Rufiji River Camp
Classic tented camp · Rufiji River near Mtemere gate · Foxes Safari Camps (Fox family)
Mid-range
Inside the park
Owner/family-run
The Fox family have been in Tanzanian tourism for three generations and this is their Rufiji camp, a classic tented affair on a bend of the river near Mtemere. It costs around half what the lake-circuit camps charge while still putting you inside the park, which is the main reason to book it. The river frontage means boat safaris start at camp instead of after a drive.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Run by three generations of the Fox family
- Closest in-park camp to Mtemere gate and airstrip
- Family suites include two tents sharing a private plunge pool
- Roughly half the price of the lake-circuit camps
- Boat safaris start right from the camp's river frontage
Cons
- Park fees charged on top of the nightly rate
- Closed from late March to early June
- We found no child policy stated on the camp's own site
- Site and record disagree on tent count, 11 versus 20
What's here
- Restaurant
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Boat trips
- Guided walks
Read from Rufiji River Camp's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Nyerere National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entry$70 plus 18% VAT, charged per 24 hours.
- $82.6per person, per day
- Vehicle$40 plus VAT for a foreign-registered vehicle up to 2,000 kg; above that, where most safari 4x4s sit, it is $150 plus VAT.
- $47.2per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $637.2 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The full fee schedule for Nyerere National ParkRates at Rufiji River Camp
From $395 pppn. $395 to $480 full board plus, on 2026 season rates. Park fees extra.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Indicative 2026 rates gathered in July 2026 from operators' own rate cards, and from the best third-party sources where an operator publishes nothing at all. No published rate means 'on request'. Always confirm with the property. Two things shift the real comparison in this park. First, park fees are extra almost everywhere: a camp inside the boundary carries the $82.60 conservation fee plus a $59.00 to $70.80 concession fee per adult per night, both including VAT, and most in-park camps bundle these into an all-inclusive rate while the camps outside the gate charge entry, boat and walking fees separately on the days you go in. Second, ignore any camp still advertising night game drives: they are not permitted inside the national park since the 2019 regazettement. Names you may still find in older guides but that we do not list: Azura Selous, which appears permanently closed, plus Selous Kulinda, Ol Moran, Jimbiza Lodge, Selous Great Water, Selous Mbuyu, Selous Mapumziko, The Retreat Selous and Amara Selous, none of which we could verify as currently trading.
Questions about Rufiji River Camp
Is Rufiji River Camp good for families?
We found no minimum age stated on the camp's own site, so ask when you enquire. It does offer three family suites, each two tents sharing a wooden deck and a private plunge pool, which is a strong setup for a family travelling with children of any age.
Can you self-drive to Rufiji River Camp?
This is not clearly stated. The camp sits a short distance from Mtemere airstrip and gate, which it markets mainly as a seamless flight transfer, but its closeness to the gate suggests road access may also work. Confirm directly with the Fox family's team before planning a self-drive route.
What does the rate at Rufiji River Camp include?
The 2026 season rate runs $395 to $480 a person on a full board plus basis, with park fees charged separately, according to the camp's own pricing. Full board plus covers accommodation and meals with activities such as game drives, walking safaris and boat trips, though exact drink inclusions are not detailed on the site.
How many tents does Rufiji River Camp have?
Sources disagree. The park's own lodge record lists about 20 tents, while the camp's current website describes 11 canvas tents including three family suites. Either way it is a mid-sized camp; ask the Fox family's team for the current figure before you book.