7 Days Western Circuit
This midrange safari is designed for travelers who want Tanzania’s most remote, uncrowded wilderness without going ultra-luxury. You’ll fly into wild Katavi National Park for three days of powerful big-game viewing think huge buffalo herds, elephants, hippo-filled pools, crocodiles, and strong predator chances in a landscape that feels truly untouched then continue to the shores of Lake Tanganyika for Mahale Mountains, home to some of Africa’s best chimp trekking. After tracking chimps through forested slopes, you’ll slow down with beach time, lake views, and optional boating or kayaking, creating a perfect balance of adrenaline and calm. Midrange stays are carefully chosen for comfort and location, such as Katavi Wildlife Camp in Katavi and Mbali Mbali Mahale on the lake, with flights and logistics arranged to keep the journey smooth despite the destination’s beautiful remoteness.
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Multiple parks, several days -- and no wasted transfers. Every drive doubles as a game drive.
06°48′S 31°11′EArrive by scheduled flight from Arusha and meet your guide at the Katavi airstrip, then begin your safari with an exciting afternoon game drive across Katavi’s vast floodplains an untamed landscape famous for huge buffalo herds, hippo-packed pools, and elephants moving through the open bush (seasonal). As the light softens toward sunset, you’ll settle into your midrange camp for a relaxed evening in the wilderness,
06°48′S 31°11′ESpend a full day exploring Katavi’s wild heart, moving through riverine corridors, open plains, and famous hippo pools where the action concentrates expect excellent chances for massive herds, crocodiles, and predators working the edges of the water systems then return to your camp for dinner and overnight at the same midrange camp
06°48′S 31°11′EStart with a dawn game drive for peak wildlife activity, enjoy a relaxed midday break back at camp, then head out again in the late afternoon when temperatures cool and predators become active prime hours for lion encounters and dramatic scenes before returning to the same camp for your final Katavi night.
06°06′S 29°44′EFly/transfer onward to Mahale Mountains National Park, arriving on the shores of Lake Tanganyika for a peaceful sunset, soft beach air, and a complete change of atmosphere from the savannah;
Acommodation: Mbali Mbali Mahale (formerly Kungwe Beach Lodge).
06°06′S 29°44′EBegin your first chimp trekking experience with expert trackers, hiking through lush forest for an unforgettable encounter with Mahale’s habituated chimps, then enjoy a slow afternoon swimming in the lake, relaxing on the beach, or taking a gentle forest walk
06°06′S 29°44′EChoose between a second chimp trek for deeper tracking and longer time in the forest, or a relaxed lake-focused day with a boat outing, kayaking, and pure Tanganyika downtime, finishing with a calm evening back at the same lodge/camp.
04°53′S 29°40′ETransfer to Kigoma and connect by flight onward to Dar es Salaam or Arusha for departure or your next adventure, carrying home a rare mix of Katavi big game and Mahale chimp trekking memories.
Optional extras you can add before or after this western safari.
The Katavi flight leaves Arusha early on day 1, so a night in town first is close to essential.
Katavi gets three nights here. A fourth gives you a slow day on the floodplains and more time at the hippo pools.
An extra night in Mahale lets you trek again and still have a day on the lake.
If you fly out through Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar is a short flight away for a few days on the beach.
Two remote western parks: Katavi for big game, then Mahale Mountains on the shore of Lake Tanganyika for chimpanzees.
Katavi is one of Tanzania's most remote parks, with wide floodplains, rivers and seasonal lakes. In the dry months large buffalo herds, elephants, hippos and crocodiles gather around the shrinking water.
Mahale is a forested mountain range rising from Lake Tanganyika, reached by air and boat with no roads. It is home to a habituated group of wild chimpanzees that have been studied for decades.
Lake Tanganyika is one of the longest and deepest freshwater lakes in the world. Its clear water and sandy beaches below Mahale are used for swimming, kayaking and boat trips.
Price on request — contact us for a quote for this trip.
This is the dry season in western Tanzania. In Katavi the water shrinks to a few rivers and pools, so buffalo, elephants, hippos and lions gather close together. In Mahale the forest paths are drier and, later in the season, the chimps often feed lower on the slopes, which can mean a shorter walk to find them.
The rains begin, the grass grows tall in Katavi and the animals spread out, so game viewing is harder. Mahale is green and chimp trekking still runs, but the paths are steeper work when wet. Some camps keep shorter seasons, so check with us before setting dates.
The long rains are heavy in the west and many camps in both parks close for these months. We will not sell this route then.
Day 1 is a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Arusha to Katavi, so you need to be in Arusha the night before. Fly into Kilimanjaro International (JRO) on the day before day 1 and spend a night in Arusha. Flights to the western parks run on set days of the week, so we fix the trip around them first.
On day 7 you leave Mahale by boat and air for Kigoma, then fly on to Dar es Salaam or Arusha. Your international flight home should leave on the evening of day 7 at the earliest, and the next day is safer. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits, so pack in a soft bag.
Getting to Katavi takes a flight, so the trip gives it time. Three nights means two full days and the early and late hours when predators are most active.
You start on the open floodplains and end on the lake. The trekking days come when you are settled into the trip and the last days are calmer.
Day 5 and day 6 can both be trekking days. If the first trek is short or the chimps are far, you can try again.
Mahale is not only trekking. Afternoons are free for swimming, a boat outing or a forest walk, which balances the early starts in Katavi.
Answers to common questions about Katavi, Mahale and chimp trekking.
Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send you a tailored quotation.
