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Reviews 132 • Excellent

Where to Stay

Ruaha River Lodge

from $410 per person per night for 2026/27

A great lodge in the heart of Ruaha

Following the footsteps of its sister property in the Selous, Ruaha River Lodge is a beautifully designed camp which highlights off its position on the banks of the mighty river. As the only “lodge” in Ruaha, it’s a great choice for those less keen on rustic tented camps. Run and owned by the Fox family, it ticks all of the boxes; fantastic views, service, location and value for money.

More of a ‘lodge’ feel for those who do not want a tented experience

It’s large – but then again it is split between two camps

About the location

Ruaha River Lodge is located on the banks of the great Ruaha river and is a short drive from the main airstrip, Msembe. The river is the perfect backdrop to the lodge and all of its rooms, whether it’s going on a game drive along the banks, or sitting out on your private veranda watching the wildlife go by.

Do see Parks & Regions on this page.

lodge Layout

Although the camp is the largest in Ruaha, accommodating a total of 24 chalets, the camp is divided into two main dining and lounge areas to give it a more intimate ambiance. Each camp is self-sufficient so it will feel like a camp of 12 rooms in either camp you are put into.

Do see our new Ruaha River Lodge Picture Gallery further down this page.

Ruaha River Lodge Accomodation

The lodge and its 24 chalets are extremely spacious, and made from local stone and makuti thatch. Each chalet has an ensuite bathroom with running water and flushing toilets. The best part about the rooms are the large, private verandas that look out onto the Ruaha River. With chairs already positioned on the veranda, is the perfect place to relax and enjoy an armchair safari.

Do see Best Safaris & Holidays on this page.

Wildlife & Activities at Ruaha River Lodge

Game drives are the main activity in Ruaha National Park and these are done in open-sided safari vehicles with a maximum of either 4 of 6 people. Usually game drives are done in the morning and afternoon, with time in the middle of the day to relax in camp and enjoy a delicious lunch. If guests do a full day game drive, a packed lunch is taken with you.

Don’t miss our Ruaha River Lodge Wildlife Guide on this page.

How to book Ruaha River Lodge

Please call us in the UK on the usual +44 1525 840 149 or email info@theafricaspecialists.com to check availability, best prices and what adventures you have in mind. We can plan and arrange it all for you and have been for over 20 years!

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Where on the map is Ruaha River Lodge?

Ruaha River Lodge

Ruaha River Lodge, Ruaha National Park map

Ruaha River Lodge Highlights

Just some of the highlights of this hand-picked Ruaha National Park lodge. Do call us direct for any other details or to help with planning and logistics.

Luxury Accommodation

24 stone chalets split into two camps

Photography

private verandas with great views

4WD Drive Game Safaris

game drive options available

Private Dining

private dining available

Please go to either of our Tailormade Safari Trips pages to see a lot more safari trips, ideas and budgets.

What kind of wildlife should you expect to find around Ruaha River Lodge for 2026/27?

For 2026/27, we expect you’ll be able to find the following wildlife around the Ruaha River Lodge bearing in mind the quality of guiding, budgets, time of year and duration of stay all affect your chances of finding or seeing any of the following outstanding wildlife that dwell in this part of the Ruaha National Park…

Don't miss our full Africa Wildlife Guide right here.

What are your best safari trips & itineraries to Ruaha River Lodge’s Ruaha National Park for 2026/27?

Some of our most-popular tailor-made trips for the Ruaha National Park that could include a stay at Ruaha River Lodge include...
Days14Days15

Duration

$4,500$7,000

Price Brackets (USD)

1 Selous Ruaha & Zanzibar

Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar

Visits : Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park, Southern Tanzania, Zanzibar beaches Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar

Unbelievably it is actually possible to safari in both the Selous and Ruaha within this budget. For this amount of money, this itinerary offers exceptional value for money and, for those wanting… More…

15 Nights

FROM $4,500pp/pn

Lake Manze Camp lake views, Selous/Nyerere

2 The Ultimate South

Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar

Visits : Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park, South of Dar, Southern Tanzania, Zanzibar beaches Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar

If you gave us the choice of where we would go and what we would do, apart from maybe upgrading the beach to Vamizi, this really is it! Arguably the best time… More…

15 Nights

FROM $7,000pp/pn

Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, Mwagusi Camp

3 Best of Southern Tanzania

Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar

Visits : Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park, Zanzibar and islands, Zanzibar beaches Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar

This is a great little safari itinerary that takes in two of Tanzania and Africa’s least visited but, in our opinion, best paired parks. The riverine Selous offers walking and boating safaris… More…

14 Nights

FROM $4,500pp/pn

Laba Siwandu, Boat safari, Nyerere National Park, Tanzania

Don't miss our new Africa Safari Finder to find safari ideas by destination, region and type...

What are the other best lodges in Ruaha National Park for 2026/27?

We highly recommend the following lodges for Ruaha National Park for 2026/27. These are all tried and tested by The Africa Specialists™ so don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over them or to check availability.

NB. All prices for properties exclude applicable park fees and are guide prices.

$500$1,600

Price pp pn (USD)

Stars4Stars5

Our Rating

4 Nights

Ikuka Safari Camp

Ruaha National Park

From $997 per person per night
See the hotel now
Ikuka Lodge, Bedroom, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

4 Nights

Mwagusi Camp

Ruaha National Park

From $597 per person per night
See the camp now
Mwagusi Camp, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

4 Nights

Jongomero Camp

Ruaha National Park

From $997 per person per night
See the camp now
Jongomero Camp, Bedroom, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

3 Nights

Mdonya Old River

Ruaha National Park

From $500 per person per night
See the lodge now
Mdonya Old River, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

6 Nights

Kichaka Camp

Ruaha National Park

From $1,024 per person per night
See the camp now
Kichaka Lodge, Zumbua suite view, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

5 Nights

Jabali Ridge

Ruaha National Park

From $1,600 per person per night
See the hotel now
Jabali Ridge, Ruaha National Par, Tanzania

4 Nights

Kigelia Camp

Ruaha National Park

From $875 per person per night
See the camp now
Kigelia Camp, Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

When is the best time to stay at Ruaha River Lodge in 2026/27?

Generally speaking, as the Ruaha River Lodge is in Ruaha National Park, we recommend booking stays here with us any time on the following timescales — depending on your preferences and wildlife/safari viewing plans — but if you want to avoid peak season or aim to get the timing “just right” then do call us any time to check your plans, costs and best options for a fantastic Ruaha River Lodge stay in the 2026/27 season…

January fair

February fair

March mixed

April mixed

May mixed

June great

July best

August amazing

September great

October still good

November fair

December fair

Don’t miss our full When to Visit tanzania guide on our main tanzania page.

Why travel with The Africa Specialists™?

1

100% tailormade

We help plan your trip from start to finish
We make sure to include all your interests
We offer a range of accommodation types
It is your trip, made to suit you

2

Expert knowledge

We have over 40 years of destination know how
We all spend time in our destinations annually
Local contacts give us unique insight
We are true specialists

3

We have you covered!

We have full ATOL bonding for your financial peace of mind
We provide 24/7 emergency backup as you travel
We make sure that the properties and guides are the best!

4

A trusted service

Established in 2010, you can totally rely on us.
The Africa Specialists trust logos

Please call us any time on USA +1-917-336-2937 or drop us a note via our contact us page.

It is the people, the animals and the unique experiences that bring people back to Africa time and time again.”

Nick French, The Africa Specialists™

Nick French signature shot in Africa

What to do next...

Begin Your Journey (French's Safari Map)
Begin Your Journey

Step with us into a world where every detail is curated, every moment considered, and every horizon feels like it was reserved exclusively for you.

Craft Your Bespoke Safari (icon)
Craft Your Bespoke Safari

Tell us what inspires you — and we’ll shape an African journey like no other — right down to the smallest detail.

Your adventure tailormade (icon)
Your Adventure, Tailored to Perfection

From private conservancies to remote luxury lodges, let us help you design your perfect safari adventure.

Please call us any time on USA +1-917-336-2937 or drop us a note via our contact us page.

Old Main Content

Nick/FiFi : This is the ‘old’ (imported) main content. Fi : This is what we’re copying up to the new hotel accordions.

Location

Ruaha River Lodge is located on the banks of the great Ruaha river and is a short drive from the main airstrip, Msembe. The river is the perfect backdrop to the lodge and all of its rooms, whether it’s going on a game drive along the banks, or sitting out on your private veranda watching the wildlife go by.

Layout

Although the camp is the largest in Ruaha, accommodating a total of 24 chalets, the camp is divided into two main dining and lounge areas to give it a more intimate ambiance. Each camp is self-sufficient so it will feel like a camp of 12 rooms in either camp you are put into.

 

Rooms

The lodge and its 24 chalets are extremely spacious, and made from local stone and makuti thatch. Each chalet has an ensuite bathroom with running water and flushing toilets. The best part about the rooms are the large, private verandas that look out onto the Ruaha River. With chairs already positioned on the veranda, is the perfect place to relax and enjoy an armchair safari.

Activities

Game drives are the main activity in Ruaha National Park and these are done in open-sided safari vehicles with a maximum of either 4 of 6 people. Usually game drives are done in the morning and afternoon, with time in the middle of the day to relax in camp and enjoy a delicious lunch. If guests do a full day game drive, a packed lunch is taken with you.

Ruaha River Lodge