10 days
Arrive at Dar es Salaam or Arusha and connect to a domestic flight to Katavi. On arrival, meet your safari guide and transfer to your lodge or camp.
In the afternoon, enjoy your first game drive in Katavi National Park, exploring open plains and river systems. Expect sightings of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and possibly predators. Dinner and overnight at camp.
After breakfast, spend a full day exploring Katavi’s vast wilderness. The park is famous for huge buffalo herds and dense wildlife around seasonal water sources.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush and continue game viewing in the afternoon. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Morning and afternoon game drives focusing on Katavi’s famous hippo pools and surrounding ecosystems.
Observe hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and large grazing herds. Birdlife is abundant. Dinner and overnight at camp.
Early morning game drive for final wildlife viewing in Katavi. After lunch, transfer to airstrip for flight to Mahale Mountains National Park.
On arrival, enjoy boat transfer across Lake Tanganyika to your lodge. Dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, begin chimpanzee trekking in Mahale rainforest. Track chimpanzee groups with expert rangers and observe their natural behavior.
Return for lunch and relax by Lake Tanganyika in the afternoon.
Full-day trekking in deeper forest zones searching for different chimpanzee families. Enjoy picnic or lodge lunch depending on location. Return for sunset relaxation.
A rest day at Lake Tanganyika. Enjoy swimming, kayaking, boat rides, or beach relaxation. Optional short forest walks may be arranged.
After breakfast, take a boat transfer along Lake Tanganyika to Gombe Stream National Park. Arrive and check into your lodge. Afternoon guided forest walk and introduction to chimpanzee tracking area. Dinner and overnight.
Early morning chimpanzee trekking in Gombe Stream National Park, following in the footsteps of Jane Goodall’s research. Observe chimpanzee families, learn about their behavior, and enjoy forest hikes with lake views. Return for relaxation and sunset.
Morning forest walk or optional short chimpanzee tracking session. After breakfast, transfer by boat to the airstrip and fly back to Dar es Salaam, marking the end of your safari.
This 10-day safari to Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, and Gombe Stream National Park is the ultimate Western Tanzania expedition for travelers seeking a rare combination of big game safari, chimpanzee trekking, and remote wilderness adventure.
One of the biggest reasons to choose this safari is the diversity of experiences in a single journey. In Katavi, you explore one of Africa’s most untouched savannah ecosystems, home to massive herds of buffalo, elephants, hippos, and powerful predator interactions. In Mahale, you step into dense rainforest for world-class chimpanzee trekking. In Gombe, you experience intimate chimpanzee encounters in the historic research site made famous by Jane Goodall.
Another key advantage is the remoteness and exclusivity of all three parks. These destinations are far from mass tourism routes, giving you a true wilderness experience with fewer crowds and more authentic wildlife encounters.
The extended 10-day duration allows for deep exploration, multiple trekking opportunities, and relaxed travel pace, ensuring you fully experience each park without rushing.
This safari is perfect for adventurous travelers, wildlife photographers, researchers, and nature lovers who want a once-in-a-lifetime journey combining big game safari, primate trekking, and Lake Tanganyika scenery in Tanzania’s most pristine and remote region.
The best time to visit Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, and Gombe Stream National Park is during the dry season from June to October, when wildlife viewing and chimpanzee trekking conditions are at their best.
During this period, Katavi offers outstanding game viewing as large herds of buffalo, elephants, and hippos concentrate around shrinking water sources, making wildlife easier to observe. Predator sightings are also more frequent due to increased animal concentration.
In Mahale and Gombe, the forest trails are drier and easier to hike, and chimpanzees are more active in accessible areas, increasing your chances of successful trekking and close encounters.
The weather is generally sunny and stable, and Lake Tanganyika is calm and ideal for boat transfers, swimming, and relaxation between activities.
The green season from November to May brings lush scenery and excellent birdwatching opportunities, but heavy rains (especially March to May) can make roads and forest trails more challenging.
Overall, June to October is the best time for this 10-day Western Tanzania safari, offering the perfect balance of wildlife density, accessibility, and comfortable travel conditions.
