlife on this drive including elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, lion and bat-eared fox. On a more recent visit at the start of the long rains in the early part of the year the big mammals were less evident (and less visible) but the birdlife was astonishing.
The main area of the camp is a large, airy wood-and-thatch structure with a lounge to one side and dining area to the other. A shaded veranda running the full length of the building overlooks the lightly wooded surroundings, offering a lovely spot to enjoy the sunrise (the whole camp faces east), and the wildlife that is often seen nearby. On one visit we were lucky enough to enjoy lunch here while observing a large herd of elephants grazing just in front of us. The camp tells us this outlook is one the elephants especially like to visit all year round.
The décor at Kuro is typical of Nomad Tanzania's camps – very much in keeping with its surroundings but with thoughtful touches throughout. Heavy, rustic wooden furniture is offset with leather, sheepskin and cowhides in earth tones. The lounge, plenty of comfortable seating is separated from the dining area by wooden partitions and a simple drinks cabinet. The nearby washroom has a wonderful view.
Kuro Tarangire's six guest rooms are far enough apart to feel private and secluded. They extend in a line, from north to south (#1 in the far north, #6 in the far south), with three located on either side of the main area. There is one family unit, which comprises two interconnecting rooms, sleeping up to five people.
In each tent, rough hewn poles support a high thatched roof and walls made of canvas. Enter the L-shaped room through a wooden stable door and you find a mosquito net canopy over a kingsize bed or twin beds. As well as a small sofa at the foot of the bed, there's a writing desk and cowhide stool in one corner. Whitewashed and light wood furniture covered with soft furnishings in colourful pastels give a light, summery feel. The large veranda, set with director's chairs and a day bed, is well shaded.
The en-suite bathroom is extended to the side from the back of the room. Separated from the bedroom by an unusual latticework screen is a dressing area and wash basin with mirror. Along a tiled stone corridor is the standard flush toilet and safari ("bucket") shower, each behind its own wooden partition. At the end there is also an open-air outdoor shower, screened for privacy. Good toiletries and fluffy towels are provided.
One of the benefits of staying at Kuro Tarangire Camp is the range of safari activities. As well as the usual daytime wildlife drives, bush walks and night drives are available. Walks can be a real highlight of an otherwise vehicle-based safari trip. Walking safaris are included in the cost of your stay while night drives are extra and best booked in advance.
On one visit, we very much enjoyed a morning bush walk. After wake-up tea/coffee and biscuits, we headed out from camp while the sun was still very low. We stopped regularly to investigate the smaller details that you often miss from a safari vehicle: spoor, animals tracks, and interesting insects and plants. We didn't see a huge amount of big game on this walk, and that isn't the focus, but we did spot eland, impala and giraffe. Two unusual highlights were a leopard tortoise and a Verreaux's eagle owl. We walked to a slight rise in the landscape, where a bush breakfast had been set up for us, and enjoyed a great spread as we watched a herd of elephants move through a wooded grove in the distance.
On another visit, we went out on a night drive. Departing late afternoon, we enjoyed sundowner drinks on a rise overlooking a nearby marsh which attracts a lot of wildlife. As night fell, our guide used a spotlight to seek out nocturnal animals and we saw two servals, a handful of genets, as well as white-tailed mongooses and scrub hares.
The camp has an impressive tree platform in a huge fig tree by the river, usually accessible in a couple of minutes on foot from the lounge. Except in wetter periods when the vegetation is so thick that walking is dangerous, you can visit it for sundowners, or a short morning walk.
Kuro also has a beautiful breakfast site along the Tarangire River, accessible by a combination of driving and walking.
The dry season, from July to October, is considered the best time to visit Tarangire National Park as this is when the wildlife congregates around the river and marshes and there is so much to see. But it is also worth considering the months of June and November to March if you're keen to avoid sharing the park with other visitors and if you also have an interest in birds and flowers. There is still a good amount wildlife around during this time.
The camp is closed during the April-May long rains.
Our view
Despite being a camp with permanent rooms instead of traditional canvas tents, Kuro Tarangire retains the feel of a rustic bush camp, with its intimate set-up and an excellent team behind it. The clever design making the most of the surroundings and a great location make it one of the best options in this beautiful park, and a firm favourite of ours.
Tanzania expert
Geographics
- Location
- Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
- Ideal length of stay
- Stay here for two to three nights to make the most of the area and try a walking safari and night drive as well as day drives.
- Directions
- You can reach the camp by taking a three-to four-hour drive from Arusha with a private safari guide. Often your guide will take their time reaching camp to show you the best wildlife areas and stop for a picnic lunch on route. Alternatively, fly to Kuro Airstrip by light aircraft. It’s then about 30-minute game drive to camp, depending on any interesting wildlife you stop to watch en route.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- Our experience of the meals served at Kuro Tarangire Camp has been mixed. It's often very good and up to Nomad Tanzania's usual high standards, but once or twice we've been surprised by dishes that were too unconventional to be appetising or edible. The house wine selection is usually excellent.
The focus is typically on simple, fresh, home-cooked meals which matches the camp's wholesome, rustic vibe.
Breakfast at camp is usually a simple buffet selection of fresh fruit and cereals. Follow this with eggs cooked to order and served with a choice of tomato, bacon and sausages. The meal is accompanied by fresh juice, tea and coffee – with a shot of Amarula available to spice up your coffee if you like.
When we opted for a morning walk, this was followed by a bush breakfast. We were served homemade bread and muffins, cereals and fruit, and the usual cooked breakfast options, cooked to order on a portable stove.
Lunch in camp is typically prepared as a buffet and guests eat at individual tables. On one visit we had a lovely light lunch pizzas (vegetable or meat), apple and sunflower seed coleslaw, a leafy green salad, and a sweet potato and red onion salad. We finished our meal with fruit salad. It was fresh and plentiful. It's particularly impressive that the camp bakes all its own bread and pizzas out in the bush kitchen.
Dinner is either communal and hosted by one of the camp managers, or at individual tables. After a drink or two by the campfire, you might start with vegetable soup, followed by breaded fish, a bean salad, couscous and mixed roasted vegetables; and finish with a delightful maple tart. On one visit we really enjoyed the pumpkin and coconut soup, but we weren’t sold on the main course of pork chops and accompaniments.
There are regular theme nights - often "Swahili night", for example, with fish curry, rice and spinach. - Dining style
- Mixture of group dining and individual tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service is available on request
- Drinks included
- Most soft and house alcoholic drinks are included, although Champagne is an additional cost. Filtered drinking water is provided for guests.
Special interests
- Walking safaris
- Walking safaris from Kuro are a great way to explore a much less-visited side of Tarangire National Park. With the bonus of the chance of spotting big game, and often ending in a bush breakfast, it makes a lovely change to a safari from a vehicle.
- See ideas for Walking safaris in Tanzania
Children
- Attitude towards children
- The camp welcomes families with older children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- The camp only accepts children aged 8 and over, although younger children could be accommodated at the discretion of management. Children need to be 12 years or over for the walking safaris.
- Special activities & services
- There are no special activities at Kuro Tarangire but the staff are happy to provide some simple entertainment where possible.
- Equipment
- Two of the rooms can be joined together to make a family unit, sleeping up to five. In the other rooms it is possible to add a third single bed for a young child sharing with two adults.
- Generally recommended for children
- The intimate and secluded nature of the camp, along with the lack of child-friendly activities, means that it is much better suited to older children who can enjoy the peaceful surroundings and amuse themselves.
- Notes
- This is a wild unfenced camp, with plenty of wildlife in the area, so children should be under constant parental supervision. Only children aged 12 and over are allowed on walking safaris.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Kuro Tarangire
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kuro Tarangire have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
93% success
93% success
93% success
86% success
77% success
57% success
54% success
20% success
10% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a back-up generator, so power is available 24 hours a day. There are charging points in the rooms and main area. Those in the main area are better for charging larger items. It is not possible to use a hairdryer at this camp as the power system cannot cope with the surge of power this requires.
- Communications
- WiFi is available in the rooms with a reasonable speed. There is limited cellphone reception.
- TV & radio
- There is a TV in the staff quarters and guests are welcome to watch big sports events here.
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- There are 25-litre bucket showers and flushing toilets in the rooms.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- The camp managers and guides are first-aid-trained and there are first-aid kits both in the main camp area and the safari vehicles. The closest hospital is in Arusha, about three hours drive away.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- There are armed askaris (guards) on site and guests are escorted to and from rooms during hours of darkness. A two-way radio and airhorn is provided in each room for use in the event of an emergency.
- Fire safety
- There is a fire break around camp and fire extinguishers in all the rooms.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included, hand-washed and line dried. The camp does not wash ladies' underwear but there is washing powder provided in the rooms for personal hand washing.
- Money
- A lockable pouch is provided in each room for valuables and guests can choose to take this with them in the vehicles or have it put in the main camp safe. There is no currency exchange available.
- Accepted payment on location
- Payment for any extras is accepted in cash, or with Visa and Mastercard with a 3% surcharge.
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