Foxes Safari Camps opens newly-refurbished tented camp in Secluded section of Mikumi National Park, Southern Tanzania

Foxes Safari Camps is proud to announce the re-opening of their newly refurbished tented camp, Stanley’s Kopje within a wild and secluded section of Mikumi National Park. Stanley’s Kopje is one of only two tented camps within the national park, both of which are owned by Foxes Safari Camps.

Stanley’s Kopje is positioned on a rocky ‘kopje’ (or hill) on the vast Mkata flood plain stretching all the way to the Udzungwa mountain range on the horizon. 12 meru-style tents are built on raised wooden platforms, and positioned around the perimeter of the hill, with elevated, sweeping views across the Mikumi wilderness. Guests have a 360 degree view over the surrounding plains from the main dining area. 

"We're about thirty kilometres away from anyone else. We're in an area very little frequented by other game drives, so really we've got the whole area to ourselves here." - Jane Fox, Head of Marketing and Sales, Foxes Safari Camps.  

Stanley's Kopje is named after the great explorer, Henry Morton Stanley. In 1871 he made an expedition starting in Bagamoyo on the east coast of Tanzania, en-route to Lake Tanganyika.

"In his memoirs he talks about passing through Morogoro Town and then what is now the spectacular landscape of Mikumi National Park." - Oliver Fox, Operations. 

In these very memoirs he speaks of and details the surrounding landscape and a ‘kopje’ where he rested in between his travels, which is believed could be where Stanley's Kopje is located.

“You really get a sense of what Henry Stanley went through on his expeditions,” Oliver adds. “It’s still very remote, you have 360 degree views where you see nothing but bushland. The feeling you get when you arrive here is that you are on the same expedition. 

“It’s a tip of the hat to his journey.” 

Stanley’s Kopje Short Film

In August this year, a few team members, with our Love Africa Marketing team, filmed and photographed the refurbished lodge to bring you the sixth short film in our series showcasing Foxes camps and lodges across southern and western Tanzania. 

Our latest promotional video features the newly refurbished Stanley's Kopje. The short film tells the story of Henry Morton Stanley, highlighting his journey across Tanzania- a journey that brought him into what is today Mikumi National Park and up to the kopje that we believe he found refuge, and where Stanley’s Kopje is built.

Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/Tl0ChaFgLKE?si=KyVOC_yYS7JOuUsO 

The Lodge

Stanley’s Kopje has the advantage of being the only elevated land in an otherwise flat open plain. A nearby waterhole encourages game within sight of the camp.

The main area sits at the crest of the hill, built in typical Swahili style with a thatched roof. The dining area surrounds a central bar with sitting and dining areas that look out on the Mwanamboga area. Below this is a shaded seating area next to the infinity pool from where you can cool off after a game drive. 

The twelve tents are spaced around the lower perimeter of the hill with views across the plains. They are pitched on high wooden platforms with traditionally built thatched roofs that provide shade from the classic African sun while you sit on your verandah and look out for game around the camp.

Mikumi National Park 

The first national park of Tanzania's Southern Circuit is Mikumi National Park, home to large populations of plains game and big cats.

At 3 230km2, it is Tanzania's fourth largest national park and is known as the 'Little Serengeti' due to its wide open plains that allow for spectacular wildlife sightings.

Its close proximity to Dar es Salam makes getting to the park a quick and easy journey, especially with the Standard Gauge Rail electric train service.

The park is surrounded by the Uluguru and Udzungwa mountains, and within the park the Mkata Plain sees dense congregations of grazers, especially during the dry season. 

‘Mikumi’ is the Swahili word for the borassus palm that are seen throughout the park.

With beautiful surrounding landscapes, hippo pools scattered throughout the park, and over 400 recorded bird species, Mikumi is the perfect start to a Southern Circuit safari.