BackA safari ranks among Africa's most extraordinary wildlife adventures, and Tanzania stands out as one of the best countries for experiencing the continent's raw beauty.
Tanzania has earned its reputation as an iconic safari destination. The country protects Africa's Big Five, rare and endangered species, and hosts the Great Migration.
Up to 44% of Tanzania's land is reserved as protected wildlife areas, and national parks and game reserves are suited to different interests and travel styles
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Knowing which parks and reserves match your preferences helps maximize your luxury safari holiday in Tanzania.
Tanzania is divided into two primary safari circuits. The northern circuit draws visitors to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, while the southern circuit provides remote wilderness experiences away from the main tourist routes.
Our Wayfairer team has compiled this guide to Tanzania's seven exceptional national parks and game reserves. Each destination includes highlights, seasonal timing, transport options, and accommodation recommendations. Contact our Wayfairer team for tailor-made advice.
Northern Parks
1. Serengeti National Park
3. Tarangire National Park
5. Arusha National Park
Southern Parks
1. Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is Tanzania's largest and most famous national park. It offers some of Africa's finest wildlife viewing and is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, maintaining UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
The park stretches across northern Tanzania and connects with Kenya's Masai Mara, creating the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. Scientists consider this one of Earth's oldest and least disturbed natural environments, because the region's climate, vegetation, and animal populations have barely changed for a million years.
The Serengeti hosts the Great Migration: each July, more than a million wildebeests travel with zebras and gazelles between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. These migrations typically cover about 500-620 miles (800-1,000 km) on this epic circuit, moving north between May and July and returning when the rains arrive between October and November.
The park shelters the Big Five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos), giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas. It’s also a haven for birdwatchers, with over 500 birds calling Serengeti National Park home.
If you're lucky, you may spot rarer species, such as African wild dogs. After the species disappeared from the Serengeti in 1991, conservation teams have worked on reintroduction efforts and monitored the greater Serengeti ecosystem, with occasional returns reported in the western Serengeti.
Top highlights of the Serengeti:
- Seven Natural Wonders of Africa; UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Great Migration across the Serengeti plains
- Superb Big Five sightings and rarer species
- Hot air balloon safaris at dawn
- Striking scenery and varied habitats
- Excellent luxury camps and lodges
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Wilderbeest in the Serengeti National Park
Quick facts
- Number of annual visitors: Approximately 400,000.
- Size: 5,540 square miles (14,750 km²), about the same size as Connecticut.
- Common animal sightings: Elephants, giraffe, lions, leopards, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, eland, spotted hyenas.
Best time to visit Serengeti National Park
The dry season (June–October) concentrates wildlife around water sources for easier viewing.
Watch herds in the Great Migration moving through the Western Corridor from May to July. River crossings typically occur in July–August and again in October–November.
November through March brings quieter travel and lush scenery. Baby animals are born during this time, and it’s the best time for birdwatching. Heavy rains peak in April through May and can close roads and lodges
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How to get to Serengeti National Park
Private vehicles reach the park via Naabi Hill Gate. The drive from Ngorongoro Crater takes about 2.5 hours. Plan for eight hours from Arusha by road or book a charter flight from Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport to Serengeti airstrips.
Where to stay in Serengeti National Park
Our favorite luxury lodges and camps in Serengeti National Park:
1. Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
The rooms at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
This award-winning lodge is built on a hillside, providing a breathtaking view of the grasslands and setting the stage as the ultimate safari lodge. Its amenities include an infinity pool from which you can spot big game below, an on-site spa, bush dining options, and private rondavel-style rooms with a private balcony.
2. Kati Kati Tented Camp
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Enjoy rustic camping with all the modern facilities at Kati Kati Tented Camp, a mobile camp in central Serengeti. Located just a 40-minute drive from the nearest airstrip, you’ll enjoy delicious food in the charming mess tent, a cosy campfire to gather at night, and lavish ensuite tents surrounded by the African wilderness.
3. Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Serengeti Pioneer Camp
Set in the Moru Kopjes area of the South Central Serengeti, Serengeti Pioneer Camp is right in the heart of the action. You’ll have easy access to the Great Migration, panoramic views of Moru Kopjes, and the classic Big Five. With only twelve luxury tents, featuring vintage furnishings and modern facilities, you’ll come home to comfort after a long day of adventure in the Serengeti.
2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area earned recognition as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. It centers on the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcanic caldera supporting extraordinary wildlife density. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site.
It’s named after the mighty Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcanic crater spanning about 100 square miles (260 km²) and surrounded by a crater wall about 1,970 feet (600 m) high. It’s the world’s largest intact and unfilled caldera, home to over 25,000 large game animals.
Visitors regularly spot all of the Big Five in a single day. The crater protects Tanzania's last remaining black rhino population. Flamingos, hippos, and plains game inhabit the soda lakes and grasslands. The conservation area preserves evidence of human life spanning millions of years, including hominin footprints and fossil sites at Olduvai Gorge. You can also visit the Maasai cultural village to learn more about the Maasai people
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Go to see Rhino in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Top highlights
- Seven Natural Wonders of Africa; UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Resident black rhino population
- Reliable Big Five sightings
- Year-round wildlife viewing
- Dramatic natural setting
- Maasai culture and Olduvai Gorge
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Quick facts
- Annual visitors: ~700,000.
- Size: 3,200 square miles (8,300 km²), a little less area than Yellowstone National Park.
Common animal sightings: Black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest, zebra, flamingos, hippos, elephants, buffalo, spotted hyena, gazelle
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Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be visited all year round, with two distinct seasons offering unique treasures.
The dry winter season (June to August) is the best time for wildlife viewing, while the rainy summer (November to April) is less crowded with tourists and the best for bird watching. You’ll see greater populations of the famous pink flamingos when the water levels of the soda lakes are higher.
If you’d like to witness the Great Migration in the Ngorongoro region, travel between December and March
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How to get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is easily accessible with a 2.5-hour private vehicle transfer from the Serengeti National Park or Arusha, the country’s safari capital.
You’ll most likely fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, then take a domestic flight to Arusha Airport (ARK). From there, you can take a three-hour private vehicle transfer to the conservation area
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Where to stay in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Our favourite luxury lodge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area:
1. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Take in the spectacular views from Ngrongoro Crater Lodge
Set on the southwestern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater at about 7,792 feet (2,375 m) above sea level, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is one of Africa’s most magical properties. You’ll stay in opulent thatched houses with spectacular views over the region, featuring romantic private dining, attentive personal butlers, a private fireplace, electric blankets, and rose petal bubble baths.
3. Tarangire National Park
Get off the primary safari circuit and head to the quieter Tarangire National Park, renowned for its incredibly high concentrations of wildlife and stunning natural scenery. Located in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania, less than two hours from Arusha, Tarangire National Park is often a surprising favorite for travellers. Many people skip Tarangire altogether, or only visit the park for a quick morning or afternoon game drive; however, we recommend staying for at least two days to take full advantage of this fantastic destination.
During the dry season (June to October), the Tarangire River becomes the only water source for scores of animals, drawing large herds of elephants (sometimes up to 300 strong), zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, and warthogs to drink there.
Predators, including lions and spotted hyenas, gather around the river, ready to strike. In contrast, leopards, cheetahs, and tree-climbing lions lurk in some park regions. African wild dogs have been sighted in the park, although it is rare to spot them.
As one of Tanzania’s best birding destinations, you’ll have the chance to spot over 550 species, including the ashy starling, northern pied babbler, bushveld pipit, and yellow-collared lovebird.
Tarangire is also famed for its breathtaking landscapes, with ancient baobab trees, acacia woodlands, and massive termite mounds (home to dwarf mongoose), dotting the plains
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Tarangire National Park
Top highlights
- One of northern Tanzania's largest elephant populations
- Excellent dry-season wildlife viewing
- Outstanding birding
- Night and walking safaris in select areas
- Distinctive baobab-studded scenery
Quick facts
- Annual visitors: ~160,000.
- Size: 1,100 square miles (2,850 km²), about the size of Yosemite National Park.
- Common animal sightings: elephants, giraffes, big cats, wildebeest, waterbuck, eland, gazelle, buffalo, impala, and hartebeest
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Best time to visit Tarangire National Park
The best time to visit Tarangire National Park is during the dry season from June to October, when the wildlife is most concentrated. As vegetation thins and animals gather around the Tarangire River, the only remaining water source, you’ll have incredible wildlife viewing opportunities.
The dry season also coincides with the Great Migration, so you can head to the nearby Serengeti to cross this phenomenal event off your bucket list.
The wet season (November to December and March to May) is the best time for birders, as the summer migrant birds arrive and other species show off their bright breeding plumage. However, most of the big game have disappeared, and you’ll contend with heavy downpours and rampant mosquitoes
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How to get to Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park can be easily accessed by private vehicle transfer. It’s a 4.5-hour drive from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a seven-hour drive from Serengeti National Park, a four-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), or a three-hour drive from Arusha, the country’s safari gateway.
You can also fly to the Kuro airstrip in the southern section of Tarangire National Park.
Where to stay in Tarangire National Park
Our favorite luxury lodges and camps in Tarangire National Park:
1. Tarangire Treetops
Tarangire Treetops bedroom
Built around a spectacular thousand-year-old baobab tree, Tarangire Treetops inspires a sense of romance and adventure in the African wilderness. Located just a three-hour game drive from Kuro airstrip or a four-hour drive from Kilimanjaro airport, you’ll arrive at some of the largest rooms in the country, with cosy furnishings and modern amenities. The elevated rooms perch in the treetops, offering panoramic views of the stunning landscape and wildlife.
2. Tarangire River Camp
Set in a private concession of about 97 square miles (250 km²) overlooking a branch of the Tarangire River just 2.2 miles (3.5 km) from the park’s main entrance, Tarangire River Camp offers incredible access to one of Tanzania’s most significant wildlife concentrations. You’ll watch herds of elephants digging into the dry riverbed, predators stalking their prey, and dozens of bird species flitting around the ancient baobab trees, all from the comfort of the elevated platform of your luxurious safari tent.
4. Lake Manyara National Park
Located between Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara is a beautiful addition to a Northern Circuit safari.
However, it’s well worth a visit in its own right. It's renowned for its unique ecosystems bursting with diverse wildlife. This pocket-sized version of the Serengeti is host to at least 11 different ecosystems, including groundwater forests, floodplains, hot springs, and open savannahs.
The majority of the park is covered by Lake Manyara, a beautiful soda lake that attracts hippos, pink flamingos, and more than 300 other migratory birds.
Lake Manyara National Park also boasts one of the world’s highest concentrations of large mammals. You’ll likely spot huge herds of elephants and the famous tree-climbing lions, along with significant wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, warthog, impala, and waterbuck populations.
If you’re keen to spot some primates, keep your eyes peeled for the resident baboon, vervet monkey, common monkey, and nocturnal bushbabies. The park is also home to leopards and hyenas, although they are more challenging to spot.
Bordered by the Great Rift Valley in the west and set beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, Lake Manyara is part of the Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, making it one of the best-protected areas for wildlife in Tanzania
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Flamingoes at Lake Manyara
Top highlights
- Iconic tree-climbing lions.
- Large elephant herds.
- High wildlife density in a small park.
- Superb birding.
- Night drives and hiking in designated areas.
Quick facts
- Annual visitors: ~180,000.
- Size: 125 square miles (325 km²).
- Common animal sightings: Elephants, hippo, flamingo, lion, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, impala, waterbuck, zebra, warthog, baboon, monkeys
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Best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park can be visited all year round, and there is something special to see every season. If you’d like to see the park’s abundant big game, visit during the dry winter season from June to October, when wildlife viewing is at its best, and you can also witness the Great Migration in the surrounding northern parks.
If you’d like to see the park’s birdlife and pink flamingos, visit between November and April, when migrant species arrive and resident birds display their colourful breeding plumage. The lake is also at its prime this season, with lush green foliage dotted with bright pink flamingos
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How to get to Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is the ideal addition to your Northern Circuit itinerary in Tanzania, as it’s only a three-hour drive from Ngorongoro Conservation Area or Tarangire National Park, and a five-hour drive from Serengeti National Park.
You can also reach Lake Manyara just two hours from Arusha, or fly from Arusha Airport to Lake Manyara Airport (LKY). Flights take 30 minutes, and a representative will meet you on arrival for your transfer to your lodge
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Where to stay in Lake Manyara National Park
Our favorite luxury lodges and camps in Lake Manyara National Park:
1. Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Set in a spectacular location close to Lake Manyara, with a stunning backdrop of Mto wa Mbu escarpment, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge is an exceptional luxury lodge. With spacious rooms, gorgeous manicured gardens, and an infinity pool with phenomenal views over the valley and lake below, the lodge is the perfect place to relax after a day on safari. With a massive range of activities, from night game drives and canoeing to bike rides and village visits, you’ll have an enriching stay in Lake Manyara.
2. Manyara Ranch Conservancy
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Manyara Ranch Conservancy
Set within the Kwakuchinja wildlife migration corridor, on a private conservancy of 35,000 acres of unspoilt wilderness, Manyara Ranch Conservancy lies completely undisturbed. No other safari operator has access to this area, and with just eight eco-friendly canvas tents, you’ll relish the tranquility. The conservancy is also the first project in Tanzania to combine conservation with tourism, and your stay will directly contribute to the welfare of the local communities. Go on night game drives, watch wildlife from one of the custom-built hides at the watering hole, or learn about the local culture on a village walk.
5. Arusha National Park
Most travellers pass through Arusha on their way to the more famous national parks of the Northern Circuit; however, we recommend staying for a few days to soak up the fantastic sights around the region. Located just outside Arusha, Arusha National Park is small yet rich in wildlife and can be accessed with an easy day trip from the city centre.
It’s one of the country’s most exciting parks, with game drives, canoe safaris, and bush camping activities. Due to the park's lack of predators, it’s also one of the few places to venture out on a walking safari.
Although there are no lions or rhinos, and rarely seen cheetah, leopard, and hyena, visitors observe one of the country’s largest populations of giraffe, along with populations of buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, and other species of antelope.
If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the handful of elephants, hippos, shy dik-diks, and red forest duikers that roam the region. The Ngurdoto Forest also has a population of primates, including blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Birdwatchers will be entertained, with over 400 bird species found in the park, including the bright pink flocks of flamingos covering the Momella Lakes. Arusha National Park is scenically stunning with open grassland, dense forest, glittering lakes, and the Ngurdoto Crater (known as Little Ngorongoro).
If you’re looking for more adventure, consider climbing nearby Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, or conquer Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa
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Elephants in Arusha National Park
Top highlights
- Excellent giraffe and primate viewing
- Prime birding around the Momella Lakes
- Walking and canoe safaris
- Access to Mount Meru and proximity to Kilimanjaro
- Easy to combine with Northern Circuit parks
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Quick facts
- Annual visitors: ~67,000.
- Size: 213 square miles (550 km²).
- Common animal sightings: Giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, zebra, warthog, dik-dik, blue monkey, black-and-white colobus, flamingo
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Best time to visit Arusha National Park
Like the other parks in Tanzania, the best time to visit Arusha National Park is from July to October in the dry winter season. Vegetation is sparse, and animals gather around retreating water sources, making wildlife easier to spot.
This is also the best season to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru and to see the Great Migration across the Serengeti
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The wet season, from December to June, is best for bird watching, spotting newborn animals, and photographing the beautiful, lush green landscapes. The peak of the wet season (March to May) experiences the heaviest rains
How to get to Arusha National Park
As Tanzania's safari gateway, Arusha is easily accessible. You can fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam (DAR), then take a domestic flight to Arusha Airport (ARK). From there, it’s a 1.5-hour drive to Arusha National Park. You’ll also be within driving distance of the other major national parks on the Northern Circuit.
Where to stay in Arusha National Park
Our favorite luxury lodges and camps in Arusha National Park:
1. Arusha Serena Hotel
Arusha Serena Hotel
Situated next to Lake Duluti and surrounded by the woodland slopes of Mount Meru, Arusha Serena Hotel is a gorgeous, peaceful property. The hotel is perfect for soaking up the region's natural beauty with charming cottage-style rooms, landscaped lawns, and a 1920s lakeside resort feel. There’s also plenty to do, with massage treatments, lakeside sundowners, canoe safaris, city tours, local market visits, and cooking classes.
2. Arusha Coffee Lodge
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Located just five minutes from Arusha Airport, you’ll relax in the beautiful foothills of Mount Meru at Arusha Coffee Lodge. Surrounded by history, the lodge rests on one of Tanzania’s most extensive coffee plantations, and the charming guest houses reflect the style of the early 1900s. Soak up spectacular views of the evergreen fields, go on a coffee estate tour, or spend the day at the swimming pool and spa.
Southern Parks
6. Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
The Nyerere National Park (the core of the greater Selous ecosystem) is Africa's largest game reserve, home to all of Africa’s Big Five and an extraordinary amount of wildlife. Yet, it remains largely unheard of by tourists.
Located in southern Tanzania, far from the crowds of the more popular parks in the Northern Circuit, visitors to the Selous will find a much quieter, yet just as impressive, safari experience.
Take a game drive around the reserve during the dry season, and you’re likely to spot some of the 120,000 buffaloes that inhabit the region, along with the 4,000 lions, one of the largest populations in the world.
You can see elephants, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, impalas, wildebeests, eland, and hyenas. You’ll even have a chance of spotting the critically endangered black rhino or the African wild dog, with around 50% of their remaining population found in the Selous.
The Rufiji River is the lifeline of the Selous, with a massive network of waterways serving as the primary water source for thousands of animals.
Take a boat safari along the rivers and wetlands to spot some of the 40,000 resident hippos and the huge population of crocodiles. You can also explore the Selous on foot with an exhilarating walking safari or go off-road in your guided safari vehicle in search of the incredible wildlife.
Nyerere National Park
Top highlights
- One of Africa's largest protected areas
- Good chances to see African wild dogs in the broader ecosystem
- Strong lion sightings
- Dry-season wildlife without heavy crowds
- Boat safaris on the Rufiji
Quick facts
- Visitors: less than 1% of Tanzania's tourists reach Selous.
- Size: 19,300 square miles (over 50,000 km²). Roughly the size of Massachusetts plus New Hampshire combined.
- Common sightings: Lion, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, elephant, eland, puku, hartebeest, kudu
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Best time to visit Selous Game Reserve
The best time to visit the Selous Game Reserve is during the dry season from July to October. Even though this is peak season, you still won’t encounter the usual crowds of the more popular northern parks. You'll have prime wildlife viewing opportunities with thinning vegetation and retreating water sources.
The wet season runs from October to May and is best for birdwatching, spotting newborn animals, and photographing the lush, green scenery. However, the heaviest rains fall from March to May, and many lodges and roads close during this period.
How to get to Selous Game Reserve
The easiest way to reach the Selous is by flying into Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, then transferring to the nearby domestic airport for your flight to the Selous Game Reserve. Upon arrival, a representative will transfer you to your lodge.
Where to stay in Selous Game Reserve
Our favorite luxury lodges and camps in the Selous Game Reserve:
1. Selous Serena Camp
Selous Serena Camp bedroom
When you stay at Selous Serena Camp, you’ll enjoy Africa’s largest game reserve in supreme comfort. You'll have the perfect mix of adventure and tranquility with luxurious safari tents, a spa tent with massage treatments, a gorgeous infinity pool, romantic sundowners by the river, boat safaris, bird walks, and game drives. You can even watch elephants walking through the camp, as they make their way to the nearby Simbazi River.
2. Siwandu Camp
Siwandu Camp
Set in an open palm forest next to Lake Nzerakera, Siwandu Camp is in one of the most exciting areas of the Selous Game Reserve. You’ll enjoy safaris by vehicle, boat, and foot, and you’ll also enjoy incredible views within the camp, with an elevated lounge and dining area and spacious safari tents offering spectacular views of the lake. Located just a 5-minute drive from the airstrip, the camp is easily accessible and has an off-grid atmosphere.
7. Ruaha National Park
After merging with the Usangu Game Reserve in 2008, Ruaha National Park became the largest national park in Tanzania. It is home to massive wildlife populations, yet despite this, Ruaha remains one of the country’s best-kept safari secrets.
Located in southern Tanzania, the park is only accessible by airplane. Wildly remote and bursting with wildlife, it is the ideal escape from the well-beaten safari track.
Its beautiful landscapes include vast open plains, rolling hills, ancient baobab trees, and the Great Ruaha River, the heart of the national park. Scores of animals are drawn to this river to drink and hunt for prey, and the park is home to an incredible abundance of diverse wildlife.
You’ll likely spot some of the 12,000 elephants, one of the largest populations in Tanzania. In just a few days, you can find cheetah, leopard, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, large prides of lions, and significant populations of giraffe, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, hartebeest, kudu, impala, bushbuck, roan, gazelle, and other species of antelope.
You may also be lucky to spot the rare striped hyena or the critically endangered African wild dog, which remains in the park with around 100 wild dogs.
Due to Ruaha's sheer size and remote location, we recommend spending at least three or four nights in the park. There are only a few camps here, although our favorites are definitely worth a longer stay
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Lions in Ruaha National Park
Top highlights
- Remote Remote, fly-in wilderness with low visitor numbers
- One of the best places in East Africa to see wild dogs
- Unusual antelope species alongside classic plains game
- Some of East Africa's largest elephant herds
- Options for fly camping
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Quick facts
- Annual visitors: ~21,000
- Size:7,800 square miles (~20,200 km²), the area of the state of Massachusetts
- Common animal sightings: Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, kudu, gazelle, hippo, crocodile, zebra, sable, spotted hyena
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Best time to visit Ruaha National Park
The dry season from June to October is the best time to visit Ruaha National Park. As the bush thins out and wildlife gather around the few remaining water sources, you’ll have plenty of prime wildlife viewing opportunities.
The wet season lasts from November to April, and although you’ll contend with regular downpours, it’s the best season for birdwatching. Migratory birds arrive, and the landscape is illuminated in stunning green foliage. April and May experience the heaviest rains, and many lodges close during this time due to impassable roads
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How to get to Ruaha National Park
The best way to get to Ruaha National Park is by flying to the park’s airstrip. Direct flights are available from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Serengeti National Park, and Selous Game Reserve. Upon arrival in Ruaha National Park, a representative will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you to your lodge.
Where to stay in Ruaha National Park
Our favorite luxury lodges and camps in Ruaha National Park:
1. Mdonya Old River Camp
Bedroom at Mdonya Old River Camp
Located a 1-2 hour drive from the airstrip, a stay at Mdonya Old River Camp takes you off-grid in the western part of Ruaha National Park. There are only 12 rustic tents, and you can watch big game passing by the camp from your private deck, including herds of elephants and even a regular cheetah. Enjoy sundowners in the bush, thrilling game drives through the park, or visit the beautiful Mdonya Falls, just a few miles from the camp.
2. Jongomero Camp
The mess at Jongomero Camp
Venture into the southern wilderness of Ruaha National Park with a stay at Jongomero Camp. Although the camp is only five minutes from the Jongomero airstrip, you’ll feel far away in this secluded, tranquil spot on the banks of the Jongomero River. There are just eight luxurious canvas tents, featuring private decks and huge emperor beds. Soak in the pool with river views or go on a longer fly camping adventure where you can sleep under the stars.
Our luxury travel specialists discuss Tanzania travel ideas and create tailor-made luxury holidays suited to your needs and interests. You can explore our article on responsible travel in Tanzania.
