Western Tanzania Safari

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Western Tanzania Safari

Days 1, 2, 3 and 4 – Katavi National Park
On your arrival into Arusha, you will be met and assisted with your flight west to one of the best and remotes national parks in Tanzania and even Africa, Katavi National Park. This has to be one of Africa’s best kept secrets. The park is only open in the dry season when the Katuma and Kapapa Rivers are the main source of water and attracts herds of buffalo, massive pods of hippos and crocodiles that dig caves in the riverbanks. During the rainy season the black cotton soil prevents any game drives and so the camps in the park close for the season.

During the dry season as the rivers dry up, super pods of 4000+ hippos vie for space in the drying pools, making for some exciting game viewing. The crocodiles here are also unique as they have learnt to dig caves into the riverbanks to stay cool and wet. Large herds of buffalo and elephant can be seen at the river systems quenching their thirst, while lion and leopard take advantage of the herbivore numbers.

Guests lucky enough to make the effort to come to Katavi will have the chance to enjoy morning and afternoon game drives as well as bush walks. Being such an isolated national park with such few visitors, guests are guaranteed exclusive experiences.

Days 5, 6 and 7 – Mahale Mountains National Park
From the open grass plains of Katavi, you now head further west to Lake Tanganyika and the lush forests of the Mahale Mountains National Park, home t the best chimpanzee tracking in Africa. From the airstrip on the lake you head a further hour by boat along the crystal waters of the lake to the camp situated at the base of the forest and a white sandy beach. You have now arrived in paradise, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There are no roads here, just silence as time stands still.

The forests around the camp are home to several families of habituated chimpanzees and this is why you come here. Getting to spend a magical hour with the family as they go about their daily lives is an experience few get to enjoy. Chimpanzees are very active primates and so tracking can be tough, especially as they live in dense forested mountains. Once the troop has been located you get to spend an hour with them as they go about their daily lives This limits the risk of them catching a human disease and also gives them the time to get on with their lives without the intrusive nature of our visits. The chimpanzees have been through a long habituation process and so are completely natural in our presence which makes the time with them even more special.

After a morning of chimpanzee trekking, guests spend the afternoon relaxing on the sandy beach or enjoying a relaxing sail on the dhow.