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Stunning Ikuka Safari Camp in the beautiful Ruaha NP - a photographic report.


madaboutcheetah

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madaboutcheetah

Ikuka Safari Camp opened in July, 2016 and is a great new Owner operated camp in Ruaha NP. Many Thanks to Mark Sheridan-Johnson for all his time, patience and superb guiding!

 

All in all a superb camp - one of the best in all of Africa!

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madaboutcheetah

More images ........ (the image of the elephant with the leg lift - i think they do that when they are unsure which direction they are heading to...... perhaps might indicate the direction they intend to head off.)

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Edited by madaboutcheetah
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That boy in the first post looks excited! What's that all about?

 

Great to see this. Some great photos as usual @@madaboutcheetah and doesn't Ruaha have it's own colours and light?

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@@madaboutcheetah I have to say that I love all your photos,especially the one of the old dagga boy missing a horn. He seems to know that a pride of lions are going to hunt him and that he's nothing but easy prey. He knows that his time has come.

 

I can only say that by opening a new lodge in Ruaha National Park that this will be a major plus for tourism. Tanzania has decided that they're only interested in wealthier tourists like Botswana did to a large extent. Thus they want to limit the number of lodges in their park and allow tourists to view wildlife without being hindered by lots of other vehicles.We will all support this approach if it will help conservation-especially of Tanzania's beleaguered elephant population. I can't believe that with so much poaching going on that Tanzania is still allowing elephant hunting.

 

I sincerely hope that the current Tanzanian government is planning to follow the Botswanan example and gradually turn all the concessions over to wildlife tourism. There are some exceptionally beautiful lodges which tourists would just love. No, I'm not proposing to put the entire safari industry out of business immediately, I talking about a gradual change which I feel is inevitable.

 

If Tanzania due to the rise in the Vat and a desire to become a more "exclusive' becomes out of reach to so many people,I feel that the industry can and will get around it.

There needs to be more mobile safaris in Tanzania. There is plenty of room for growth.

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @@SafariChick and @@pault - and @@optig

 

Just an ugly attempt at jumping across the water, I think ....... Yes, lovely colours, light, Baobabs and most importantly amazing people!!!!

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madaboutcheetah

Next set of 10.......

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Hi Hari,

 

You finally decided to go to Ruaha, even knowing that it' was not going to be very easy to see cheetahs. Good decision obviously, I'm sure you will be back because this place is so different.

 

Excellent pictures!

 

Can you give some more details about Ikuka with some pictures, if possible? Thanks in advance.

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madaboutcheetah

@@Bush dog - Thanks, Mike ......... It was a beautiful park and setting!!! No cheetahs - but, I'm sure they are around.

 

Will try and post more pictures of the camp if you wish, mostly iPhone pictures ......... In post 3, there is a picture of Ikuka camp on the escarpment. Post 7 is the front entrance to the lounge from the car park area.

 

Ikuka safari camp is approx 20 minutes from the Mwagusi river and the camp is named after the famous Ikuka flats. Not too many tourists get up that way - right around camp, we saw Greater kudu and impalas. Mark has seen Lions come up there a couple of weeks prior to our visit. We did one longish afternoon drive to see the Ikuka flats and to possibly find Roan - but, alas, we got eaten alive by those Tse Tse flies ;) so turned back after a bit.

 

All in all, Ikuka is a brilliant owner-operated camp ........ lovely location, setting, guiding, service, food and wine, hosting ........... Perfect 10!!!! a winner!

 

They also offer walks - but, I did not get a chance to participate in those. That's what next time is for!

 

Coastal aviation offer a flight in their new Pilatus aircraft and that's only one hour 10 minutes and really more spacious than the caravans.

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Thanks a lot, Hari, for the information.

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@@madaboutcheetah Lovely photos - looks like a great trip. Re the elephant on 3 legs - I had always understood that they do this to take the weight off each foot in turn, I see similar behaviour with horses in the fields at home (but I think I prefer the idea that they are indecisive!)

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madaboutcheetah

Next batch of 10

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@@madaboutcheetah ah, I always love the babies and those jackal pups are just great - never seen them, that's one species whose babies I'd love to see!

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Love your stunning pictures!

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Excellent, thanks for posting these Hari.

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Wonderful shots, Hari!

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks a lot for all the kind comments - Much appreciated!

 

(next segment)

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madaboutcheetah

Next segment involves a little more drama ........ ;)

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Fabulous pictures Hari.

When were you in Ruaha?

 

Thanks for doing this report.

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madaboutcheetah

@@AKR1 - was in Addis Ababa for work end of September so quickly grabbed the chance to get to Ruaha via Dar.

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@@madaboutcheetah I just love these photos of a confrontation between elephants and lions. The photos of birds, and the sunrise are also spectacular. My knowledge of birds is very poor;

what are those birds? I can only recognize what I believe to be a little bee eater.

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What a fantastic safari to my beloved Ruaha NP, Hari!!! Great photos, as usual! I'm glad that I am catching your TR not too late and looking forward to seeing the next installment!

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madaboutcheetah

@@optig - thanks - red necked falcon / Ruaha red billed hornbill / bare faced go away bird.

 

Thanks  @@FlyTraveler

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That's what I call a truly worthwhile diversion??

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madaboutcheetah

Next batch of images...... Please follow updates from Ikuka on Facebook. They have some good stuff there - including, dogs visiting camp a couple days ago!

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