Ruaha River Lodge

Ruaha River Lodge is set on one of the most stunning stretches of the Great Ruaha River within Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's second-largest safari park. The lodge is located approximately 45 minutes drive upstream from Msembe on the banks of the Ruaha River amongst rocky kopjes. It's the oldest and largest property in Ruaha National Park, and notably the only true 'lodge' in Ruaha, consisting of 24 stone chalets stretching along the river bank. The lodge offers an up-close perspective of one of Tanzania's most iconic national parks between two captivating locations.

Rooms

The lodge consists of 24 spacious, en-suite stone bandas/chalets (some sources mention 29 cottages) individually sited along the river bank under tamarind trees among rocky kopjes. Each elegant banda features large private wooden decks that descend to secluded seating areas along the riverbank, with bi-fold wooden-gauze doors inviting the sights and sounds of Ruaha's pristine wilderness. The spacious interiors have stone walls and cement floors that help moderate temperatures, featuring open-plan bedroom/lounge areas with two couches, a desk, twin or double beds, and mosquito gauze on windows. Each chalet has stunning views from a large veranda out the front, plus a large bathroom at the rear decorated with found timber, shower, and double basins.

Facilities & Dining

The lodge is split across two locations, each run as a separate entity with dining tables, lounge, and bar. One area is perched atop the rocky outcrop commanding impressive views over the bush, while the other is right down by the river's edge for intimate wildlife viewing, both thatched with reed sides and cool stone/cement floors. The food is farmhouse-style cooking with abundance of fresh ingredients and always plenty to go around. There's a riverside firepit where the Ruaha River invites wildlife and birds to its banks to be admired. The lodge offers solar-heated hot water in en-suite bathrooms featuring shower, toilet, and washbasin, with generator providing electricity for lights and battery charging until 11 pm each night.

Activities

Activities include walking safaris accompanied by an armed ranger, game drives in specially adapted 4x4 vehicles (early morning and late afternoon), and fly-camping in dome tents with separate toilet and bucket shower. If you'd like to spend the day adventuring deeper into the park, the lodge will happily pack you a picnic for the day. The south-eastern section of the reserve where the lodge is situated can get busy but exudes a real sense of wilderness and boasts abundant wildlife. Bush walks are also available accompanied by armed park rangers. The lodge's river position makes for impressive game viewing during dry season.

About

While the lodge offers plenty of beds, good management and friendly, efficient staff help keep the atmosphere personal. The lodge exudes a real sense of wilderness despite being in a rich game area, and sitting in the lodge you're likely to see many animals come to drink from the river. The acacia-studded rocky landscape creates stunning views, and the lodge capitalizes on Ruaha's diverse landscapes to show off unparalleled diversity of wildlife and birdlife. The riverside firepit and secluded seating areas along the riverbank make it a playground for the park's abundant birdlife.