Tanzania

Review by Alicia...

Tours: Mwagusi Camp, Ruaha National Park 2-night and 3-day stay This is an amazing place to stay within Ruaha National Park. The owner has kept this camp as rustic as possible (his desire is that one's stay at the camp doesn't become too far removed from the traditional mosquito net attached to a tree...however the candle-lit dinners in the dry river bed add quite the luxurious touch to the camp...) The sleeping bandas are canvas tents covered by thatched roofs and are incredibly comfortable and primitive in the same breath. Due to the camp's location in the park, it is not unlikely that an elephant will scratch his backside on the palm tree 10-feet from your banda and then brush past your tent on her way through the park. We took half-day and full-day safaris enjoying the African wildlife in Central Tanzania. The only animal of the Big 5 that this park doesn't have is the Rhino.

Did you explore any of the area on your own, see any cultural sights?: We traveled by rented bus. We primarily stayed in Iringa Town (centrally located in TZ). We mostly spent our time visitng and eating with people, as well as visiting an orphanage, hospital, and university. We spent about a week in the village of Kidamali (home of the Africa Maji water bottle plant...about a 40-minute drive outside of Iringa), where we visited and stayed with our sister church.

What is one thing everyone visiting this area should see/do?: Eat a meal in someone's home.

Overall: 5...Tanzania is one of the most amazing places on earth and one of the most peaceful African nations. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to experience another culture and country.

Review by Lindsey...

Destination: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, Africa

RoomSize: 5, We were set up in bandas with spacious open air bathrooms/showers, a large double sleeping area and a walk out porch.

Amenities: 5, natural gravity shower, two desks to work on, hammock, dressing area, lazyboy chair swing, free laundry service, morning coffee & tea served in bed!!!

Service: 5, all of the workers are there to serve you!

Restaurants: 5, meal times are set to a British schedule; 8am breakfast, 1pm lunch, 4:30pm tea, 8pm dinner. All the food tasted wonderful and featured both American, European and African dishes. Soda and liquor available for extra charge, but all the tea and coffee you could imagine! Dinner was served by candlelight under the stars in the dry riverbed!

Common Areas: Library & lodge area are kept clean and open all day for your enjoyment. Watch animals travel the dry river bed while you read or eat meals. If you're an early riser you can join others and watch the sunrise at a campfire before breakfast. All decor is native to Ruaha National Park.

Enterainment: SAFARI!!! Early morning birdwalk offered for all interested; eat an early breakfast and walk for about an hour through bird country. Many picture opportunities and a chance to see the nautral habitat up close. Morning safari ride leaves after breakfast and lasts until noon or 1pm. MANY animals to see! The guides are well trained in spotting animals and had resources on hand to teach us about the different characteristics of the animals we encountered. Camp wide siestas (naps) take place after lunch and the evening safari leaves after tea. The evening ride was beautiful, watching the sunset on the African Plains is more amazing then any of the poets describe it!

What is one thing everyone visiting this area should see/do?: We heard from many fellow tourists that the resort that we stayed at had far better accomodations and better trained guides then the other resorts in the park. The government is pressuring park resorts to become more and more like destination hotels. This resort adds a lot to your stay because of the rustic seclusiveness that it offers. Perfect honeymoon destination!

Overall: 5! This was the perfect break in our mission trip, it gave everyone a chance to relax and refresh themselves for the rest of our stay in Tanzania. Friendly staff and a wonderful management team made sure that our every need was met. I can't wait to plan my next trip back to this park!

Review by Loretta...

Hotel Name: Mwagusi Safari Lodge

Accomodations: 5

RoomSize: Modest

Amenities: Running water, a mosquito net & bed

Service: Outstanding.

Restaurants: We ate dinner under the stars each night and the food was incredible and fresh.

Pool/commonareas:

Enterainment: Internet Cafe

Location: Iringa

Over-all: Great

Tours: While on a mission trip to the village of Kidamali, we stopped off for a 2-day safari at Mwagusi Safari Lodge on Ruaha National Park. The lodging was wonderful with each tent having a solar panel for hot water and modest electricity.

Did you explore any of the area on your own, see any cultural sights?: Neema Crafts, Iringa. Great place for quality quilts, hand-made crafts including jewelery, photo albums etc. Workers are all disabled and it is a great cause to support them. They also have a website.

What is one thing everyone visiting this area should see/do?: Visit Ruaha National Park on a safari and stay at Mwagusi Safari Lodge run by Chris Fox. It was incredible! There was wildlife right outside of our tents every night including a large, male elephant the first night.

Overall: Outstanding! The plane trips were comfortable and smooth.