Journey deep into the remote western wilderness of Tanzania on a nine day luxury fly-in safari that combines the raw, dramatic wildlife of Katavi National Park with one of Africa's most profound wildlife encounters: trekking through the ancient rainforests of the Mahale Mountains to spend time with wild chimpanzees on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by your guide and transferred to your luxury lodge in Arusha, set within the grounds of a working coffee plantation on the slopes of Mount Meru. The lodge is a perfect introduction to the quality of accommodation and service you will experience throughout the journey. Dinner is served in the lodge restaurant as you prepare for the early departure the following morning.
An early morning charter flight carries you west across Tanzania, over the Rift Valley and the remote western highlands, before landing at the Katavi airstrip. The transition from Arusha's busy highland environment to the vast, silent floodplains of Katavi is immediate and striking. Your guide and camp vehicle meet you on the airstrip for a game drive directly from the plane, maximising time in the field. The Katuma River and surrounding plains are immediately productive, with hippo pods, crocodile and large elephant herds among the first sightings. You arrive at your luxury tented camp in time for lunch and rest before an afternoon drive.
A full day in Katavi begins before sunrise with the option of a guided walking safari, the park's silence and scale making foot travel a thrilling experience. The Katavi and Chada floodplains are at their most spectacular during the dry season when every animal within a wide area is drawn to the shrinking waterholes. Hippo pools containing over two hundred animals, enormous crocodile gatherings and lion prides hunting in full daylight are among the highlights specific to this remote park. Afternoon game drives cover different areas of the vast park ecosystem. Night drives are available and frequently produce sightings of civets, genets, porcupines and African wild cats.
Another full day in Katavi with the flexibility to follow wildlife wherever it leads. Your expert guide plans the day based on current animal movements, whether that means returning to a productive hippo pool from yesterday, following a lion pride on a morning hunt or exploring a distant section of the park by vehicle. Walking safaris here have a genuine wilderness character, with your armed guide pointing out tracks, termite castles, medicinal plants and bird species that are invisible from a vehicle. The evening brings a sundowner drink on the floodplain as the sky turns extraordinary colours over the western horizon.
A final early morning game drive captures the last of Katavi's wildlife magic before the charter flight north along the western rift escarpment to Mahale Mountains National Park. The flight itself offers sweeping views of the remote western Tanzania landscape, terminating in a descent towards the pristine beach landing strip at the edge of Lake Tanganyika. Your camp team meets you and escorts you along the lakeshore to your luxury tented camp, where a welcome lunch awaits. The afternoon is spent acclimatising to the forest environment with a short walk and an introduction to the chimpanzee trekking protocol.
The day begins after an early breakfast with the trek into the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee community. Your ranger and guide track the chimps using calls, visual signs and local knowledge of the troop's movements. When the chimpanzees are found you spend a full hour in their company, observing social interactions, feeding, play between juveniles and the complex hierarchy of the group. Being in the presence of wild chimpanzees, whose DNA differs from human DNA by less than two percent, is one of the most affecting wildlife experiences available anywhere in the world. The afternoon is spent on the lakeshore, swimming in Lake Tanganyika's clear water or taking a boat trip along the forested coastline.
A second chimpanzee trek or a guided forest walk through the different vegetation zones of the Mahale Mountains fills the morning. The forest is rich in bird life including African fish eagle, Ross's turaco and many forest specialists not found elsewhere in Tanzania. Blue monkeys and red colobus also inhabit the forest and are frequently encountered on walks. The afternoon offers complete freedom to swim in the lake, explore the shore on a kayak, snorkel over the rocky reef where the lake's endemic cichlid fish gather, or simply rest in the shade of the camp's open-sided lounge.
The final full day at Mahale begins with the choice of an early morning boat trip across the glassy surface of Lake Tanganyika as the sun rises behind the forest ridge, or a final chimpanzee trek with the option of a different route through the forest. The afternoon is for rest and reflection, a final swim in the lake and the chance to speak with your guide about the conservation challenges facing both the western Tanzania ecosystem and the chimpanzee population specifically. A farewell dinner at the camp is prepared by your chef as the sun sinks behind the Democratic Republic of Congo mountains across the lake.
After a final breakfast at the lakeshore your charter flight carries you back east across Tanzania to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward international connection. The flight retraces the western landscape, offering a final aerial view of the forests and floodplains that made this journey so extraordinary. Your guide ensures you reach the airport with time to spare for check-in and departure formalities.
All prices are per person. Select your group size and we will put together a personalised quote.
Rates are subject to availability and lodge tariffs at time of booking.
| Group Size | Price (USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1Person | $15,600 | |
| 2People | $14,209 | |
| 3People | $13,900 | |
| 4People | $13,500 | |
| 5People | $13,100 | |
| 6People | $12,800 | |
| 7People | $12,500 |
Luxury fly-in safari. All internal flight transfers are included. Rates per person. Minimum age 12 years.
The figures shown are indicative and give you a general guide to costs. They are subject to change based on availability, lodge rates, park fees and seasonality. For an accurate personalised quote please hit the "Book This Safari" button and our team will come back to you within 24 hours.
Our team will get back to you within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and detailed quote.
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9 days · Serengeti National Park
Safari is 9 days
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