COVID-19
Since our last newsletter, the world has become a different place with the COVID-19 virus reaching almost every continent.
Firstly, we would like to send our deepest condolences to those who have lost friends and loved ones through this outbreak. We are all facing unprecedented challenges, some are working on the front line in the Health Care Industry, some are working hard to find a vaccination others are striving to provide the equipment we need to protect, care or support whilst Governments around the world navigate through the guidance provided by WHO…whatever your key role in this challenge we are sincerely grateful to you.
As in many industries tourism has been one to severely feel the effects and the impact could be devastating, with many closing their operations and businesses as per guidance and for the safety of guests and staff. Mwagusi Safari Camp is closed for the green season, which is an annual holiday for our team, but we will be open again in June ready for the coming season and ask that if you are not able through advised Government travel restrictions to not cancel your holidays but talk with your Tour Operator and defer to another date so that Mwagusi and those destinations we all love to visit are there to welcome you once we are through this crisis.
Keep safe… The Mwagusi Team
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When Mother Nature gives us Floods,
our team takes up the challenge!
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A river crossing on an access road from Iringa to Ruaha National Park
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4 rivers and several gullies lie between Mwagusi and Iringa on our journey to get camp supplies and guests arriving by car
This year early rains and especially the heavy rains have caused several floods around camp, these floods have damaged many roads and bridges. Debris blocked the water from flowing over the bridge and eroded either end.
Each week our supply truck needs to go out of the park to Tungamalenga and Iringa to get our camp supplies but when the roads are closed this requires our team to be extremely well organised, responsive, flexible and creative. This time even more than usual! It is not always easy to operate a camp in a remote environment.
Many nights spent all night on river watch and much planning forethought and preparation went into ensuring we negotiated the turbulent repeated and unpredictable flood conditions whilst ensuring clients enjoyed their Safari experience with little inconvenience.
Communication and working together with other camps and TANAPA are key. Bringing supplies for each other when possible, warning each other when there is more rain coming and fixing potholes caused by washed away sand and concrete with anybody who's up for some heavy exercise.
The show must go on and our guests are our priority. The rain doesn't stop us from going out for game drives and serving delicious meals as usual.
Our managers, guides, drivers, chefs, housekeeping and other staff have left on their well-deserved holiday to visit family and friends and camp will be closed during the green season. Everything is packed away with care so that the natural inhabitants can look for shelter again.
Mwagusi, it’s managers and staff will be looking forward to welcoming you in the new safari season!
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See more video's about flood impacts on the main arterial road in Tanzania:
https://youtu.be/CMyPIAB2eeY & https://youtu.be/pzjcXLCPRz8
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Those who cannot dance,
blame it on the music.
(African proverb)
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Check it out now,
new website online!
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With the new season starting soon, our new website is online from today! Have a look and wander around.
Mwagusi Camp Live
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Notes from the Mufindi Rainforest
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The Chameleon Spider?
"The yellow spider is a Flower Crab Spider from the genus Thomisus. Females are often brightly colored and can change color over a few days to blend in with the flower. In Danish we call them cameleon spiders. The little spider on the back is the male. He needs to get access to the ventral side of the female abdomen, and is probably working on this. Males are much smaller and often brownish." (Nikolaj Scharff)
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The hyperolius pseudargus
'Usually call loudly from the top of water vegetation, in Mufindi’s rainforests and wetlands. The intense chorus of birdsong is gradually replaced, at dusk, by the even more deafening sounds of singing frogs." (Michele Menegon)
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Guest review
“OK, first things first - since October last year the weather in Tanzania has been "challenging", to say the least. But over the past few years i have learned that the mark of a really good Safari camp is how the challenges are met. Even at the best of times, the logistics involved in running a camp in the middle of Africa are far from easy - from getting fresh supplies to keeping the vehicles in working order - but when rains make the rivers flood and snap concrete access bridges as easily as if they were made of wood, the business of keeping guests happy and well fed and watered, requires very special skills. In this respect all the staff at Mwagusi are marvelous. The food was always delicious, the beer was always ice cold and did not run out, and game drives continued as a matter of routine. I have always felt completely safe and well looked after at Mwagusi, leaving me free to enjoy one of the most beautiful game parks in Africa with all its wonderful animals and birds most of which also seem to appreciate the camp's position on the seasonal river and wander through it from time to time. February should not usually see that much rain, but 2020 was as wet as I have ever seen the park, although to be honest it did not spoil my enjoyment of it one little bit. I stayed eight days with a friend and we could easily have stayed longer. Asante sana to Henrik and all the wonderful guys who make me feel one of their family. I will of course be back next year, whatever the weather“
Marcus Rutherford
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