Wild Katavi and Mahale Chimp Safari

Arguably the safari capital of East Africa, Arusha is a bustling city in northern Tanzania and the main hub for those who are going to be embarking on a safari in this extensively game rich country.

Enjoy a restful overnight stay in your chosen accommodation in or just outside the city.

Completely off the beaten track, Katavi National Park is isolated and undiscovered by all but the most ardent safari goers. The national park encompasses huge grassland plains, marshland, rugged hills, woodland, lakes and rivers which, when combined with the surrounding game reserves of Rukwa, Lukwati and Luafi, form a great ecosystem of some 25,000 square kilometres. What’s even more appealing is that there’s only a couple of permanent camps and just a few hundred visitors a year, so you’ll get it virtually to yourself.

Countless zebra, impala and topi which fill the plains, while there are also strong populations of giraffe, buffalo, elephant, hartebeest and waterbuck. Predators such as lion prides and hyena are easily found while cheetah, wild dog and leopard can also be spotted. During the dry season, hundreds of hippo crowd into the remaining waterholes and rivers, while crocodiles sun themselves on the banks.

Mahale National Park in the far west of Tanzania is home to one of the longest freshwater lakes in the world, Lake Tanganyika. What makes this location extra special is the presence of chimpanzees in the thick forests that cover the mountains. Jane Goodall made the area famous and has done much to highlight awareness of the chimpanzees and promote their conservation. There will be plenty of time to relax, kayak on the lake, fish from traditional dhows, swim under waterfalls and enjoy incredible sunsets.