Combining 3 nights Kwihala Camp, 3 nights Roho ya Selous, and 3 nights Matemwe Lodge
On arrival at DAR International Airport you will have a quick chance to refresh before catching your connecting Coastal Aviation flight to Ruaha Airstrip. On arrival at Ruaha, a welcome table will await you with various hot & cold beverage items and snacks. A representative from Kwihala Camp will brief you on the surrounding area and camp en-route to camp.
On arrival at camp you will get the opportunity to settle in, unwind and freshen up before heading to the dining tent for a delicious three-course meal prepared by the local chef. You will then head to the camp area for a refreshing whisky while tales of old times are being said.
Kwihala Camp combines raw beauty with simple excellence. Situated in the new safari frontier of Ruaha in Tanzania, this is unconstrained Africa where you will find one of the most spectacular concentrations of wildlife set in a beautifully diverse landscape that ranges from baobab forests, granite kopjes and open plains to cooling rivers and woodland valleys.
Largely unexplored, Ruaha is as remote as you can get in East Africa. Few have heard of it and none will forget about it.
Depending on your preference, there are a couple of options with regards to how your day is structured. One option is to break camp early and head out with a picnic breakfast on a morning game drive, returning to camp in time for lunch.
Alternatively, you can eat breakfast in camp and head out with a picnic lunch on an afternoon game drive, returning in the mid-afternoon. Despite sharing vehicles on a Game Package basis, the camp will do everything it can to ensure that your ideal structure is met.
After breakfast, you will depart Kwihala Camp and head to Ruaha’s Msembe Airstrip for your light aircraft flight to the nearby Selous Game Reserve.Your guide from Rohoya Selous camp will meet you at the airstrip and game drive you the short distance to the camp, giving an introduction to this beautiful reserve and its wildlife on the way.
Settle into your spacious tent and after lunch there’s time to relax by the pool before you set off on your afternoon safari activity. A boat safari is a lovely relaxed introduction to the Selous and will offer a real contrast to your time in Ruaha, watching wildlife come to the water’s edge to drink and stopping for sundowners on a sandbank.
Located in the heart of the Selous Game Reserve, Roho ya Selous is tucked into a shady grove of trees, overlooking Lake Nzerakera. There are eight spacious tented rooms, each with shade netting over the main canvas, and an evening breeze cooling system over the beds to keep you cool and comfortable even in the hotter months.
There is a swimming pool and open-sided mess area with plenty of space to relax during siesta time, or with a drink chatting to other guests after dinner. Expert guides lead guests on a variety of safari activities to explore this wildlife-rich reserve, with boat safaris, fishing, walking safaris and game drives included in your stay.
Each morning and afternoon you can choose from the safari activities on offer. Game drives are a good way of exploring further afield and seeing the larger wildlife and predators – the Selous is home to a superb variety of wildlife including good populations of lion and leopard, and Africa’s largest population of wild dog.
Walking safaris are a real treat and offer a slower pace to learn about the flora and fauna of the Selous. Boat safaris on the lake are particularly lovely in the afternoon, combined with a spot of fishing or sundowners, and are a good chance to get up close to pods of hippos and bird colonies nesting on small islands.
After breakfast, depart camp and make your way to Selous Mbuyu Airstrip. Here you will bid your guide farewell as you board your Coastal Aviation flight to Zanzibar. On arrival at Zanzibar Airport you will be met by a representative from our Zanzibar ground handling company, Island Express, and transferred by road to Matemwe Lodge in the north east of the island.
One of only a handful of boutique lodges in Zanzibar, Matemwe is perched on a coral rock outcrop overlooking a sandy beach gently sloping into the Indian Ocean. Adjacent to the lodge, the corals surrounding the Mnemba Atoll offer superb diving and snorkelling.
Fresh seafood, refreshing cocktails and relaxing massages are just some elements of the laid-back daily routines of Matemwe’s guests. Matemwe is made up of only twelve beach chalets all overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Each of the private verandas is furnished with large hammocks and sofas, perfect for whiling away the time as the occasional dhow drifts past in the distance.
There are a variety of activities available either at Matemwe Lodge, or that can be arranged through reception. Activities outside of the resort can usually be booked at 24 hours’ notice, so it is best to arrange these on arrival at the lodge. Your days are therefore open to be structured as you choose, with either as much relaxing by the pool, or as many activities as you wish.
After breakfast you will depart for Zanzibar Airport for your Coastal Aviation flight to Dar es Salaam Airport. You will then catch your connecting flight and bid farewell to your guide for your onward journey.
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“The trip itinerary that Penwell Safaris put together for me was the perfect balance of cultural and environmental explorations. Each camp I stayed in, from the Ngorongoro Crater to Central and Southern Serengeti, to the island of Rubondo, had a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff who celebrated the natural beauty of their surroundings. Their love and respect for their country inspired me to take in every moment with complete awe and appreciation for the diverse, intelligent ecosystems and majestic wildlife that thrived in the Bowl of Plenty and endless plains of the bush. Driving through thousands of wildebeests and zebras while they fed on grass and instinctively migrated through the great Serengeti was an overwhelming sight to behold with muffled sounds of hoofs and grunts, yet deeply peaceful at the same time. It sometimes took my breath away. Even the industrious dung beetles rolling their dung balls were as exciting to observe as the the big five and scavenging hyenas. But the strikingly beautiful faces and welcoming attitude of the Tanzanian people were the icing on the cake. Pure joy and a sense of belonging came through every “Mambo” greeting they shared with each other and with us as we wandered through their vast, abundant land. My trip was a life-affirming adventure that I would recommend to anyone. And I plan to go back for more!”
— Sue Baile
“We traveled to Africa in August 2018 and visited Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The tours were very well organized and could not have asked for a better experience or accommodations. Every guide and driver we had were knowledgeable, personable, and funny. They really wanted you to have the best Safari experience possible. In Uganda, it was such a great experience to see the gorillas in the rain forest. It was a hard trek but totally worth the experience. We got to see so much wildlife in Tanzania (lions, zebra, cape buffalo, hyena, jackals, cheetah, elephant and so much more), but most importantly we were lucky to see 5 Wildebeest migrations across the river!
We were really impressed with the food offerings and the chef at each camp was sensitive to the dietary needs of our party (vegetarian for one traveler and lactose sensitivity to another). From the early morning game drives and morning tea in the bush, to afternoon lunches at the camps, to beautiful sundowners in the evening, and delicious dinners we felt catered to at every stop. The staff at each camp was amazing! We look forward to our next trip over to Africa!”
— Marc Foreman
“I could not describe how magnificent my experience was on a 10 day safari through the Serengeti with Kathy. Of all of my world travels, this was the most memorable trip. From sundowners on top of beautiful rock structures, to an extraordinary lakeside breakfast watching the sunrise to the thrill of watching a cheetah hunt and kill. Every moment of the trip was memorable. Kathy brings a breadth of experience and opportunity that few other African safari companies can provide. I cannot plan my next trip soon enough! Happy Travels! Asante.”
— Michael Wilcox
“I met Kathy back in the late 1980s. One day 5 friends began talking about taking a trip together and Kathy mentioned Africa. How could anyone say “no” to tagging along with Kathy, since she was/is a world traveler and traveled to Africa tons of times. Kathy said she loved planning the trip and managed it all, from phone calls and tons of emails. She asked us if we wanted to rough it, go glamping or a bit of both. She arranged the entire trip and Oh Em Gee, WOW!! That was THE trip of a lifetime! We traveled to Arusha, where we met up with THE BEST safari guide (father, brother & uncle) there is, Jadim George Luangila. This was an amazing trip filled with wonderful people, 100% white glove customer care, the most beautiful animal kingdom you will ever witness, along with the most gorgeous night skies.
When you get that desire to travel to Africa, it’s a MUST you call Kathy Harvey!”
— Lisa Goldman