Nature Travel Tanzania: Wilder­ness Experi­ence Wild Kokoko

Your group meets on the first day in Dar es Salaam. You stay in a centrally located hotel to acclimatise and prepare for the coming days. This is the perfect chance to meet your fellow participants, go over organisational details, and ask any questions about the trip. The guides provide an overview of the days ahead.

The following morning, the group travels together by charter flight from Dar es Salaam Airport (DAR) to Msembe Airstrip. Flight time is approximately 1 hour non-stop. After landing, a 45-minute drive  through the northern Ruaha National Park brings you to Kokoko Camp.

Kokoko Camp is situated remotely on the seasonal Mwagusi River in northern Ruaha National Park. It consists of only three guest tents, spaced apart to ensure privacy. Each tent accommodates two people and is equipped with an en-suite bathroom, hand basin, and outdoor bucket shower.

The tents are inspired by the Eagle Owl: Their roofs retract, allowing you to observe the sky or enjoy the fresh air. The facilities are practical and comfortable, with a double or single bed, mosquito net, storage for personal items, and seating inside and outside the tent. Standard G and D plug sockets are available for electrical devices.

The communal area is elevated, overlooking the riverbed and surrounding rocks. It includes a dining space for shared meals, a fire pit, and seating that encourages group interaction. The camp is simple yet functional, designed to immerse you in nature while ensuring comfortable accommodation.

Small verandas at each tent offer space to watch wildlife, observe the surroundings, or enjoy the morning and evening hours. The camp is deliberately small and intimate, maximising closeness to nature while providing personalised service from guides and Natucate hosts.

A typical day durding PWE Wild Kokoko could look like this:

Morning: Your day begins early, before sunrise, as the wilderness awakens and animals become active. Early morning starts allow you to observe undisturbed tracks in the sand, birdsongs, and the landscape coming to life. Breakfast is often served as a picnic, so you can enjoy the quiet morning fully.

Midday: At midday, you return to the camp. You have time to reflect on the morning, shower, or simply observe the surroundings from your tent or veranda. Between activities, you can take in the riverbed view, process the morning activity or simply enjoy the silence – a moment to arrive and slow down.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, you take part in another activity: walk, drive, tracking, or night drive. You learn the subtleties of wildlife, identify tracks, recognise behavioural patterns, and notice the small details often missed by others.

Evening: In the evening, you return to camp, reflect on the day together, enjoy a dinner by the fire or in the riverbed, and gaze at the stars. On particularly clear nights, a sleep-out under the open sky offers a unique opportunity to feel even closer to the wilderness.

Northern Ruaha is a true jewel of Tanzania, located in a transitional zone between two major ecosystems – the southern savannah and East African vegetation – creating a unique convergence of flora, fauna, and landscapes. Here you will find vast open plains, ancient baobabs, dense forests, rocky hills, and seasonal rivers.

The Mwagusi River, right by Kokoko Camp, is a vital lifeline attracting wildlife year-round. Elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and zebras gather, while predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs wait patiently.

Over 550 bird species, including rare species, seldom seen by travellers, inhabit the area. The interplay of flora and fauna, light and shadow, sound and silence makes this a perfect location for immersive wildlife observation.

On departure day, enjoy a final breakfast at the camp as the wilderness slowly awakens. Then transfer to Msembe Airstrip (approx. 45 minutes), where your charter flight will take you back Dar es Salaam (approx. 1 hour).

The departure provides one last chance to soak up the sights and sounds of the wilderness, watching the river, birds, and subtle movements of wildlife. We recommend booking international flights no earlier than the following day to conclude the trip in a relaxed way.