Kwihala Camp

Kwihala is a refreshing combination of adventure and style, designed for those who would like to be that little closer to the wildlife and the excitement of Africa, but who still crave the creature comforts to which they have become accustomed.

Kwihala is located in the Northern part of Ruaha in the Mbagi area. The camp is only 45

minutes’ drive from the airstrip at Msembe and also close to the river and the best game driving circuits in Ruaha.

It is a small camp of just six, well-spaced tents giving guests a very private opportunity to enjoy this magnificent park well off the beaten track of the main ‘big game’ circuits of East Africa. From the first sight of one of the Kwihala tents, you are immediately aware that this is a’different’ style of camping.

The shaded veranda with traditional safari chairs welcomes you to enter your spacious sleeping area. Furnished with ‘proper’ beds either double or twin bedded with bedside tables, a dressing table, space for luggage and hanging space, floor rugs, and even curtains, this forty square meter canvas ‘home’ is a far cry from crawling into a bivouac tent.

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 will stay cool and comfy with a fan and a mosquito net.

Meals

All meals are prepared in camp, from our fresh pieces of bread 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 river, during the rainy season, meals are served undercover.

Best time to book

The best time to visit Kwihala is from June to October when the climate is hot and dry in Ruaha, and you will 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.

Location

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 neighbors are far away.