An adventurous and intimate camping experience run by one of Africa’s most accomplished wildlife guides
Kichaka Zumbua has a lounge, bar, and pool, while Kichaka Kidogo and Kichaka Wild offer open-air dining and campfires
A high-end main camp called Kichaka Zumbua, a fly camp called Kichaka kidogo, and a seven-night expedition known as Kichaka Wild
World-class walking safaris, game drives, night drives, birding, stargazing, and photography
Kichaka Expeditions focuses mainly on walking safaris led by Andrew Molinaro or one of the expert guides (all trained by Moli), guaranteeing amazing safaris packed full of encyclopaedic knowledge. Guests explore the remotest parts of Ruaha, encountering incredible biodiversity throughout.
Action-packed game drives take in remote, lesser-visited parts of Ruaha National Park, with its incredibly diverse ecosystem and one of the highest elephant concentrations in the world. It’s not uncommon for guests to spend entire days out in the bush with a picnic lunch. Among the highlights are four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Also, keep an eye open for smaller predators such as cheetah, serval, caracal, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and all sorts of antelopes!
Guided walking safaris are one of the main reasons for staying at Kichaka, with some of the remotest on-foot safaris in Africa in one of its wildest parks. Moli is a superb walking guide with an exhaustive knowledge of the region’s flora and fauna. Far from the beaten track, this is a truly unique opportunity to experience a vast, little-explored wilderness. Taking new routes each day, you’ll explore animal tracks, plants and their medicinal purposes, and the area’s phenomenal birdlife. Different levels and distances are available, depending on the ages of your group. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn bush skills, such as identifying tracks and spoor, fire lighting, and a few survival basics.
Game drives often extend into the night, when all the big predators come to life. Every drive is different, frequently presenting something wholly unexpected and always unforgettable – you might spot the likes of civet, genet, porcupine, and the charming pangolin. Please note there is an additional $100 Tanapa fee per person for this activity.
Keen birders won’t be disappointed as Ruaha National Park has nearly six hundred recorded species. Bring a pair of binoculars and keep an eye open for raptors, bataleur eagles, Tanzanian red-billed hornbills, herons, and black-collared lovebirds, to name a few.
Huge, crystal-clear nights with zero light pollution make Ruaha National Park an amazing place for stargazing. The camp has a powerful telescope that easily displays Saturn’s rings – a truly incredible sight.
The guides at Kichaka are passionate photographers who can give you lots of pointers on how to get the perfect wildlife shots. If you’re new to photography or just looking for advice on camera placement, let us know, and we’ll inform your guides.
*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.
Kichaka Expeditions is located in a remote and unspoilt area on the eastern side of Ruaha National Park, far from any other safari camps or lodges. Access is by light aircraft to Msembe Airstrip (a 1.5-hour flight from Dar es Salaam), followed by a 3-hour game drive to the camp with a picnic lunch along the way.
Perched high up on a ridge in the eastern corner of Ruaha National Park, Kichaka Zubua is Kichaka Expedition’s main camp and its most luxurious.
Pool
Lounge
Kichaka Zumbua’s communal area is partitioned into three sections: a comfortable lounge with stunning views, an information center ideal for relaxing with a book, and a dining room. Lunch is often enjoyed out in the bush while on safari, and the camp also arranges adventurous bush dining under the stars at night. Finally, there’s a central pool with panoramic views and a well-stocked ‘Star Bar’, inviting guests to sit around the fire and admire the vast starlit skies. Please be prepared to disconnect as the camp has no mobile phone or Wi-Fi connection.
There are three spacious domed tents on raised platforms with rustic thatched roofs, all with magnificent views overlooking the Ruaha River Valley.
Plunge pool
Ceiling fan
Stone bathtub with views
Outdoor shower
Flush toilet
Design elements include plenty of stone, natural fabrics, wooden furniture, and sisal mats. The bedrooms are completely open during the day, providing welcome respite from the heat, and they are closed at night to keep out insects. Inside, you’ll find a double or twin bed/s, bedside tables with reading lights, a ceiling fan, a writing desk, and luggage racks. Each airy en-suite bathroom features a beautiful stone bathtub with stunning views of Ruaha National Park, an outdoor shower with hot water, and a flush toilet. A small plunge pool on the other side of the bedroom is ideal for cooling off between safari activities.
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