Ikuka Safari Camp

The Camp is located in the Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, perched on the edge of the Mwagusi escarpment, with spectacular views across the Ruaha valley.

Property Facilities

√24-hour Security
√Bar
√Battery Charging Facilities
√Communal Dining
√Eco Friendly
√Internet Access (Complimentary)
√Laundry Service (Complimentary)
√Library
√Meal on Request
√Mobile Connectivity
√Pool
√Private Vehicle Available
√Restaurant
√Secure Parking

Room Facilities

√Balcony / Deck
√Detached Private Bathroom
√Dressing Gowns
√Electrical Outlets
√En-Suite
√Fan
√Laundry Service (Complimentary)
√Lounge Area
√Pure Cotton Linen
√Safe
√Shower
√Verandah

Unit Types

Family Tent
(1 UNIT / VILLA)
2 Storey room; sleeps 2 or 3 children upstairs and 2 adults downstairs; shared bathroom and shared sitting room, pool deck and plunge pool.

Double/Twin Tent
(6 UNITS / VILLAS)
Tents can be double or twin or triples; shared bathroom and sitting room. 1 tent also has a private plunge pool.

Walking Safari

On foot you are a participant in the world of wildlife rather than a spectator.

Imagine walking the same path as elephants, hear a lion roar in the distance or smell the bush and wildlife. One of the allures of exploring the bush on foot are the smaller things which often get missed in the vehicle – the tracks and trails of animals as well as seeing how important each and every creature is in making nature work.

Game drives.

Game drives timings & details.

Game drives offered in open 4WD safari vehicles.

Morning safaris with a picnic between 6-6.30am and then return for lunch and a rest at the camp.

Afternoon between 4-4.30pm and return to camp by 7pm.

Prefer different timings are considered as per clients wishes.

The game drives are all done within Ruaha National Park. The routes will vary depending on seasons, time of day and animal location to give the guests the best possible experience.

The experience

Sundowner in style

A trip to the Ruaha National Park in Tanzania is an exhilarating adventure into the unknown. Very few other wildernesses in Africa can convey the sheer isolation and expanse of this land that epitomises the Africa of ‘old’ that was felt in times gone by. Far far away from the ‘madding’ crowds which haunt the famous Northern Circuits, Ruaha lies in an untouched and incredibly remote area of Southern Tanzania, and is visited by relatively few tourists making it one of Africa’s wildest Parks for the safari enthusiast.

Ruaha National Park is one of the last true great wilderness areas Africa has to offer, with a connected ecosystem of around 45,000sq kilometers. Winding riverine systems, sweeping vistas, rolling hills, jagged rocky outcrops, and endless miomba woodlands are just some of the things that make Ruaha special. This fusion of many different habitats allows for a wide variety of fauna to inhabit the park, a mixture out of the norm.

At the parks heart is the well named Great Ruaha River, a massive water course that is fed by a multitude of sand rivers. The Great Ruaha River flows through the Usangu wetlands eastwards into the Rufiji River and it marks the borders between the Iringa Region, Dodoma Region and Morogoro Regions.

Green season is a magical time to also enjoy the diverse butterfly and moth species which fill the air in busy flutters as they pollenate the grasses and flowers. Some of my favourites are the vibrant Yellow Pansy. Citrus Swallowtails and Foxy Emperors but the Lunar moth, which can have a wingspan up to a huge 178mm, is a pretty memorable sighting too.

Access

Most commonly reached by plane from Dar es Salaam, Ruaha features among the southern circuit safari destinations of the Nyrerere, Katavi and Mahale National Parks.

DAILY FLIGHTS FROM ALL MAJOR SAFARI PARKS & CITIES

–  DAR ES SALAAM – RUAHA 2HR

–  SERENGETI – RUAHA 1hR30

–  RUAHA – NYRERERE 30min

–  RUAHA – ZANZIBAR 2HR

AIRLINES INCLUDE: SAFARI AIR LINK (SAL), COASTAL, AURIC AIR

Camp is 45 minute drive from Msembe airstrip

Camp is open from June-March

WE CAN ARRANGE YOUR INTERNAL FLIGHTS AND TRANSFERS FOR YOU.

GET IN TOUCH

Ruaha National Park’s positioning in the middle of Tanzania means that we get cross over between the Northern, Eastern and Southern mammal species such as Grant’s Gazelle (typically a northern species) and Impala’s (typically a southern species).

The rare Sable antelope and Roan can also be found cohabiting the same ecosystem, Sable’s distribution is from the northern tip of South Africa, though Zambia, Mozambique up to Tanzania, whereas Roan is Western/Central Africa, with Tanzania being on the eastern limit of its range.

The beautiful Lesser Kudu and Greater Kudu are also both found in Ruaha, Lesser Kudu is a Northern Species, found from Somalia though Kenya down to Ruaha. The Greater is very much a Southern species, being found in many of the Southern African Countries with its range stretching up the eastern side of the continent.

Seeing all of these different species’ side by side in such a beautiful setting, is something everyone should experience.

Long stay offers

Long stay offers 4 for 3 has continued all year round this is because 4 nights is always better than 3 to make the most of your stay in Ruaha. Get in touch to know more.

Repeat stay offers.

This is to thank frequent repeat guests by offering an additional 5% discount on top of the current 4 for 3 offer

It’s green season in Ruaha and it feels like the whole landscape is alive with new birth, life and energy. From the migrant birds that join us from the south with their dramatic breeding plumage to the baby mammals that become more and more active daily, Ruaha seems like a garden of Eden, a far cry from the distant parched dry season behind us.

Jan-March is a wonderful time to be in Ruaha particularly for those with a passion for birding. We love bringing new enthusiasts to the park as well as welcoming back old friends who are captured by the irresistible draw of this stunning spectacle where the air is filled with blooms of butterflies and colourful wild flowers seem to appear from nowhere.

Whilst they never made the cut into the Big 5, hippos are fascinating animals in so many ways and ones which we never tire of seeing along the Mwagusi and Great Ruaha river systems. We felt they are often overlooked somewhat in favour of the big cats and so we have given them some special focus in this newsletter by sharing some expert facts – so enjoy mugging up on the mighty hippos below so you can impress your friends on your next safari!

Finally looking ahead to ahead into 2025/2026 we are heading to Indaba for the first time and we also wanted to remind you of our 2 special offers which are a continuing to run – 3 for 2 offer valid 6th Jan-15th March and of course our year round special of 4 for 3. We find that guests who make use of the 4 night stay really love relaxing in camp and making the most of the broad range of activities and experiences we offer at Ikuka. A slow safari is good for the soul! We are also going to be at Indaba in South Africa in May so