Mwagusi Safari Camp | Ruaha National Park
Mwagusi is a well-established safari camp that was started in 1987 and is an expression of the unwavering love and passion of its owner Chris Fox for the Tanzanian bush, its wildlife and its people. Built almost entirely from organic natural materials Mwagusi guests are treated to a “unique” tented safari experience. The camp and its’ immediate surroundings are picturesque – 13 tented “bandas” snaking along the sandy banks of the Mwagusi River each with excellent views. Each spacious canvas tent rests under a cooling thatched roof with en-suite facilities and a verandah with cushioned seating area. Each “banda” is built from local natural materials such as thatching grass, river reeds, stones, drift wood and animal skulls, horns and bones. Started initially as a temporary fly-camp, Mwagusi has grown and developed over the years into a uniquely designed camp with a friendly and peaceful atmosphere. Each element of the camp has been carefully thought-out and designed to be original, unique and different from any other, with personal touches and a close attention to detail. Guided safaris focus on allowing guests to be part of the “true bush experience” – with a guide’s ability to read animal behaviour – knowing when to sit patiently and watch a natural sequence of events unfold.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Each spacious canvas tent rests under a cooling thatched roof with en-suite facilities and a large verandah with cushioned seating area looking out onto the Mwagusi Sand River. Each “banda” is built from local natural materials such as thatching grass, river reeds, stones, and drift wood. Images show the variety of game seen from bandas.
Each spacious canvas tent rests under a cooling thatched roof with en-suite facilities and a large verandah with cushioned seating area looking out onto the Mwagusi Sand River. The honeymoon suite/Family banda has an extended private area for private dining/ breakfast or just simply relaxing.
Property Facilities
Library, Mobile Connectivity, Restaurant
Room Facilities
Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Shower, Verandah
Lake Manze Tented Camp | Nyerere National Park
LAKE MANZE - Experience adventure! Keep it natural!
Feel the thrills of having an elephant eating Doum palm seeds right outside your tent. Hear the sound of its rumbling stomach and see how tender a mother is to her calf.
We have so much to learn from our animal friends, teachings that can help us create a better world.
We keep everything as it was before we arrived and this is why animals use the camp as much as our guests.
Experience this magical, romantic camp on the shore of the Lake Manze with stunning lake views from your own verandah. Experience the sunrise on a walking safari. Enjoy a delicious picnic bush breakfast or lunch during your game drive as you spot lions and wild dogs. Take a fishing trip on the lake. Get close and personal with hippos and crocodiles and thousands of exotic birds on a sunset boat safari. Delight in a sumptuous candlelight dinner on the lakeshore to the symphony of the surrounding.
You’ll never want to leave!
Your Stay
3 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Fast Facts
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 12
Special Interests: Adventure, Birding, Fishing, Flora, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Wildlife
Safari Meru Tents
Twelve Meru style walk-in tents, each with twin or double beds, flush toilet, outdoor shower and private veranda, are perfectly situated to enjoy the morning ritual: elephants trampling across an old, well-worn elephant trail in front of the camp towards the river.
Property Facilities
Bar, Eco Friendly, Restaurant
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, En-Suite, Fan, Lounge Area, Safe, Shower, Verandah
Services
Laundry Service
Game safaris take place in 4x4 vehicles which usually take 4 guests (except for airstrip transfers, when there may be up to 6 guests).
The drives are not limited to a specific schedule but tailor-made to guests' wishes.
Game drives can be in the morning or in the afternoon.
Departure times for the drives can usually be arranged according to your preferences
A walk with an armed ranger and an informative guide is a rewarding experience and a great way to get closer to the beauty of the Selous. Walking safaris can be arranged either in the early morning or the late afternoon.
Generally the early morning is the coolest time of the day. Walkers leave after a cup of tea/coffee, and eat breakfast on their return to camp. The walk usually lasts for about 2 hours, and can cover up to 3 km in the area around the camp.
The purpose of a walking safari is not to get close to animals. You get closer to animals when in a vehicle. The purpose of a walking safari is to see their tracks, their dung, to see plants and trees, and generally to enjoy being in nature without a vehicle. It is not a route march intended to cover long distances, but a gentle stroll, stopping to look at things of interest.
Please note that children of 15 years and younger are not permitted to go on walking safaris in the Selous.
There are two possibilities: either onto Lake Manze or along a channel that runs from the Lake to the Rufiji River (although it is too far to reach the river itself).
In either direction you can expect to see hippo, crocodile, maybe other animals coming to drink, and about 40 species of birds. Some birds, like osprey, are more likely to be seen on the lake; others, like white-fronted bee eaters, are more numerous on the channel.
Some guests do both trips, and opinion seems to be equally divided as to which is the better.
Boat safaris last a little over 2 hours and can be arranged in either the morning or the afternoon. Early morning offers the charm of the early morning light (unless it's cloudy!), but you are likely to see more crocodiles once the day has warmed up and they come out to bask in the sun.
A popular option is a morning walk at 6.30 a.m. followed by a boat safari at 10.00 a.m. Afternoon boat safaris offer the possibility of a beautiful Manze sunset.
Fishing is another possibility; the main attractions are catfish and tiger fish. The tiger is a fish that is famous for being a fighter with heart, and having the tools to back it up. They are powerful swimmers, often leaping several feet into the air whilst being fought. They are relatives of the Piranha. Catfish can grow to be monsters up to 50 kgs, but the average catch size of one of these is 6 to 15 kilos.
The boat operator will take you by boat to an area where he believes you will find fish. You fish from the bank, and so even if you are not catching fish, you can see wildlife all around you - perhaps an elephant coming to drink or a fish eagle showing you how it is done. If you are having no luck, then you may go on to another spot and try fishing from there. Fishing is probably best done in the early morning.
The full day drive usually goes towards the Beho Beho area, with a packed lunch.
The vegetation in this area is different from the Manze area, being more open plains.
In the afternoon a stop can be made at the Maji Moto hot springs. There are three pools: very hot, hot and warm. If you wish, you may take a swim in the lowest pool - or the middle pool if you can stand it!