Wild, remote and unimaginably beautiful, Ruaha National Park is one of East Africa's best kept secrets. Cut through by the mighty river of the same name, there are few places in the world with such prolific wildlife. Cheetah, leopard and lion, elephant, buffalo and hippos, wild dog, roan antelope and lesser kudu: you name it, there's a chance you'll see it at close quarters.
The Fox family were pioneers in setting up safari camps within this vast tract of pristine wilderness. And there's no better place for taking in the extraordinary wildlife spectacle than at their River Lodge. Twin camps (River and Hilltop, with 24 guest chalets in total), nudge right up to the river's edge, one a low open-sided thatched lodge, the other wrapped organically around the top of a rocky kopje. The Foxes have spent years perfecting the standards of guiding, food and accommodation: you stay with them in the knowledge that you're guaranteed the safari experience of a lifetime.
Highs
- Seeing is believing when it comes to the animal and birdlife - and in the company of the Foxes' expert guides you'll learn a whole lot about it all
- The remote location means that you see far fewer game vehicles than in the northern game parks
- The setting of the camp is sublime, wrapped into a thick stand of ancient riverine forest looking across the Ruaha to the Charawindi hills
- The spacious bandas make the most of a stunning, riverside location with front decks reaching out towards the water's edge, each can host a family
Lows
- The remoteness of Ruaha means that getting here entails a long, light aircraft flight down from Arusha or across from Dar. But rather than an ordeal this is an integral part of the adventure
- The large number of guest bandas, 28 in all, could seem off-putting. But they're split between 2 quite separate lodges and the atmosphere remains intimate
- In keeping with the bush pioneer vibe, there's no pool
Best time to go
Unlike some safari camps, River Lodge stays open all year. The prime time for game viewing is during the Dry Season, from June through to early December, when wildlife concentrates along the river banks and around the few remaining watering holes. During the Rainy Season the park looks simply stunning, you still see masses of game and new species of birds arrive from other parts of the country. And to see the mighty Ruaha river in spate is a sight never to be forgotten.
Our top tips
Bring wet weather gear and a fleece if you're here Dec-May, a sun hat, suncreams, binocular, bird guide, mozzie repellent, a head torch, spare memory stick for your camera.
Location
Ruaha River Lodge is set in Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania. It's a 3-hour flight south from Arusha or two and a half hours inland from Dar.
Because of the complexity of getting there, Ruaha River Lodge can only be booked as part of a safari package. We suggest you try our recommended Tailormade Safari Operator, whose itineraries all include a stay in Ruaha. Unlike some of the more remote camps, you don't need to charter a whole plane to get here but can book individual seats as part of your package, thanks to Foxes 'Safari AirLink' initiative. Enquire when booking.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Tanzania and getting around
Airports:
- Local airstrip 15.0 km
- Dar International Airport 600.0 km DAR
Other:
- Beach 500.0 km
- Shops 200.0 km
- Restaurant 200.0 km