The Asilia Edit is a curated collection of small group tours designed to bring together like-minded travellers in some of East Africa’s most remarkable landscapes. Each itinerary has been carefully crafted to reflect a distinct safari style, balancing iconic experiences with Asilia’s signature approach to conservation, community, and authentic hospitality.
In our previous series, we unpacked each of the four itineraries of The Asilia Edit – The Classic, Untamed, Primate, and Signature Editions – exploring what makes them unique. In this new series, we turn our attention to the camps themselves: the foundations upon which each journey is built. Why these camps? What makes them the perfect fit for each itinerary? And how do they bring the essence of each edition to life?
The Untamed Edition
We now move into wilder territory with The Untamed Edition. This itinerary strips safari back to its rawest form, venturing into remote, lesser-travelled regions where the sense of exploration takes precedence over convention. The camps selected – Usangu Expedition Camp, Kokoko Camp, and Roho ya Selous – are united by their remoteness, their flexibility, and their ability to immerse guests in landscapes that feel truly untouched.
Usangu Expedition Camp: Into the Remote Frontier
If The Untamed Edition has a defining quality, it is remoteness, and nowhere embodies this more than Usangu Expedition Camp. Set deep in the far south of Ruaha National Park, within the vast Usangu Wetlands, this is one of the most isolated safari camps in East Africa. There are no neighbouring camps, no passing vehicles – just an immense, open wilderness that feels entirely your own.
Usangu is not about ticking off sightings or following well-worn routes. Instead, it offers a safari experience shaped by freedom and fluidity. With no set schedules and a range of activities available, each day unfolds organically, guided by the environment and the interests of those within it.
Game drives reveal a landscape defined by seasonal floodplains and open grasslands, where wildlife moves in response to shifting water sources. Walking safaris bring a deeper connection to the terrain, while the sheer scale of the surroundings fosters a sense of solitude that is increasingly rare in modern safari.
The camp itself reflects this ethos. It is intentionally lightweight, designed to have minimal impact while maintaining comfort. There is a sense of impermanence here – of being a temporary guest in a vast and ancient ecosystem. As the starting point of The Untamed Edition, Usangu sets a clear tone. This is not a safari of predictability or routine. It is an invitation to step off the map and embrace the unknown.
Kokoko Camp: The Art of Slowing Down
From the remote south, the journey continues northwards through Ruaha to Kokoko Camp, a space that complements Usangu not through contrast, but through refinement of the same untamed spirit.
Located along the dry Mwagusi River, Kokoko sits in a region that sees more activity than Usangu. Yet, the experience here is carefully curated to maintain a sense of privacy and exploration. Guides deliberately steer away from busier areas, seeking out quieter corners where the feeling of discovery remains intact.
What distinguishes Kokoko is its commitment to the traditional rhythms of safari life. This is a return to basics – not in a way that sacrifices comfort, but in a way that prioritises authenticity. Meals are prepared over an open fire, evenings unfold under wide, starlit skies, and the pace of the day is dictated by the natural world.
Walking safaris are a central feature here. With expert guides leading the way, guests explore the surrounding landscapes on foot, gaining a deeper understanding of the smaller details that define the ecosystem. It is an experience that requires time, patience, and curiosity – qualities that sit at the heart of The Untamed Edition. Game drives, too, are shaped by this philosophy. Rather than chasing sightings, the focus is on reading the land, tracking movement, and allowing encounters to emerge naturally. The result is a safari that feels less like a checklist and more like a journey of discovery.
Kokoko acts as the grounding middle chapter of the itinerary. After the vast isolation of Usangu, it narrows the lens slightly – encouraging guests to slow down, to engage more deeply, and to appreciate the nuances of the wild.
Roho ya Selous: Untamed Waters
The final leg of The Untamed Edition shifts the perspective entirely. From the dry landscapes of Ruaha, the journey moves to the waterways of Nyerere National Park, where Roho ya Selous introduces a new dimension to the safari experience.
Situated on a peninsula extending into Lake Nzerakera, the camp is almost completely surrounded by water. This unique setting creates an environment where land and water intertwine, and where exploration takes on a different rhythm.
At Roho ya Selous, the untamed spirit of the itinerary flows naturally from terrain to water. Mornings often begin on foot, tracing the shoreline and observing the interactions between wildlife and the lake’s edge. These walks offer a quiet, intimate perspective, where each track and movement tells a story.
As the day unfolds, the focus shifts to the water itself. Boat safaris navigate the intricate channels that weave between lakes and lagoons, offering close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and a rich diversity of birdlife. The experience is immersive and dynamic – less predictable than a traditional game drive, and all the more rewarding for it.
The camp balances this sense of adventure with a level of comfort that allows for rest and reflection. Open spaces, views across the water, and a constant connection to the surrounding environment create a setting that feels both wild and restorative. As the final stop in the journey, Roho ya Selous provides a fitting conclusion. It expands the definition of what an untamed safari can be, showing that wilderness is not confined to land alone.
A Journey Without Boundaries
What makes The Untamed Camps so compelling is the way they embrace the unknown while remaining deeply intentional in their design.
- Usangu Expedition Camp establishes the sense of remoteness and freedom that defines the itinerary.
- Kokoko Camp refines the experience, encouraging a slower, more considered engagement with the landscape.
- Roho ya Selous transforms the journey, introducing water-based exploration and a new perspective on the wild.
Together, they create a safari that feels fluid and unstructured in the best possible way. This is not an itinerary built around expectations – it is one that rewards curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to venture beyond the familiar. Each camp plays a vital role in shaping this narrative. From the isolated wetlands of southern Ruaha to the riverbanks of Kokoko and the waterways of Nyerere, the journey unfolds across landscapes that remain largely untouched by the rhythms of mass tourism.
In the end, The Untamed Camps offer something increasingly rare: a safari that feels truly wild. Not just in the wildlife it reveals, but in the freedom it allows, the spaces it explores, and the sense of discovery it inspires.
