Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Superbly isolated in the heart of Ruaha National Park, Jongomero Camp stands on the banks of a seasonal sand river which bears the same name. Blending beautifully into its surroundings, the Jongomero Camp is tucked away among some shady riverine vegetation. Not far from permanent water, the camp attracts a large amount of animals. The only camp in this area of Ruaha National Park, it also offers unmatched privacy and a true wilderness experience.
Jongomero Camp offers just eight large, well-appointed tented suites, which are built on raised wooden platforms, under enormous thatched roofs, with spacious private verandas. All Jongomero Camp's tents are widely spaced along the banks of the Sand River, a popular watering point for a diversity of wildlife. The dining, lounge and bar enjoy magnificent views and look out over a natural "hippo friendly" swimming pool.
Jongomero Camp is not fenced, so the Ruaha National Park wildlife is free to pass through as it wishes. Elephants are daily and nightly visitors to the camp, while vast herds of buffalo pass in relatively close proximity. Lion too pass through camp, as do (rarely) leopard.
Your luxury tented camps in Tanzania
When on safari in Tanzania, the traditional luxury tented camp offers a selection of canvas-sided safari tents, usually with thatched roofs, often raised on a timber platform with private verandah. Usually, the luxury safari tents feature comfortable double or single beds with mosquito netting, electric lighting (generator or solar powered) and luxury ensuite safari bathrooms (flushed WC, hot and cold running water, shower and vanity unit).
Wildlife highlights
Ruaha National Park covers a unique transition zone- a meeting of Eastern and Southern African species of flora and Fauna. In addition to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and most of the common antelope, predators including elusive wild dogs, some of the rarer antelopes such as Sable and Roan, as well as greater and lesser kudu occur.
Birding
Birding in Ruaha National Park is unparalleled, with some 530 species recorded.
The seasons
June to October: Dry and warm days with temperatures cooling down considerably at night. Vegetation becomes sparser and animals are drawn to dwindling water sources. Nights can be cold.
November - mid March: Hotter and greener. Nights still cool. This is the season for bird and plant lovers and is the main reproductive time of year so a good time for seeing young.
Ruaha National Park - Home of the ‘Great Ruaha River'
A pristine and largely undiscovered wilderness, the 12,950 square-kilometre Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's second-largest park. An unforgettable landscape, one of the last remaining tracts of the original Africa as it existed millions of years ago, Ruaha National Park is dominated by the Great Ruaha River, from which it takes its name (Ruaha means ‘great').
Undeveloped and undisturbed, Ruaha National Park offers spectacular wildlife, glorious scenery (more than 1,600 species of plants) and over 400 species of birds. With herds of more than 10,000 elephants, vast concentrations of buffalo, gazelle, and over 400 bird species, Ruaha's limitless wilderness, together with the surrounding game reserves of Rungwa and Kisigo -- stretches over 40,000 square kilometres. Elephants are found in some of the highest concentration in the country, travelling in matriarch-lead herds through ancient grazing lands and seasonal supplies of water.
Tanzania luxury safari tented camp: location
Ruaha National Park has two airstrips (Msembe and Jongomero), which host flights from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar via the Selous, and from Arusha. Foxes African Safaris also have their own plane, which is based in Ruaha and flies to Karavi, Dar es Salaam and Selous. Ruaha is 115km (4 hour's drive) from Iringa (502km from Dar es Salaam). The camp is 60km from Msembe on the banks of the Jongomero Sand River.
Your Tanzania luxury tented camp safari
Undeveloped and undisturbed, Ruaha National Park offers spectacular wildlife, glorious scenery (more than 1,600 species of plants) and over 400 species of birds. With herds of more than 10,000 elephants, vast concentrations of buffalo, gazelle, and over 400 bird species, Ruaha National Park‘s limitless wilderness, together with the surrounding game reserves of Rungwa and Kisigo -- stretches over 40,000 square kilometres.
Elephants are found in some of the highest concentration in the country, travelling in matriarch-lead herds through ancient grazing lands and seasonal supplies of water. The Great Ruaha River is the main feature of the park, and meanders through its borders. On its banks, the game viewing is spectacular, whether done by land or by water.
Hippos yawn under the midday sun and crocodiles lie lazily along the banks. Fish eagles dive and swoop along the riverbanks, and at night the sound of frogs croaking in the reeds extends across the hills and plains. Boating safaris are starting to gain in popularity, and provide a popular alternative to viewing the area by car.
Most of Ruaha National Park is located on the top of a 900 metre plateau whose hills, valleys, and plains make the game viewing topography beautifully unique. Small mountains run along the southwest borders of the park and their tree-covered slopes are visible in the distance. During the rainy seasons, dry river beds swell with the biannual deluge and within days, a thin coat of green covers all the land in sight.
Because of its rather remote location, Ruaha National Park is largely unexplored. Because of this, a safari to the national park often has the feel of a private adventure and an unique experience. For the intrepid wilderness lover and the avid safari explorer, a trip to Ruaha is uniquely rewarding and a perfect piece of Africa.
Wildlife safari highlights
Safari sightings in Ruaha National Park will include: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, greater and lesser kudu and Grant's gazelle. Birds: more than 400 species of birds have been recorded.
Tanzania luxury safari tented camp: accommodation
Jongomero Camp offers just eight large, well-appointed tented suites, which are built on raised wooden platforms, under enormous thatched roofs, with spacious private verandas. All Jongomero Camp's tents are widely spaced along the banks of the Sand River, a popular watering point for a diversity of wildlife.
Jongomero Camp accommodation
• 8 extravagantly spacious tents on raised platforms under a makuti thatch roof.
• 8 Ft wide dhow wood emperor beds with ambient 240v, lighting.
• En suite bathrooms with double vanity.
• Hot and cold running water (solar heated with backup immersion heater).
• Spacious front veranda ensuring maximum privacy with views.
Tanzania luxury tented camp: dining and bars
Jongomero Camp offers a dining and lounge area that is beautifully located in the deep shade of an ancient African ebony tree with uninterrupted views of the Jongomero River. Dining is an adventure: a combination of table d'hote, elegant buffets, al fresco dinners under the stars, campfire cooking and classic safari picnics.
Menus feature Tanzania and international choices and meals are typically table d'hote. Jongomero Camp offers a full bar service and campfire ‘sundowners' are a feature of camp life.
Conference and event facilities at Jongomero Camp
This luxury tented camp does not offer specific conference facilities but will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings.
Weddings and honeymoons at Jongomero Camp
This Tanzania luxury tented camp makes an ideal Tanzania honeymoon destination.
Child-friendly facilities at Jongomero Camp
Jongomero Camp welcomes children and will be pleased to supply additional beds.
What to see and do at Jongomero Camp
Swimming pool
• Filtered swimming pool overlooks the seasonal Jongomero River.
• Pool mattresses and towels.
Activities
• Game drives in open 4-wheel drive vehicles.
• Excellent birding.
• Game walks with professional walking guide and TANAPA ranger.
• Walking safari / mobile bush camping (fly camping) in pristine surroundings (pre-booking essential). From July to end of November. (subject to weather conditions and availability TANAPA ranger).
The activity options available at Jongomero Camp are as diverse as the park itself. Aside from the normal game drives available in all parks, there are plenty of other exiting things to do. The normal game drives go out twice per day, in the morning and afternoon. All game drives are driven by qualified guides in an open 4X4 landrover with a canopy for shade and no more than six guests per vehicle
Game drive is the best way to get up close and personal with some of Africas mightiest animals and to see some of the parks superb scenery. At Jongomero Camp we aim to show you the full variety of scenery, flora, fauna, and the different wildlife they support that make Ruaha so diverse and interesting. From open plains to thick inhospitable bush, from the tranquil river scenes to great herds of buffaloes enveloped in clouds of dust as they make their way through the acacia woodlands, Ruaha never disappoints
For the specialist there are afternoon specialist bird and photography drives on offer, as Ruaha is one of the great birding paradises of Africa (equipment and guides permitting).
A game walk through this magnificent park is a must if you want to get as close to nature as possible. There are daily bush walks through this great wilderness accompanied by an armed guide and a park ranger. Immerse yourself in nature and learn about the skill of tracking, survival, dung identification and the various mammals, insects and plants very often neglected from vehicles.
For those with a truly wild heart, perhaps have a go at fly-camping; a one or two day expedition on foot through the reserve sleeping in a small fly-camp or satellite camp.
If a break from a hectic schedule is called for then relax and take advantage of the amenities within the camp itself. Very often a large variety of life can be seen without leaving your tent. Birds constantly flutter through the camps trees and the early morning chorus is an auditory overload as the birds wake and get ready to go about their day. Elephant frequently enter the camp and can be viewed without even getting out of the swimming pool. Elephant shrews make thier home throughout the camp and dik-diks, jackals, impala and mongoose can often be seen scuttling about in the daytime. For those interested in the stars, the camp has its own high powered telescope to view planets, nebulae, stars and other heavenly delights.
With over 530 species of bird, a huge population of buffalo, elephant and lion, plus a unique combination of both lesser and greater kudu, roan antelope and African wild dog, Ruaha offers as definitive a cross-section of wildlife as any park on the continent.
When to visit Ruaha National Park
Visiting a luxury tented camp is Ruaha National Park possible during both the dry ‘yellow' season and the wet ‘green' season, even in January when the rain is heaviest due to the fact that the rains here tent to be short and the roads are generally good. However, in the wet season the grass is long which can hamper game viewing. Optimum time to visit this luxury tented camp July-December.
Safari tented camp experiences in Ruaha National Park
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at this tented camp include: morning safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides), safari bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; cocktails around the safari campfire and guided safari walks. The tented camp also offers ornithological tours.
Jongomero Camp • Ruaha National Park • Tanzania Safari Tented Camps
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