This Safari Camp in Tanzania Is in an Underrated National Park-and It's Best Explored by Foot

"Northern Tanzania's Serengeti National Park makes for an incredible starter safari for first-time visitors to Africa. The experience there usually involves wide-open savannas and convoys of jeeps lined up to take in the wildebeest and zebras passing through in the millions during the Great Migration. It's spectacular-but it's also far from the only way to experience East Africa's wildlife. Located in the country's center, Ruaha National Park offers a very different vision of safari."

""While destinations like the Serengeti promise incredible wildlife, they can also come with crowds, especially during peak seasons. In contrast, Ruaha is a hidden gem where sometimes you can be the only vehicle at a sighting." Hipwood added that, while the wildlife-spotting is first-rate, "what truly sets Ruaha apart is its raw, dramatic beauty, from the ancient baobab trees to the rugged escarpments. It's an untamed, authentic safari experience that feels like a well-kept secret."

Ruaha National Park in central Tanzania presents a contrasting safari to the Serengeti with vast, rugged terrain and far fewer visitors. The park spans 7,809 square miles after annexing the Usangu Game Reserve and is roughly 37 percent larger than the Serengeti while receiving about four percent of its visitation in 2023. That low visitation creates notable solitude and authentic wildlife encounters, including chances to be the only vehicle at a sighting. New low-density camps such as Asilia Kokoko opened in July 2024 with three tents to emphasize a back-to-basics ethos focused on wildlife rather than luxury amenities. A visit in October 2024 yielded complete privacy.

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