BOOKINGS ARE CLOSED FOR 2018 – Please email info@travelandphotography.co.uk so we can keep you informed of the dates and information regarding our 2019 safaris. Alternatively we still have a few spaces on our LEGENDARY LUANGWA Safari in Sept 2018.
If you are keen to experience a more wild and remote part of Africa, and you have a deep and abiding love for nature and wildlife then this may well be the tour you have been looking for.
This safari combines superb photographic experiences in a true wilderness area, with comfortable accommodation and expert guiding.
Away from the crowds, hustle and bustle of the easier to access northern Tanzanian reserves, we fly south in search of seclusion and a wilderness that pulsates with the real energy of Africa. Tanzania’s largest but least visited National Park – Ruaha, the destination of choice for any true safari connoisseur.
Our safari focuses on truly connecting to the soul of Africa so that you may capture her essence in both your heart and your images. We allow time to properly observe our subjects, getting to know them and understanding their behaviour. Digging deeper, sitting longer and just enjoying the opportunity to truly immerse ourselves in these ancient lands.
This Green Season safari offers us lush landscapes and prolific birding as well as an increased chance for viewing several rarer wildlife species.
We will embrace the true rhythm of safari – early mornings, siestas and sundowners followed by nights under the african stars. Taking our opportunities as they arise to photograph landscapes, plants, birds, insects and of course the incredible wildlife or anything else that might appeal to you.
We welcome photographers of all levels, instruction will be tailored to suit everyone’s photographic needs and interests. Non-photographers including spouses and friends are also welcomed with enthusiasm and will equally be able to fully enjoy this safari, which will appeal to anyone with a love for nature and wildlife.
As well as photographers, we enthusiastically welcome artists on our tours, Fiona’s mum is an accomplished wildlife artist – finalist of David Shepherd Wildlife artist of the Year; so we are aware what artists appreciate. We will spend time observing behaviour and animal interactions, which makes it the perfect safari for artists who want to spend time sketching, which we happily accommodate and equally with our photographic guidance we are able to help you capture the images that will serve as vital reference material for paintings when you return home.
We must however apologise right now as it is highly likely once you have experienced the beauty of this dynamic land you’ll want to return again and again and again.
Ruaha National Park has been dubbed the undiscovered gem of Tanzania and often called “Tanzania’s best kept secret”. It is a real favourite amongst safari professionals, where some of the very best guides have migrated, and ultimately choose to live and work. Visitors are attracted by the dramatic landscapes and abundance of wildlife, coupled with very low visitor numbers.
In early 2008 the park was extended to its much larger current size of 20,226 sq km. This made Ruaha the largest National Park in Tanzania (the second largest park in Africa) and it forms the core of a much larger ecosystem of 150,000 sq km, named the western corridor.
It represents an interesting transition zone where eastern and southern species of flora and fauna overlap and in all some 1,650 plant species can be found here, alongside an impressive bird count of approximately 526 species, making it a bird watchers paradise.
Ruaha is known not only for its rugged, magnificent landscapes and its remoteness and wild immensity but also its spectacular concentrations of game. Large herds of elephant and buffalo are a common sighting and lion and leopard are abundant. One of Ruaha’s principal attractions is an incredible variety of antelope, amongst them eland, roan, oribi, grants gazelle and sable. Ruaha also provides a safe haven to some rare species such as African wild dog and the ever-elusive striped hyena.
The green season which starts in January and continues into April is considered by many, especially the locals, to be the best time to be in Ruaha. It is during this time that the park is transformed into a green oasis with flowing rivers and thick vegetation. Spectacular volumes of birds can be seen. Wild dog and cheetah sightings are also more likely during this period and large aggregations of elephants are common showing pronounced breeding behaviour. Interesting insects, butterflies and blossoming flowers are abundant too.

We’ve chosen the exquisitely beautiful owner-run Mwagusi camp as our home and base for the duration of the trip. Renowned for its high-calibre of guides and their extensive knowledge of the African bush, they will ably assist us as we explore this incredible reserve.
Situated on the banks of the seasonal Mwagusi river this camp is centrally located within the reserve and is truly a credit to its owner Chris Fox and his passion and enthusiasm for his beloved homeland and the African Bush.
Each of the rooms or Bandas as they are called, looks out onto the seasonal river, which if we are in luck may flow during our visit.
The rooms are well equipped and comfortable whilst retaining the classic safari flare and a style sympathetic to its surroundings. From your own private seating area with views of the river you step through to your tented sleeping area and on
through to the ensuite bathroom. A rustic thatched roof provides relief from the intense heat of the African sun.
The camp is run almost entirely on solar electricity and there is no wifi available. Phone signal is also limited. So it offers the perfect excuse to escape from the pressures of everyday life and the outside world.
As there are no sockets in the rooms, the office charges camera batteries, video cameras, shavers and any other electrical equipment on a daily basis for the guests.
Our Adventure begins as we depart London Heathrow, for our overnight flight via Kenya to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Day 1 – Arrival to Mwagusi Camp, Ruaha
Early morning Arrival in Dar Es Salaam. Connect in Dar Es Salaam with morning flight to Msembe Airstrip, Ruaha.
We will be met on arrival at Msembe airstripe by staff from Mwagusi Camp and transferred to the lodge. This is approximately a 20 minute transfer through the reserve.
This afternoon after we have had a chance to relax and freshen up we will head out for our first foray into Ruaha.
Day 2 – 6 – Mwagusi Camp
From here the days will slip easily into the natural rhythmic beat of the african bush. We will rise early with the sun and in eager anticipation for the day ahead. This allows us to take advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures and also the exceptional morning light for photography.
We return to camp late morning for brunch and the opportunity to rest and relax, perhaps a siesta or keeping watch on the river for any passing wildlife.
Recharged in the late afternoon we head out again with our guides to see what new wonders Ruaha will reveal. Of course no safari would be complete without the partaking of the customary sundowner, after which we will return to camp.
When we return to camp we will enjoy a beautiful evening meal and discuss the days events and review our experiences and photography whilst sitting around the camp fire, under the stars, listening to the sounds of the bush.
The African night sky truly is a wonder in its own right, offering an opportunity to view the milky way in all her glory. So on at least one evening we will spend time after sunset photographing the night sky. Exploring long exposures, star trails and other dramatic effects that can be achieved after dark. This will not be of wildlife but will focus on astral scenes.
Day 7 – Departure to Dar Es Salaam
After enjoying our last morning safari, we will pack up, say goodbye to our new friends at the camp and head back to the airstrip where we will meet our flight back to Dar Es Salaam and then onwards to London Heathrow Via Kenya.
What’s Included:
- Return International Flights from London Heathrow to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (other departure airports available at a supplement).
- Return Internal connecting flight from Dar Es Salaam to Msembe airstrip, Ruaha.
- Return Transfers to and from Msembe airstrip to the Mwagusi Camp.
- 6 nights Full Board accommodation at Mwagusi Camp, including all meals and drinks (excludes champagne), complimentary laundry service and all safari activities.
- Shared accommodation in en-suite tented rooms, each with its own private seating area overlooking the mwagusi river.
- Twice daily game drives in open sided safari vehicles with no view restrictions, everyone guaranteed a seat on the side of the vehicle to ensure clear views for photography. Equipped with bean bags and for the exclusive private use of the group.
- All Park fees, community and conservation Levy’s.
- Two Photographic Trip Leaders (see Host profiles) with a maximum of 8 guests, you can be assured you will receive individual attention and assistance.
- At least one session of star photography, including instruction and discussion of techniques.
What’s not Included
- Travel insurance
- Visa for entry into Tanzania – British Nationals require a Visa to enter Tanzania.
- Discretionary gratuities for lodge staff.
- Personal purchases & souvenirs
- Optional pre/post tour add-ons or extensions.
Fiona MacKay:
Fiona moved to Africa just after finishing school and for just under 5 years she managed a Game Lodge in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park. During this time Fiona’s passion and knowledge of the intricacies and rhythms of the african bush became deeply embedded in her soul. She left the lodge to pursue her love of wildlife photography, travel and writing and has spent the past decade doing just that. She enjoys nothing more then sharing her love for her spiritual home, Africa and can often be persuaded to recount tales from her various adventures. See her website Here
Raj Hunjan:
Raj has travelled extensively throughout Asia, Australia and Europe but in 2011 he discovered Africa and was immediately captivated by this vast and diverse land.
Raj has developed his photographic skills working as an Automotive and Motorsport photographer covering several endurance car series and formula 1. These skills he has found are readily transferred to his true passion of wildlife photography and capturing those action shots whether its a predator hunting or a bird in flight. He also has a love of photographing the night sky which has fascinated him since childhood. See his website Here.
Our Ethos:
Fiona’s photography is instinctive and creative which couples perfectly with Raj’s knowledgable technique driven approach.
We understand and celebrate that everyone’s eyes work differently and that people ‘compose’ the world through their eyes in very different ways. Our job on safari is absolutely not to tell people how to compose their images, but to allow them to explore compositions that appeal to them. In fact seeing our groups different interpretations at the end of each day is one of the best parts of our job. We will offer our experience to help you translate the image you see to the image you achieve.
Be prepared as our enthusiasm for Africa, her animals and people can be quite infectious. We want you to leave us ignited by our passion for Africa, for nature and more importantly for life, inspired by what you have seen and done and with memories to last a lifetime.
We Believe in Sustainable Responsible Tourism
For many years Fiona lived and worked in a South African National Park, which we still have close ties to now. She witnessed first hand and was often involved with working to tackle the challenges faced by the people tasked to protect the wildlife and the important habitats they depend upon. As a result we continue to actively support conservation initiatives throughout Africa.
We derive a lot of pleasure from spending time with these animals and in these environments so we believe that as photographers we have a responsibility to do all we can to help and support the continuing conservation of these animals and places and inspire others to do the same.
How Joining our trip will have a positive impact.
Firstly we will be making a donation on behalf of the group to the Ruaha Carnivore Project a charity working within Ruaha National Park and its surrounds to achieve successful human-carnivore coexistence by empowering local communities and developing effective strategies for long-term carnivore conservation. We may have the opportunity to meet a representative from the charity whilst we are in the reserve but this will depend on their availability, their job is important and we prioritize that over our own desires. In the least we can assist the guides at Mwagusi who already record sightings for the Project. http://www.ruahacarnivoreproject.com
In addition to this there are several initiatives in place in Ruaha that request visitors to submit photographs which can then be used in research and monitoring of some of the more vulnerable animals. These include Wild Dog Watch operated by the Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute, who are working to conserve Tanzania’s population of the critically endangered Wild Dog. There is also a similar program focusing on Cheetah in the region. During the trip we will log and record any sightings of these animals and submit the groups photographs to assist in their protection.
The lodge that will be our home for the week also actively supports the local communities and in particular the increasing problems of the many orphans in the area. They are a member of the “Pack for a Purpose” initiative. Which encourages visitors to use any spare baggage space to bring and donate useful supplies, a list of what is currently needed can be found by visiting the website. https://www.packforapurpose.org/destinations/africa/tanzania/mwagusi-safari-camp/ This can be a fun way to give back and also perhaps involve friends and family back home to donate and you bring it over. Let us know if you would like to do this and we can liaise on your behalf.
We highly recommend ensuring you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
We will be staying in a Malaria area, so please seek professional medical advice to ensure you have taken the necessary precautions prior to travel.
Please be aware of the reduced luggage allowance on the small aircraft transfer from Dar Es Salaam to Ruaha. It is advisable to use soft holdall style bags, this reduces weight and makes them easier to transport.
Tipping advice – If you have enjoyed excellent service, you are more than welcome to reward staff with a tip, it is not compulsory. We would suggest $15 per person (guest) per day as a good guideline but any gratuity will be greatly appreciated by the staff. At Mwagusi the tips are accumulated until the end of the season and then shared amongst everyone who works there.
If you are interested in possibly extending your trip, the region offers many options including the stunning coastal regions and islands such as Mafia Island or Pemba Island. Or for the more adventurous you can head north to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or extend the safari to include some of the other specialities in East Africa. We are happy to help discuss, plan and book any extensions you may wish to consider.
A comprehensive packing list will be provided on confirmation of your booking.