Reviews of safaris to Ruaha National Park

"We loved the trip and could not believe how close we were able to get to lions etc. Guides and drivers were excellent at both Reserves.

Reserves were relatively quiet so they were no queues of vehicles waiting to see specific animals.

Accommodation at both Reserves was as expected with a good bed, hot water and a toilet. Zanzibar as a place was a disappointment." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari

"I would thoroughly recommend my trip to Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park to everybody. The wildlife and landscape of each was incredibly different, but the two regions of Tanzania complimented each other perfectly.

I visited during the green season, so the wildlife was quite spread out, so if you want large congregations of wildlife it may be best to visit during the dry season. Although, the green season is the best time for breeding and migratory birds. If you are passionate about elephants however, Ruaha is the place to visit, as I must have seen hundreds. I was very pleased with my choices of camps too, and also it was perfect to stay at the wilder, more rustic Lake Manze first of all, followed by a bit more comfort and luxury at Ikuka. I enjoyed staying at both immensely, in different ways.

Finally, a few nights at Amani Beach at the end of my trip, gave me a chance to relax and unwind before my long journey home.

Finally, I would like to thank Expert Africa, in particular Freddie Sutton, who helped me design my itinerary, and worked very hard to make sure it was exactly what I was looking for. I enjoyed every minute of my trip, so it was undoubtedly a success!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Tanzania safari

"This is likely our last safari and was a great way to end what has been a passion of ours for 30 years.

We enjoyed new places ( Namibia and Tanzania) , saw incredible sights ( especially the Crater and the migration) , ate wonderful food and met many wonderful people" Read full review: 51 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"Absolutely loved the whole trip. It was quite surreal. To be among so many animals as if it were the most natural thing in the world is quite mind-blowing.

Now when I watch programmes on African animals I understand them so much more.

Tanzania is a beautiful place with beautiful people. I highly recommend people to go there and experience it for themselves.

I would love to go back." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"A joyful break from the work-a-day world.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I felt very confident with Jessica's advice -- she had recently travelled to Ruaha NP -- and her appreciated her patience with my questions. I was working with several other safari companies at the same time and went with Expert Africa because she was able to work with my budget and time constraints and make all the arrangements for me.

I Got a little nervous after I completed the booking form and payment and didn't hear from Jessica again for 3 or 4 days -- notably over the weekend, but my trip was only 4 days away when I got confirmation." Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 4 on a Tanzania safari

"My daughter and I absolutely loved our safari and bush experiences. The bush camp staff were exceptionally committed, knowledgeable, and hospitable.

Unfortunately, we were terribly disappointed with the last part of the trip in Zanzibar." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari

"This was a wonderful trip and our first experience of a safari holiday. It exceeded all our expectations.

We didn't have to worry about any of the arrangements and were met when we were supposed to be met and given clear instructions of timings to be collected. The safari camps were different in their own way but were both most satisfactory. The free laundry service was an added bonus and our rooms (tents) were kept spotlessly clean and tidy. At Impala Camp we had our own Masai man to escort us to and from our tents in case there were any visiting animals. He was always there and yet was unobtrusive.

The only concern was the tipping system, particularly in Mwagusi Camp. Here it appears the staff were only given their tips once a year, including the guides. We would have preferred to tip the guides separately as we did in Impala. We were put in a difficult position and this needs to be sorted.

It is essential to have cash! Neither camp had the facility to pay by card. We also needed to pay by cash at the hotel in Dar es Salam because their internet was down.

Pongwe Beach Hotel was almost the icing on the cake." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari

"As a first time visit to Tanzania I quickly fell in love with Ruaha's stark beauty. The majestic baobab forests, the picturesque riverbeds snaking through the dry vegetation, the elegant palms rustling in the wind, puncturing the sky with their impossibly thin trunks.

The time of year (October) was perfect and a significant consideration for us as in the dry season the two rivers here provide the only water in this arid area, becoming an exciting hot spot for prey and predators alike. Sightings got better as the days passed and I wished we could have stayed much longer to enjoy every opportunity that would have undoubtedly presented itself before the rains. However, I was more that satisfied with our sightings and wildlife encounters.

Selous was exiting in different ways. We were spoiled with animal sightings around Lake Manze and also around the camp which was set amongst beautiful lush clumps of palms along the lake shores. However there were far fewer sightings away from the main body of water. Surprisingly we found that the zebras and eland that we came across were extremely skittish, but the lake itself was the biggest and best delight of all. As the water in the lake diminished and became very shallow it attracted thousands of waterbirds congregating for a fishing bonanza. The bird life was diverse and spectacular, from pelicans to yellow billed storks, spoonbills, marabous, numerous egret species, kingfishers, skimmers and lots of crocodiles, each using their own technique to catch the unbelievable amount of fish, which at times jumped out of the shrinking muddy water. I've never seen so many fish eagles in one place and watching them dive in succession gave me plenty of photo opportunities to try and get the perfect shot.

The walking safaris in both locations felt like a bit of an afterthought and certainly not consistent with the high standard of bush-walks in places like Zambia and Botswana. The walks were very short with few route options if you wanted to do more than one walk." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari

"Good.

Ive already exhausted myself writing detailed reviews of every aspect and my Tanzanian Tummy is beckoning me elsewhere very soon." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Tanzania safari

"It was a memorable experience and we were completely satisfied with our wildlife viewing.

We did not want luxurious accommodation or fine dining and went to Africia to see the people and the animals.

We will be back!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari