
Kwihala Camp
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Kwihala is set deep in the bush of Ruaha National Park. It’s the largest national park in Tanzania, with plentiful wildlife, yet it feels remote and peaceful, with fewer visitors than other parks.
About Kwihala Camp
Head out on game drives to see elephants — the largest population in Tanzania is located here — and lions, known for hunting giraffes, buffalo and even elephants. On foot, discover the smaller inhabitants of the bush and learn how to identify animal prints and dung. At night, venture out with a spotlight to find nocturnal animals like bush babies and hyenas. Finish off the day around the campfire with a glass of wine under the glittering Milky Way. If you listen carefully, you hear the nearby Ikuka waterfall in the still night air, and even spot a meteor shower in the pristine sky.
Finish off the day around the campfire with a glass of wine under the glittering Milky Way. You should be able to hear the nearby Ikuka waterfall in the still night air, and you may even spot a meteor shower in the pristine sky.
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Open: June to December
Closed: December to June -
Closest airstrip: Msembe: 45-minute drive from camp
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Families: children aged five and older


Accommodation AT Kwihala Migration Camp
Take a look around
Accommodation
Accommodation & Amenities
Our classic, expedition-style six-tent camp offers an intimate, exclusive safari experience in this vast land of towering baobabs and dense forests.
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6 tents
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En-suite bathrooms
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Flushing toilets
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In-room lockable box
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Complimentary laundry service
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Solar and generator power
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Hot-water safari bucket showers
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Battery-charging facilities
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Suitable for disabled guests: please contact us
accommodation
Rooms
The six tents at Kwihala are spacious and simple with king-sized beds. The en suite bathrooms have double vanities, flushing toilets and hot water safari bucket showers. Sitting out on your shady veranda, watch for elephants or kudus wandering past camp. At night, you’ll stay cool and comfy with a fan and a mosquito net.


LOCATION
Location of Kwihala Camp
Kwihala is set deep in the forest, surrounded by rain, fig, sausage and jackalberry trees. Its proximity to the Mwagusi River makes it one of the best locations in Ruaha National Park for game viewing. Plenty of animals gather to drink at the river, but the nearest human neighbours are far away.
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania, located in the centre of the country. It forms a transitional point between the landscapes of East and Southern Africa, with golden plains of sun-bleached grass, ancient baobabs and palm forests.
The greater Ruaha area is thought to be home to a tenth of the entire world’s wild lion population. Cheetahs — and even the occasional wild dog or leopard — are seen hunting on these plain, too. You might also spot greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, elephants, giraffes, bat-eared foxes and any of the area’s 570 bird species.


Experiences
Expedition-style camp
Kwihala, positioned in the wildlife-rich Ruaha National Park, is simple and comfortable, designed in homage to the old expedition camps. The tented lounge and dining room is the social heart of the camp, where you’ll enjoy meals with fellow guests and chill out in the afternoon. After sunset, sit around the campfire to share safari stories over a couple of G&Ts.


Experience
A typical day on safari at Kwihala Camp
We aim to be out in the bush at the coolest times of the day — early morning and late afternoon — when the animals are at their most active. Exact times may differ slightly with the seasons. If you have booked a private vehicle, feel free to plan your schedule with your guide.
A typical day at Kwihala starts off bright and early with a wake-up call and tea or coffee. Enjoy breakfast at camp, or have it packed as a picnic and get a head start on your morning game drive. You’ll be back in time to relax before lunch.
The afternoons can get really hot, so it’s a good opportunity to relax and read a book or take a nap beforeafternoon tea. After refuelling, we’ll depart for your afternoon game drive or walk, accompanied by sundowners. In the evening, have a drink and a chat around the campfire before enjoying a well-deserved dinner.


Experiences
Game drives
We offer twice-daily game drives in six-seater, open-sided vehicles. The canvas roofs and sides give an unobstructed view but can be rolled down if it rains. All vehicles are equipped with fridges and power points to keep you and your camera fully charged. Private vehicles are available for families or guests with specific interests. In between wildlife sightings, we’ll stop at a picturesque spot for coffee in the morning and sundowners in the evening.


Experiences
Hot-air balloon rides
Unlike in the Serengeti where night drives are not allowed, we can explore Ruaha after dark. Our guides use a powerful spotlight to help you spot nocturnal animals and predators on the hunt.

Experiences
Walking safaris
Head out on foot accompanied by one of our expert guides and skilled local trackers to learn about plants and insects, identify dung and prints, and simply appreciate the experience of walking through the Tanzanian wilderness.


Experiences
Photographic safaris
Nearby Jabali Ridge is home to one of our specially modified photographic vehicles which is can be booked by Kwihala guests. The open vehicle allows keen amateurs and professional photographers alike to shoot at eye level with wildlife. It is equipped with all the gear to ensure award-winning shots — from beanbags and camera rests to 360° swivel seats. You can read more about the vehicle here. Please enquire to ensure availability of the vehicle and confirm any additional fees.


Experiences
Family safaris
We welcome families with children over 5 and have a tent that sleeps four people (children under 12 must share with an adult). Depending on how full the camp is, we may be able to accommodate younger children. Please enquire if this is of interest. Note that Kwihala does not have any specific activities for children. Please chat to your agent about the option of a private vehicle for your family safari.

Experience
Meals and refreshments
All meals are prepared in camp, from our fresh breads and cakes to salads and sorbets. If you’d like to extend your morning game drive, we can pack a picnic breakfast for you to enjoy in the bush. Alternatively, have a cooked brunch back at camp after your game drive. Lunch is a light buffet and dinner is a three-course meal served communally. In the dry season, enjoy dinner in the sandy Mwagusi riverbed, where elephants sometimes stroll past. In the green months, eat alongside the flowing river. In the rainy season, meals are served undercover.
Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements and we’ll be happy to cater for you.


WILDLIFE
Ruaha wildlife
The wider Ruaha area hosts 10% of the world’s lion population and has been a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005. Leopard stalk the thicker woodland areas, while cheetah can be found scanning the plains for prey. The wild dog is endangered, but Ruaha is home to almost 100 of them. Elephants are seen in high densities during the dry season, when they gather around the dry riverbed to dig for water with their trunks and front feet. The park is also home to plentiful buffalo, zebra, giraffe, greater and lesser kudu, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, and impala.
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Leopard
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Lion
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Lesser Kudu
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Greater Kudu
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Elephant
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Impala
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Giraffe
When to go
What to expect during the year
The best time to visit Kwihala is from June to October, when the climate is hot and dry in Ruaha and you’ll find superb wildlife-viewing opportunities. From November to April the rains fall, turning the park’s landscape to a lush green, making it an excellent time for photography. The migratory birds are in Ruaha over the wet season, too. Kwihala Camp is closed from mid-March until June.
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January - March
Why travel at this time
Over the wet season, the migratory birds can be spotted in Ruaha, along with large herds of elephants. Low season rates also make this a tempting time to travel.
Climate
The heaviest rainfall occurs in January and it continues to rain until April. It tends to be humid, with an average high of 28°C/82°F and low of 17°C/63°F. Kwihala Camp closes from mid-March, when Ruaha’s roads become difficult to drive.
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Low temp: 18°C / 63°F
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High temp: 28°C / 84°F
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Rainfall: 155mm / 6.1in
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April - June
Why travel at this time
Kwihala is closed until the end of May. It reopens in June, by which time the park is dry and a little cooler.
Climate
The dry season begins in May. The average high in June is 26°C/79°F with an average low of 13°C/55°F.
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Low temp: 13°C / 55°F
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High Temp: 26°C / 79°F
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Rainfall: 0mm / 0.0in
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July - September
Why travel at this time
This is the middle of Ruaha’s hot, dry season. It’s the best time of year to spot animals, as predators and prey gather around the park’s water sources.
Climate
During the dry season, the temperature increases from a high of 26°C/79°C in July to 28°C/82°F in September. The average low ranges from 13°C/55°F to 15°C/59°F.
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Low temp: 17°C / 57°F
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High temp: 28°C / 82°F
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Rainfall: 7mm / 0.3in
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October - December
Why travel at this time
The dry season ends with the rains in November, flooding the rivers and reviving the parched grasslands and vegetation. The migratory birds begin to flock in from the north and large herds of elephants move into the lush park.
Climate
The rains begin in November and get heavier throughout December. The average temperature peaks at 30°C/86°F in October and November, decreasing slightly in December, at which point it can feel humid. The average low is 17°C/63°F in October and 18°C/64°F in December.
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Low temp: 18°C / 64°F
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High temp: 30°C / 86°F
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Rainfall: 39mm / 1.5in
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Guest reviews
One of the best experiences we have had in 15 safaris. The tents are spacious, well laid out and very comfortable. The main living area under canvas is well designed and comfortable. Food was excellent and the staff were very friendly and competent. We particularly liked eating out under the stars with a lovely fire. The camp also provided some wonderful surprises, a bar to ourselves in the bush one evening and a cooked breakfast under a baobab tree, quite delightful! We had an excellent guide Charles who was both very knowledgeable and also a charming companion for our five night stay.

The Kwihala Camp is one of two Asilia properties in Ruaha. My family and I visited the camp after staying in Ubuntu Migration Camp in the Serengeti, and prior to staying at Roha Ya Selous in the northern Selous area, all Asilia camps, all in Tanzania. Our experience was incredible: kudos to staff, camp management, facilities, safety, health considerations, experience, knowledge of guides and more. Nothing was substandard or compromised, and we were particularly impressed with the professional and congenial staff. I highly recommend this for first-time and experienced safari-goers!.

Our tent was comfortable and we had the best possible guides - Charles is exceptional in his ability to predict an animal's behaviour and is the best possible teacher, too. Extra special is the drawing together of all the guests each evening, with the managers and guides, for drinks (free of charge), either round a camp fire or for sundowners out in the bush, followed by dinner together round a table on the dry river bed - an opportunity to discuss experiences with other guests and staff. Highly recommended for anyone seeking the safari experience in an area free of the crowds and really interested in learning about the wide variety of animals and birds - thank you, Kwihala, for a wonderful stay.

Rates
When would you like to go?
Below, choose your travel dates for an estimated accommodation cost per person sharing, or scroll down for a table of high and low season rates.
Additional information
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Rate includes
Full-board accommodation, house drinks, game drives, night drives, guided walks, transfers to/from nearest airstrip, limited laundry service
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Rate excludes
Park and camping fees, transfers other than to/from nearest airstrip, flights and airport taxes, gratuities and items of a personal nature, private vehicle
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Budget factors
Special offers may apply. Contact us for the best available rates. Last minute offers and long-stay rates may apply.
Rates and Seasonality
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Closed: 01 Dec 2022 - 31 May 2023 Rate: US$0
Camp migrates to the south
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Low Temp: 18°C / 63°F
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High Temp: 28°C / 84°F
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Rainfall: 155mm / 6.1in
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Low season: 01 Jun 2023 - 30 Jun 2023 Rate: US$519
What to expect
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Green and lush, drying out as July approaches
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Migratory birds coming and going
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Widespread animals not bound to the rivers and very few cars around
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Low Temp: 13°C / 55°F
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High Temp: 26°C / 79°F
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Rainfall: 0mm / 0.0in
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High season : 01 Jul 2023 - 31 Oct 2023 Rate: US$688
What to expect
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Dry season, high concentration of animals around water, great for cats
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Plenty of elephants and big herds of buffaloes
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Leopards become more arboreal as the grass thins
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Low Temp: 17°C / 57°F
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High Temp: 28°C / 82°F
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Rainfall: 7mm / 0.3in
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Low season: 01 Nov 2023 - 30 Nov 2023 Rate: US$519
What to expect
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Increased chance of afternoon showers
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Widespread animals not bound to the rivers
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Fewer crowds
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Low Temp: 18°C / 64°F
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High Temp: 30°C / 86°F
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Rainfall: 39mm / 1.5in
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Closed: 01 Dec 2023 - 31 May 2024 Rate: US$0
Seasonal camp closure
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Low Temp: 18°C / 63°F
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High Temp: 28°C / 84°F
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Rainfall: 155mm / 6.1in
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Tanzania ITINERARY
10 Day Tanzania and Zanzibar Itinerary
Explore the wildlife-rich and unspoilt wilderness areas of southern Tanzania’s game reserves on safari, before hopping by plane to the island of Zanzibar for days spent snorkelling on tropical reefs and enjoying sandbank picnics. Explore the waterways and plains of Nyerere National Park by boat, vehicle and on foot, before searching for big cats in Ruaha National Park, home to 10 percent of Africa’s lion population.

Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a typical day on safari like?
Life on safari has a rhythm of its own, largely dictated by the animals’ movements. Generally, the most rewarding times for game viewing is in the cooler early mornings and also late in the afternoons when the animals are at their most active.
A typical day on safari will vary depending on the camp you’re staying at, but will include early morning and late afternoon game drives, with time during the hottest part of the day to relax in camp. Get a better idea of what a safari with Asilia entails here.