Mdonya Old River Camp

traditional Camp | Ruaha Nat'l Park, Tanzania

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Mdonya Old River Camp sits in the heart of massive Ruaha National Park, on the banks of a dry sand river shaded by sycamore fig and acacia trees. This purposefully simple yet comfortable camp, with 12 classic safari tents, charms guests with its authentic safari ambience. The park’s famously abundant and diverse wildlife takes center stage as guests are immersed in one of Africa’s great untouched tracts of wilderness.

Our Expert Says

This place is "old-school safari," just the way I love it! And Ruaha is a perfect place for a camp like this, as it is already so remote and so rarely visited.

– Ben Bressler

The Camp

Location: Ruaha National Park
Number of Tents: 12

Along the banks of the dry bed of the Mdonya Old River beneath a canopy of shade trees sits Mdonya Old River Camp. In the western section of Ruaha, the camp’s remote setting positions it perfectly for superb wildlife viewing in Tanzania’s second largest wildlife reserve. Twelve roomy Meru-style walk-in tents are scattered along the riverbank, guaranteeing privacy and seclusion. Tents feature either twin or double beds, en suite bathrooms, outdoor solar showers and private verandas that look out onto the riverbed. Wildlife is often seen strolling the channel, including elephant, buffalo and even lion on occasion. Vervet monkeys play overhead in the trees. The open-sided dining and lounge tents also view the riverbed. A large outdoor fireplace is a convivial place to gather before dinner for a glass of wine while recalling the day’s events. As the sun sets, candles and hurricane lamps are lit, suffusing the camp with a romantic glow.

Facilities & Amenities

En suite bathroom with outdoor shower
220v charging outlets in main area
In-room safe
Laundry (extra cost)
Drinks not included
Credit cards not accepted
No air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone, Internet or cellular coverage

Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Ruaha National Park is a rugged wilderness of dense woodlands and baobab-studded plains. Encompassing over 5,000 square miles, it is Tanzania’s largest national park, yet receives relatively few visitors and retains a palpable sense of wildness matched by few places in Africa. Ruaha is one of the last strongholds of endangered African wild dog and boasts one of the continent’s densest concentrations of elephants—some 20,000 in all. During the dry season it is not uncommon to see over 100 of them on a single Wildlife drive. With vast herds of buffalo, cheetah stalking the open plains, huge prides of lions, and more than 500 bird species, Ruaha offers one of the most exciting and diverse safari experiences anywhere. Activities at Mdonya Old River Camp include twice-daily nature drives in open 4x4 Land Rovers to explore the breathtaking mosaic of ecosystems, including serene river pools, forested woodland and dry savanna.

Each region has varying concentrations and species of wildlife, and the below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Other typical sightings may include giraffe, zebra, impala, jackal, bat-eared fox and a number of other mammals, birds and reptiles. Exact sightings will depend on seasonality and wildlife movements.

Country	Park/Reserve	Buffalo	Cheetah	Eland	Elephant	Gemsbok / Oryx	Greater Kudu	Hippo	Leopard	Lion	Sable Antelope	Wild Dog
Tanzania	Ruaha Nat'l Park

Usually viewed

Frequently viewed

Occasionally viewed

Sporadically viewed

Rarely to never viewed

Climate

Month	Max	Min	Rainfall
January	77° F	59° F	5.83 in
	25° C	15° C	148 mm
February	77° F	57° F	4.69 in
	25° C	13° C	119 mm
March	77° F	57° F	4.65 in
	25° C	13° C	118 mm
April	75° F	59° F	2.68 in
	23° C	15° C	68 mm
May	73° F	55° F	0.2 in
	22° C	12° C	5 mm
June	72° F	52° F	0.0 in
	22° C	11° C	0 mm
July	73° F	52° F	0.0 in
	22° C	11° C	0 mm
August	73° F	52° F	0.0 in
	22° C	11° C	0 mm
September	77° F	54° F	0.0 in
	25° C	12° C	0 mm
October	81° F	55° F	0.24 in
	27° C	12° C	6 mm
November	81° F	57° F	1.61 in
	27° C	13° C	41 mm
December	79° F	59° F	5.94 in
	26° C	15° C	151 mm

Conservation

Mdonya Old River Camp uses solar-generated energy to heat water and provide power. Its wood-fired oven is fueled by wood purchased from Mbomipa Project, which sustainably harvests logs from fallen trees outside the park, preventing unnecessary deforestation. The camp also purchases eco-friendly charcoal briquettes for cooking. Tanzania’s charcoal industry is the major cause of deforestation in the country, and these briquettes do not require that trees be cut and do not contain chemical additives. In order to support local people and reduce the environmental impact of procuring food, Mdonya Old River Camp sources its food from local communities. The camp also supports the Neema Crafts initiative, which provides handicrafts training and employment for deaf and physically disabled people in Tanzania’s Iringa region, as well as the PAMS Foundation, which assists Ruaha National Park in many areas, particularly anti-poaching and guide training.