Kichaka Expeditions
Bush camp + fly-camps · Private walking area, north-eastern Ruaha · Owner-run (Andrew Molinaro & Noelle Herzog)
Top-end
Inside the park
Owner/family-run
Ruaha on foot: multi-day walking expeditions led by two of Tanzania's most respected walking guides, sleeping in fly-camps under the stars. For safari purists, there is nothing else like it in the park.
Pros and cons
Pros
- THE walking-safari specialist in Ruaha, built around multi-day treks
- Completely exclusive: private or small shared groups only
- Three distinct camps, from permanent Zumbua to fly-camping Wild
- Solar power throughout, with in-room electricity at Zumbua
- Max six guests at Zumbua, so a genuinely small group
Cons
- Children must be 12 or older, 14 for walking
- No wifi mentioned anywhere on the operator's own page
- Camps run on different calendars; confirm dates for your pick
- No published inclusions beyond 'all-in'; ask exactly what that covers
What's here
- Campsite
- Solar or 24h power
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Guided walks
Read from Kichaka Expeditions'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 Kichaka Expeditions
From ~$700 pppd. All-in; private or small shared groups only.
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 Kichaka Expeditions
Is Kichaka Expeditions good for families?
Only for families with older children. The operator's own page sets a minimum age of 12 across all three camps, rising to 14 for walking safaris, which is the core activity here. Kichaka Zumbua, with three rooms and a maximum of six guests, is the camp most suited to a family booking it privately.
Which Kichaka Expeditions camp should you book?
It depends on style. Kichaka Zumbua is the permanent base camp, with in-room electricity and three tents. Kichaka Kidogo is a fly-camp and Kichaka Wild is built for fully private, multi-day walking expeditions; both run roughly April to November, while Zumbua is described as open all year.
What does the rate at Kichaka Expeditions include?
The operator describes it as all-in, from about $700 a person a day, for private or small shared groups. Its own page does not itemise exactly what that covers, such as park fees or drinks, so confirm the detail when you enquire about your chosen camp.
Can you self-drive to Kichaka Expeditions?
This is not stated on the operator's own page, and all three camps are positioned as remote, fly-in expeditions reached via Msembe airstrip. Treat it as fly-in only unless the operator confirms otherwise when you book.
When are the Kichaka Expeditions camps open?
It varies by camp: Kichaka Zumbua is described as open all year, while Kidogo and Wild run from around April to November and close for the rains. Confirm exact dates for the specific camp you want, since they do not share one calendar.