• Asilia Africa Usangu Expedition Camp Guest Tent Exterior (2)

Usangu Expedition Camp

On the outskirts of the Usangu floodplains, deep in the remote southern corner of Ruaha National Park, Usangu Expedition Camp offers an immersive, conservation-driven experience, ideal for the adventurous traveller.

This outstanding camp offers a wide range of activities all included within your stay alongside access to ongoing research projects in the neighbouring Douglas Bell Eco Research Station. From the placing of camera traps alongside the identification of predators against research databases, to tracking lions with telemetry and contributing to global research. Usangu offers those with a keen interest in conservation the opportunity to participate in customised activities tailored to specific interests.

With just four, beautifully designed tents and full en-suite facilities, experience one of the most intimate and unforgettable authentic safari experiences. Here, luxury weaves into the remote fibres of the Usangu floodplains as evenings are spent enjoying the African stars with meals cooked on an open fire.

lodge details

Style

A unique lodge complex comprising four guest tents. This conservation-based camp is simple yet comfortable, serving as an authentic camp with warm hospitality, based in a magnificent location, still to be fully explored. 

Setting

Located on the Usangu Wetlands, Usangu Expedition Camp is surrounded by the miombo forest, providing the perfect shaded location during the wet season. The closest airstrip is Jongomero, a 2-hour drive from the camp, allowing a somewhat remote experience. 

Accommodation & Facilities

With just four guest tents, Usangu offers an extremely exclusive experience into this largely unexplored wetland. Simple in its design, the focus is firmly on exploratory nature of the experience, with meals cooked on the open fire under the African stars. Positioned on raised wooden decking, rooms have views towards the expansive wetlands and a shaded veranda on which to relax. En-suite bathrooms feature flushing toilets and plumbed showers. Rooms also include mosquito nets, WiFi, battery-charging facilities, in-room lockable boxes, and are powered by solar generators. 

Dining

All meals and drinks are included within your stay at Usangu. Food is cooked fresh on an open fire with guests and bush picnics are also a not-to-be-missed experiences on any game drives!

Activities

There are a huge range of activities available from Usangu Expedition Camp. Choose from classic game drives with your own private vehicle and guide, providing the flexibilty to explore any accessible area of the wetlands. Up-cycled Land Rovers have been rebuilt from the ground up and are powered by green alcohol fuel.  Walking safaris will provide you with the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, away from the noise of the land cruiser and closer to the ground to observe the smaller and less obvious parts of the African wilderness. As well as daytime game drives, night drives provide a completely different safari experience in the Usangu wetlands. Spot nocturnal, shy animals and those that prey on them. With the aid of your knowledgeable guide, keep your eyes peeled for leopard, serval, genet, honey badger, civet and African wildcats on the hunt; as well as bush babies, mongoose, bat-eared fox, night jar and spectacular owls. 

Boating safaris will also provide a completely different African safari experience. The wetland area and the intricate waterways vein through the plains create a variety of conditions for boating. Usangu's swamp boat is designed for these marsh-like conditions, offering the opportunity to explore the wetland's narrow waterways year-round. Elephant are regularly seen here, and the birdlife is fantastic. 

One of Usangu's most thrilling experiences is the trails camp. Perfect for those who want an intimate safari experience, set out on a walking safari in the afternoon and spend a night fly camping in a remote part of the conservancy. Dinner will be cooked over a campfire under the stars and the sounds of the bush will lull you to sleep. 

Guests staying at Usangu can also participate in the placement of camera traps. On arrival, you will receive your own camera trap to place near the camp for the duration of your stay. On your last afternoon in camp, retrieve the images to see what your camera has captured. If your camera trap has caught any inquisitive predators or captured any good images, you can upload these to Predator ID Hub at the station to compare against the existing database. 

Join the researcher on a half-day tracking of collared using radio telemetry to track and locate them. Start the day by reviewing the latest locations of the animals and then join the researcher in a vehicle to learn how radio-collaring and telemetry works. 

Child policy

Usangu Expedition Camp is suitable for children aged 12 years and above. If the camp is booked on an exclusive use basis, younger children can be accommodated, but participation in walking activities and canoeing will not be permitted.

Want to stay here?

Contact one of our Destination Specialists to start planning your journey to include a stay here. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination.

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