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OVERVIEW:
Ikuka Safari Camp is an upscale yet beautifully understated property in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, run by safari experts and hands-on owners Mark and Chloe Sheridan Johnson, together with a top-notch team. From an elevated position high on the Ikuka escarpment, the views from here are nothing short of magnificent and it’s only a short drive from the park’s prime wildlife-viewing areas. This is a one-of-a-kind safari experience in one of Tanzania’s truly remote and vast wild spaces. Rates at Ikuka Safari Camp are full board and include accommodation, meals, shared game drives, house drinks (except champagne and premium wines), airstrip transfers to/from Msembe airstrip, and laundry.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
Ikuka Safari Camp is located high on the Ikuka escarpment in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park – part of Tanzania’s southern safari circuit. Access is by light aircraft to Msembe airstrip, from either Dar es Salaam or one of the other Tanzanian safari parks, followed by a 45-minute drive to the camp.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT IKUKA SAFARI CAMP:
Ikuka Safari Camp features seven luxury open-plan guest tents, including a two-story family unit, all with magnificent views overlooking Ruaha National Park. Incorporating locally sourced materials, including white quartz from the escarpment, the rooms blend effortlessly into the surrounding landscape – all completely open-fronted, with lofty thatched roofs. Outside, viewing decks offer the perfect spot to gaze at the landscape from an elevated vantage point. Super-king-sized beds occupy the central part of the tent and are surrounded by full-length curtains that can be drawn at night. There are reading lights on either side, writing desks, an integrated living area with a comfortable sofa and coffee table, fans, and safes. Each spacious en-suite washroom has twin washbasins, a flush toilet, and an indoor rain shower with plenty of hot water. The two-storey family tent accommodates two adults on the ground floor and a maximum of three children upstairs, and has a shared bathroom, a sitting room, a pool deck, and a plunge pool.
Also completely open-fronted, the airy, light-flooded communal areas at Ikuka Safari Camp include a well-stocked bar, a lounge area with comfy leather sofas and coffee tables, a dining space with panoramic views from every angle, a telescope, and an upstairs library area where guests can relax and leaf through one of the guide books on display. Outside, there’s a swimming pool that also takes full advantage of the views, and is illuminated by night with paraffin lamps. Wi-Fi is available in the main area and there is a good mobile phone signal at the camp for those who prefer not to disconnect completely.
ACTIVITIES AT IKUKA SAFARI CAMP:
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Game drives
– Owner Mark is a qualified safari guide. He leads some seriously impressive game drives and walks, covering the incredibly biodiverse area close to the Mwagusi river. Ruaha National Park is a YZ favorite for game drives, based on the sheer diversity of landscapes and superb variety of wildlife. Sprawling savanna, towering baobab trees, miombo woodlands, lofty kopjes, and a network of waterways including the Great Ruaha River – all home to species such as lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, antelopes, hyenas, jackals, wild dog, and hippo. -
Walking safaris
– Walks start directly from the camp, where the hilly terrain boasts stunning scenery as well as the chance for some good exercise! You’ll most likely come across elephant, impala, kudu, and giraffe, as well as discovering the smaller details of the bush often missed on game drives. Please note that the minimum age for walking safaris is 16 years. -
Birding
– The birdlife in Ruaha National Park deserves a mention too, as almost six hundred species have been spotted here, including eagles, ospreys, herons, pelicans, ducks, geese, bee-eaters, and guineafowls. Bird enthusiasts should remember to bring binoculars! -
Photography
– Keen photographers are offered handy tips on wildlife photography from Mark or one of the expert guides. Let us know if you’re looking for help setting up your camera or figuring out how to get the perfect shot while out on a game drive.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
