Accommodation

Ruaha National Park

Under the magnificent shade trees, on the banks of the seasonal Jongomero river lies the beautiful Jongomero camp. This hidden gem is tucked away in a remote corner of the Ruaha National Park. Here you will get a chance to experience Africa’s best kept secret.

For guests seeking an authentic African adventure, a visit to Ruaha National Park is essential.  

Remembered for the rapids of the Great Ruaha River and its rugged landscape of undulating hills, rocky outcrops, and a horizon studded with the imposing silhouettes of the iconic baobab; no other park in Tanzania epitomises the definition of "Wild Africa" quite like Ruaha.

Whilst being the largest National Park in Tanzania, Ruaha also holds a special significance as it covers a unique transition zone where the Eastern and Southern biomes intersect offering an extraordinary diversity of animals, plants and birds. There are upwards of 570 species of birds. Indeed, half of all Tanzania’s birds may be glimpsed in this park, making it one of the continents premier birding destinations.

Ruaha also holds one of the greatest populations of elephant in any African park. Buffalo gather in large herds, as well as giraffe, zebra, impala, eland, hippo, crocodile, lion and leopard. The rarer, lesser-seen creatures can also be found, including sable and roan antelope, dikdik, greater and lesser kudus, Grants gazelle and honey badgers. It is second only to Nyerere National Park (former Selous Game Reserve) for the largest population of wild dog.  Let our experienced guides show you the wealth of biodiversity Ruaha has to offer, with game drives, game walks and walking safaris / fly camping (seasonal).

Please note, Kwihala Camp is closing from 30 September 2023.

Kwihala is set deep in the bush of Ruaha National Park. It’s the largest national park in Tanzania, with plentiful wildlife, yet it feels remote and peaceful, with fewer visitors than other parks. 

Our classic, expedition-style six-tent camp offers an intimate, exclusive safari experience in this vast land of towering baobabs and dense forests.  

Head out on game drives to see elephants — the largest population in Tanzania is located here — and lions, known for hunting giraffes, buffalo and even elephants. On foot, discover the smaller inhabitants of the bush and learn how to identify animal prints and dung. At night, venture out with a spotlight to find nocturnal animals like bush babies and hyenas. Finish off the day around the campfire with a glass of wine under the glittering Milky Way. If you listen carefully, you hear the nearby Ikuka waterfall in the still night air, and even spot a meteor shower in the pristine sky. 

Finish off the day around the campfire with a glass of wine under the glittering Milky Way. You should be able to hear the nearby Ikuka waterfall in the still night air, and you may even spot a meteor shower in the pristine sky. 

Set on the outskirts of the Usangu floodplains, deep in the remote southern corner of Ruaha National Park, Usangu Expedition Camp offers an immersive, conservation driven experience for the adventurous traveller. The camp offers a wide variety of included activities alongside access to ongoing research projects in the Douglas Bell Eco Research Station. For those looking to further enhance this unique experience, there are customised conservation activities tailored to specific interests. With only four beautifully designed tents and full en suite facilities, Usangu Expedition Camp offers an intimate and unforgettably authentic safari experience.

Offering ring side seats on the banks of the Great Ruaha River, there is no better location to be in Ruaha National Park

Set on one of the most stunning stretches of the Great Ruaha River, you can see game throughout the day from the comfort of your veranda; there can surely be few other camps as perfectly situated. Ruaha is split across two locations, with one dining banda along the river, and the other perched high on a nearby kopje, offering a completely different perspective.

Jabali Ridge is a stylish camp in the wildlife-rich Ruaha National Park, set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Mwagusi River and Ikuka escarpment.  A landscape of sun-bleached plains, mighty baobabs and hardy shrubs, Ruaha is home to large numbers of lion, elephant, buffalo and even endangered African wild dogs. During the rainy season, visitors can hear the incredible thundering of the Ikuka waterfalls and even witness the Mwagusi beginning to flow after being dry for seven months. The dry season is equally exciting, with opportunities to spot buffalo herds in the riverbed and elephants digging in the sand for water. 

An intimate, exclusive-use property surrounded by lofty, ancient baobab trees, Jabali Private House is perfect for families and friends. It has three bedrooms, a lounge and a dining area, plus a private pool, looking out over the dense forest that fringes the bordering Ikuka escarpment.

IMAGINE, WITH AN EAGLE’S EYE, ONE MINIATURE ENCAMPMENT OF TENTS IN RUAHAS LANDSCAPE OF GIANTS.

Our understated little bush-camp has been in the beating eastern heart of the park for years, where the wildlife is most concentrated. Sorties from here, encountering the great mammals of Africa, can be thrilling and hard to tear yourself away from. So, in camp we retreat - but with Nature up very close - a quiet, canvas refuge, only disturbed by our elephant visitors.  They just don’t make them like this anymore.