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Mdonya Old River is a small safari camp set in the western part of the second largest game park in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park. It offers the true bush experience, and is a little basic, but more than makes up for this by its location within a beautiful wilderness area, its proximity to game and welcoming atmosphere. Mdonya Old River Camp allows you go get very, very close to nature – and because sometimes that nature can be dangerous (for example, lions are known to wander through the camp), Mdonya Old River is not recommended for young children.
The 11 tents are spread out over a large area, under the shade of large sycamore figs and Faidherbia albida, nestled in the curving banks of a sand-river. They are traditional safari tents, comfortably furnished with double or twin beds and with large verandahs where one can relax and observe the wildlife around.
There are also three family tents, with separate rooms zipped on. All the tents at Mdonya Old River have ensuite bathrooms with dressing room, open-roofed shower and separate flush toilet.
There are hides at both ends of the camp, where guests can sit and watch the game pass by all day long. The dining and lounge tents are under acacias and sycamore figs overlooking the dry river bed which is used by game as a corridor, so guests can enjoy the game viewing even while having lunch or relaxing. The experience of dining by candlelight to the sound of crickets and the occasional hyena or lion is unforgettable.
There are comfortable sitting areas, a small library and interesting wildlife artefacts.
Mdonya Old River is located a few kilometres from the Mdonya Falls and an exciting 1-2 hour game drive from the airstrip.
Activities:
The Ruaha is an enormous undeveloped wilderness whose beautiful open landscape is especially rich in elephant, buffalo and lion. This national park is for people looking for a genuine, off-the beaten track, round-the-campfire experience, and Mdonya Old River is the ideal setting for such an experience.
Activities include bush game drives, bush dinners, and walks beside the Great Ruaha River. Guests get a chance to see the breathtaking mosaic of ecosystems, from the river pools to the dry open savannah. There are Baobab valleys and sand rivers fringed with Hyphaene petersiana palms, and monolithic granite boulders dating from the formation of the Great Rift Valley and exposed by erosion litter the area, especially by the Mdonya Falls.