Ikuka Safari Camp
Luxury lodge · Escarpment above the Ruaha valley, north Ruaha · Owner-run (Mark & Chloe Sheridan-Johnson)
High-end
Inside the park
Owner/family-run
An owner-run lodge perched on the escarpment with sweeping views over the whole Ruaha valley. Warm hosting and strong guiding at a price below the big-brand flagships.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Panoramic views over the whole Ruaha valley
- Owner-hosted by Mark and Chloe Sheridan-Johnson, a personal touch
- Infinity pool above the valley, plus a library and bar
- Two family rooms with private balconies and 24-hour power
- Full board with game drives and house drinks included
Cons
- Walking safaris only open to guests aged 16 and over
- TANAPA park fees, about $75 a person a day, are not included
- We found no published minimum age for a general stay, only for walks
What's here
- Restaurant
Read from Ikuka Safari Camp's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Ruaha National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entry$30 plus 18% VAT, charged per 24 hours.
- $35.4per person, per day
- Vehicle$40 plus VAT for a foreign-registered vehicle up to 2,000 kg; most safari 4x4s sit above that and pay $150 plus VAT. A Tanzanian-registered one is about $9.
- $47.2per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $354 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The full fee schedule for Ruaha National ParkRates at Ikuka Safari Camp
From ~$690 pppn. Full board incl. game drives and house drinks; TANAPA park fees (±$75 pp/day) excluded.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Indicative rates gathered from operators and agents, July 2026. Rates change by season and year. Always confirm with the lodge. Park fees (conservation + concession, roughly $75 pp/day combined for in-park camps) are usually excluded.
Questions about Ikuka Safari Camp
Is Ikuka Safari Camp good for families?
It has two family rooms with private balconies, super-king beds and 24-hour power, so young children are well housed. We found no minimum age stated for a general stay on the camp's own page, only for guided walks, which are open to children 16 and over. Ask about room layout and activities when you enquire.
Is Ikuka Safari Camp good for a honeymoon?
Yes, the camp describes itself as an ideal spot for a honeymoon, citing its remoteness and the views over the Ruaha valley. There is an infinity pool above the valley and a library and bar in the central communal area, though no plunge pool or star bed is mentioned on its own page.
What does the rate at Ikuka Safari Camp include?
Full board with game drives and house drinks, from about $690 a person a night. TANAPA park fees, roughly $75 a person a day, are charged separately. The camp's own page does not break down further inclusions such as laundry or transfers, so confirm these when you book.
Can you do walking safaris at Ikuka Safari Camp?
Yes. Walks can be booked in advance or arranged once you are in camp, and the camp's own page states they are open to children 16 and over, an older limit than many Ruaha lodges set. Expect this age rule to be applied strictly given the walking terrain on the escarpment.
When is Ikuka Safari Camp open?
Ikuka is open from June to March. Its own page gives no exact closing or reopening dates beyond that window, so confirm availability directly with the owners, Mark and Chloe Sheridan-Johnson, before booking the shoulder months.