Ruaha Hilltop Lodge
5km from Tungamalenga Village, Ruaha National Park Tanzania
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About
#11 of 17 hotels in Ruaha National Park
Location
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Value
Ruaha Hilltop Lodge is located on top of a hill over looking the vast savannah plains. We are committed to offering exceptional service at an affordable price to bring out the real Tanzanian experience in your safari.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Free breakfast
Hiking
Entertainment staff
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Car hire
Internet
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary welcome drink
Evening entertainment
Baggage storage
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Shared lounge / TV area
Private check-in / check-out
Ironing service
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Room types
Mountain view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Swahili
Location
154Reviews3Q+A11Room tips
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What to mention first ? Is it the view ? Is it the excellent home grown coffee? The extreme hospitality of the entire staff ?( Donald , Geoffrey and all others Is it the uncomparable laugh of Alois ? I loved it all !
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Stunning location with a spectacular view. The whole staff is very helpful, friendly and made our stay unforgettable. Absolutely fantastic food (especially peanut soup ) and contagious enthusiasm of Aloise. It was the best accommodation during our safari week in Tanzania.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The lodge sits on a hillside overlooking the national park wilderness. The rooms are separate little cottages with their own bathrooms. The staff were very friendly and accommodating with special dietary issues. They welcomed us with a group song and were helpful in every way. We went on a one day safari which was awesome. I really didn't expect to see the wildlife up close. We sat for an hour watching a pride of lions eat a water buffalo. We were so close we could hear their growls and snorts. Amazing! I would highly recommend this establishment.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
We stayed for 3nights, and we enjoyed everybit of it. These guys know how to keep their guests happy. I was especially left speechless when we came back from our night game drive at 12.30am and the staff were all awake and welcomed us back with smiles, after which they warmed up our dinner for us and served us with a proper late night dinner. We stayed in their New rooms which are quite up high, but they arranged a car to pick and drop us off at whatever time we requested them. The rooms are beautiful, quite luxurious and have amazing views, you can definetly stay and chill there all day, which we did for our last day. Special shout out to the chef, The food was AMAZING!!! Once again, Thank you Donald, Aloyce and The Ruaha Hilltop team for a memorable stay!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
We were in transit from DAR to Ruaha and this Lodge's owners arranged to provide us with a six day, five night package. :Picked in DAR on time and driven to their lodge in Mikumi, (see that review) for three nights then transferred here for two more nights. Price included a day entry to Mikumi NP and Udzungwa plus a full day in Ruaha NP too. The lodge is about 15km from Ruaha main gate so a full day in the NP is good. The lodge as the name implies is built on a hill if not at the top. Views over the plains are superb. Our Banda was very comfortable and set out inside very well. Large bed and usual offices en suite. All services worked. The grounds are well laid out with paved paths lit at night. Escorts are advisable after dark. Meals and drinks are taken at the main rustic Lapa building perched high over the view below. The food was well prepared and very wholesome. The driver guide on Safari was extremely knowledgeable.. Donald the Manager was always on hand to answer queries and all staff were extremely friendly. A very nice place to stay outside the park at a budget price. Of note is that on our last evening the staff held a 'bush dinner' with large open fire and entertained us by singing.…
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Date of stay: February 2023
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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This will be the hardest review to do from our 10 day safari of the southern circuit. Let’s start with the Good. The main building which is the bar, restaurant and viewing balconies has awesome views out over the national park. It’s quite a drive in the Landcruiser to get up there but very worth it. The place itself is located about a 15 minute drive from the park entrance. The staff here are fantastic. Super friendly and start and finish the day with them waving you off and welcoming you back. The food was pretty good and the balconies were a great place to watch the sun set each evening with a cold Kili. We stayed in one of the newly built houses at the very top of the property. You should know to get there by car even 4x4 is quite demanding and you may have to walk up or down to the main building if your driver isn’t going to take you up or down. As a 50+ year old I can tell you I lost my breath going up. In the evening a Masai will accompany you. The only down side of these houses is that I think only 1 is finished and all the others a bit of work in progress it seems meaning it does feel a little like a building site up there. The houses themselves are big airy places with lots of space for bags, big beds, nice bathroom and a big balcony to enjoy the views, although I do think the main building has the best uninterrupted views. There’s also an outside shower with a view to look out. In the end we did enjoy this place for the view and friendly staff.…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
We really enjoyed our 2 nights at Ruaha Hilltop lodge as part of an excellent value package they offer. The package included return transfers to Iringa, 2 nights accommodation and food plus a game drive. It's a great way to see Ruaha and much cheaper than most safaris. Aloise and the staff all came to welcome us when we arrived with a warm towel and a cold drink. Everyone was so helpful and friendly allowing us to relax and enjoy ourselves. The food was excellent with great vegetarian options for us including a delicious peanut soup that I had never had before. Patrick was our driver and Moses was our guide for the full day Safari and he was very knowledgeable about the animals, birds and trees. We saw Lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, zebra, Kudu and so many birds. The beauty of Ruaha is that it is so much quieter than the Serengeti. We only saw 2 other cars the entire day and when we were watching the Lions, we were by ourselves, unlike the Serengeti where there can be so many cars around. The views from the Lodge are beautiful and it's a lovely way to spend a few days off the beaten track in Tanzania. The roads are paved and there are good express buses to Iringa from Arusha and Dar es Salaam as well as flights if you prefer.…
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Warm hospitality, a sharing of cultural music, dancing and cuisine. Rooms are charming, clean, and bug-free. The reception area is also home to a bar and open air decks that overlook the valley. Plenty of hot water, exquisite food, and great coffee!
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Book the safari into the park-our driver Hasan was so knowledgeable. We saw lots of the big...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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It was a long journey from Mikumi to the lodge with a variety of roads for our driver to navigate. From the moment we got out of our jeep we knew we were in good hands. We were met by Aloise and some of his team who gave us a thoughtful welcome. We were guided through a tastefully decorated lounge area onto the balcony. Wow! The views were amazing. We were also offered a glass of tamarind juice and given time to soak up the view. Breakfast was taken on the balcony where again you can enjoy the views and the antics of the local monkeys ( at certain times of the day). Our room was on a hill with a number of steps to reach it ( which would be difficult for some travellers ) and was comfortable and nicely furnished. The views and setting are amazing but for us the staff made the experience even better; whether that was being guided by torchlight to our room or served at the bar. However, special mention to Aloise who is an awesome host !!! Only 15 mins from Ruaha National Park entrance.…
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A great four days just spent here. Fantastic location overlooking Ruaha and great staff, especially Aloise who was just brilliant. Food was good but the bar and lounge areas were great. About 20 minutes from the gate and at the top of a steep hill (as the name suggests) and steep paths up to the rooms (no good for anyone with any form of mobility issue). The blurb is slightly misleading as I am sure that the word "pool" is mentioned, there is pool but a pool table, not a swimming pool. Great place though.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ALSO KNOWN AS
ruaha hilltop hotel ruaha national park
LOCATION
TanzaniaIringa RegionRuaha National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
18
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ruaha Hilltop Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Ruaha Hilltop Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Swahili.