Kwihala Camp

Simple luxury with a real bush feel

Five hearts from 22 votes

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Review

One of the newest additions to Ruaha, Kwihala Camp has, after a few years, managed to find its place. Originally sold as a high end, luxury tented camp, they asked a lot of money for a stay here, and it struggled. Today they have paired things down a little, or at least adjusted their prices to reflect the expectation and it is a wonderful little camp. Located just along the Mwagusi from Mwagusi the game region is superb and the camp itself now offers exceptional value for money and a really great overall experience. After Mwagusi, this is our next recommendation in Ruaha.

Overview

Our review above may sounds a little cruel but, to be honest, where people were expecting to arrive and have freestanding baths and massage facilities, Kwihala Camp, originally, was not really performing. Since they have dropped their price down they have fared much better and are now really establishing themselves as one of the best places to stay in the park.

Layout

The camp itself is semi-permanent, which is to say that, at the end of each season they break camp for the rains and re-establish for the new season. One of the benefits of doing this is that it means that game does not start to avoid the area around camp and so it is still very frequent to have a giraffe munching on an acacia next to your tent in the mornings!

Rooms

The tents and communal areas at Kwihala are very comfortable with flush loos ensuite and LED lighting etc....this is camping in real style! The food and service, likewise, is up to the highest standards and the food is hearty and very tasty.

Activities

As mentioned above, this is probably one of the best areas for game in the park and so they also really benefit from having this area to themselves so you really feel like you have the park to yourself (very rare in Africa these days). On the whole we really like the place and certainly recommend it.

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We have a price match guarantee on this property that means, as preferred suppliers, we can guarantee you the best rate available for the property.

Feedback

The two camps we chose, Lake Manze and then Kwihala, were both great and did not disappoint in any way. Kwihala was exceptional with the highest quality guiding, very friendly staff and really great food. We met Sandy, the new manager there, who spoke very highly of you. We asked to see the kitchen, stores and washing up area and she happily obliged. We were amazed at what great food they can turn out given the humble facilities. I am glad we chose them both and did them in that order. 3 days at each was perfect. I would not hesitate to recommend either to any of your clients.

Bob and Kim, September 2014
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For me (and I think Judy too) Ruaha and Kwihala was the highlight. The reserve was stunning and had been dry for a long time. We had multiple sightings of lions on many different days (including a failed hunting attempt by a large pride) and a great time spent following a leopard at twilight. We took a night safari and were lucky enough to drive along the road surrounded by a pride of over ten lions softly walking along all around us.We caught back up with them on the way back to camp and they were lying across the road so had to take evasive action - one took umbrage to this and approached looking a bit cheesed off and the ranger escorting us actually raised and cocked his gun - a hairy moment!! We would love to return to Ruaha again absolutely. For me - I personally found the communal dining a bit much for both lunch and supper (just me really) but on our last night they arranged a beautiful separate dining area. We really really loved it there - an unforgettable experience.

James and Judy, June 2014
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Thanks to Tony- Guide, Narossco- Driver, the knowledge of the area and making it interactive an involved for the guests was amazing. Cars are comfortable maybe not as good as Selous Impala. Fun camp partly due to Lorenzo, Marius and Festo ! Food was really good, especially with the portions ! All inclusive rate is really good ! Guides go through training which is excellent ! I suggest that drivers should also do the same FAGSA training as well ! The animal interaction is great as if you know the animals personally ! Maua and Furaha the leopard interaction was out of this world, Tony really knew his stuff !

Samir and Sheila, October 2013
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Kwihala was very good but maybe not quite as excellent as the other two. Everything went fine and some excellent game drives but it lacked the fantastic attention to personal detail and consideration that was evident in the other two places. Obviously the facilities were less luxurious than Siwandu but that was understood. Rather, the camp manager could have worked the guests better and much of the experience was down to the mood of one or other of the mercurial Italian guides. Went it was good it was very, very good but there were a few times when we were aware that there some behind the scenes tensions.

Pam and David, July 2013
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Kwihala was the absolute highlight for me in the whole trip and I could write a whole book on our time there. Couldn’t recommend it enough.

Jennifer and Robert, August 2012
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Facilities