11 Day Hands-On Conservation Safari in Tanzania

The road network around camp was primarily developed by our knowledgeable guides and therefore perfectly placed for superlative game drives, with the blood-pumping thrills of tracking animals and the reverential calm of learning about this incredible environment. With only four seats in the majority of our 4WD open sided vehicles, privacy is easily delivered. However, our game drives are a shared experience with fellow guests, so if you would prefer to be alone, there is an opportunity to hire a private vehicle with a driver guide in advance for a daily surcharge.

Offered to guests aged 16 or over, game walks are probably the most fascinating way to truly experience the wonders of Ruaha. Out of the 4WD vehicle and being on foot is a humbling experience in this vast, untouched land. Set at a leisurely pace, the walks are not intended to find big game, instead it offers guests an education into the lives of the smaller animals as well as the birdlife, insects, flora and fauna. The walking season begins when the bush is less thick approximately late June or July and runs until the beginning of the rains in early December.

Would you like to have the definitive wilderness experience? If so you must prebook a walking safari, also known as fly-camping. During the day walk and discover the hidden depths of Ruaha while for one or twoovernight sleep under a canopy of stars after sharing stories around the camp fire and showering under the trees. This is the perfect idyllic adventure for a one or two night stay for a minimum of two to a maximum of six guests, bookable from 15th August to 15th November.

Guided game drives are offered twice per day in the cooler mornings and evenings along with picnic breakfasts and sundowners out in the bush. With your private vehicle and guide, you have the flexibility to explore any (accessible) area of the Usangu wetlands. Usangu has five biozones and offers many different habitat types that are waiting to be explored.

Walking safaris give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, away from the noise of the land cruiser and closer to the ground to observe the smaller and less obvious parts of the African wilderness. As part of your walking safari, you can receive an introduction to tracking where our specialist walking guide will teach you the basics of tracking, which will come in handy when setting your camera traps. Walking safaris are offered twice per day in the cooler mornings and evenings along with picnic breakfasts out in the bush and giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature.

Usangu is a seasonal wetland and combines riverine areas with a swamp/lake. Using the boat provides you access to areas not reachable by car. This activity is available yearround but varies with the seasons. This activity can be combined with bait fishing while out on the water. Whether experienced at fishing or trying it for the first time, guests have the opportunity, often during sundowners, to participate in this casual catch-and-release activity, The boating excursion is offered all year round but varying with seasons.

All Usangu visitors will be allocated a camera trap for the duration of their stay (one per couple/tent). Place it in the surrounding area with the assistance of the camp guides and explore what animals have visited the camp during the night. Use your new tracking skills to place the camera trap in areas most likely to capture wildlife.

Become a global biodiversity contributor. Learn how to use the iNaturalist app to log any species (fauna and flora) worldwide. We use this app to record all findings in Usangu for record-keeping and distribution mapping. You will receive training on how to identify and log sightings of species during your stay. As Usangu is still relatively unstudied there are still species to be discovered.

A one-night sleep out in the wild, where the Usangu star cubes are set in a remote area. You will also have a back-up canvas dome tent for privacy as well as in case of rain. We suggest this experience is combined with a walking safari, but this is not essential as it can also be combined with boating and/or game driving. This activity can be planned with our walking guide in camp and does not have to be pre-booked.

The Usangu star cubes are set up in a private setting within easy reach of your tent at the expedition camp. This offers a unique sleep-out experience, where you can sleep under the stars in the African wild, protected from critters and wildlife alike in a mesh cube, whilst keeping the comforts of your tent close at hand.

Usangu Expedition Camp is home to the Douglas Bell Information Centre which houses interesting details on the history and significance of the area. Guests can hear the story of the camp and spend time in the centre to understand the past, present, and future of the wild space of Usangu. The Information Centre will also be used for presentations from Asilia’s Positive Impact partners. Guests can visit at their leisure between activities to get a taste of the various conservation efforts in the region.

Night-time in the bush is very different from the day. A whole new world opens up with nocturnal species unseen in the day. Equipped with thermal cameras to ensure optimal viewing, with no disruption to the wildlife, Usangu offers night game drives like no other. Join your guide on this nocturnal experience to learn more about this hidden world.