11 DAYS
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania – Airport Pick Up & Hotel Transfer
On arrival at Dar es Salaam or Arusha, you will be welcomed by your professional safari representative and transferred to your hotel.
Your guide will give a detailed safari briefing covering the itinerary, safety rules, flight schedules, and expectations for the journey ahead.
Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel, recovering from travel, and preparing for your safari adventure. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2: Arusha City Tour or Arusha National Park Experience
After breakfast, enjoy a light introduction to Tanzania depending on your arrival point.
If in Arusha, you may visit Arusha National Park for a short game drive and walking safari with views of Mount Meru. Expect giraffes, zebras, buffalo, colobus monkeys, and birdlife.
Alternatively, explore Arusha town, including local markets, cultural heritage centers, and coffee shops to experience Tanzanian culture.
Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Flight to Northern Safari Park – Begin Wildlife Safari
Early morning transfer to airport for a flight or drive to a major northern safari park such as Serengeti or Tarangire.
Upon arrival, begin your first real game drive in the African wilderness. You will explore vast landscapes filled with elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and predators such as lions and hyenas.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park and continue afternoon game drives until sunset.
Dinner and overnight at lodge or tented camp inside or near the park.
Day 4: Full-Day Game Drive in Northern Tanzania
After early breakfast, depart for a full-day safari exploring different ecosystems within the park.
If in Serengeti, you may witness predator-prey interactions and seasonal wildlife migration (depending on time of year). If in Tarangire, expect large elephant herds and iconic baobab landscapes.
Your guide will position you for the best wildlife sightings and photography opportunities throughout the day.
Return to lodge in the evening for dinner and relaxation.
Day 5: Extended Safari Exploration & Wildlife Photography
Today focuses on deeper exploration of remote park areas. Early morning game drive offers the best chance to see predators actively hunting or returning from hunts.
Midday relaxation at camp or lodge followed by an afternoon game drive.
You will explore rivers, plains, and woodland areas while learning about animal behavior and ecosystem dynamics from your guide.
Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Day 6: Final Northern Safari – Flight to Western Tanzania
Enjoy an early morning game drive for final wildlife sightings in the northern park.
After breakfast, transfer to airstrip for your flight via Dar es Salaam or connecting route toward western Tanzania.
Upon arrival in western Tanzania, meet your guide and transfer closer to Lake Tanganyika region.
Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Day 7: Scenic Flight to Mahale – Boat Transfer to Lodge
After breakfast, board a light aircraft flight to Mahale airstrip.
On arrival, take a scenic boat ride across the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika to reach your lodge inside Mahale Mountains National Park.
Check in, relax, and enjoy your first sunset over the lake surrounded by rainforest-covered mountains.
Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Day 8: First Chimpanzee Trekking Adventure
After an early breakfast, enter the dense rainforest for your first chimpanzee trekking experience.
With expert park rangers, you will track chimpanzees using vocal sounds, nests, and movement trails. Once located, you will spend time observing their natural behavior such as grooming, feeding, playing, and social interaction.
After trekking, return to lodge for lunch. Afternoon is free for swimming in Lake Tanganyika or relaxing on the beach.
Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Day 9: Deep Forest Chimpanzee Tracking Experience
Today is a longer and more challenging trekking day into deeper forest zones.
You will explore different chimpanzee territories, increasing your chances of multiple sightings. The terrain includes steep forest hills, bamboo zones, and dense jungle.
Along the way, you may encounter colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, butterflies, and rare bird species.
Return to lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Lake Tanganyika Relaxation & Optional Activities
This day is dedicated to relaxation and lake activities.
Enjoy swimming in Lake Tanganyika, kayaking along the shoreline, boat rides, or beach relaxation. The lake is one of the deepest and clearest in the world, offering peaceful scenery.
Optional short forest walks or light chimpanzee tracking may be arranged depending on conditions.
Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Day 11: Final Chimpanzee Trekking & Departure
After breakfast, enjoy a final short chimpanzee trekking experience or forest walk depending on chimpanzee location.
This final encounter gives you one last opportunity to observe chimpanzees and take photographs.
Later, take a boat transfer back to the airstrip and fly to Dar es Salaam or Arusha, marking the end of your unforgettable 11-day Tanzania safari.
Return domestic flights (Arusha / Dar es Salaam – Northern parks – Western Tanzania – Mahale – return)
All internal flight connections and airport taxes
Accommodation (10 nights in lodges or tented camps)
All meals during safari (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Professional English-speaking safari guide throughout the trip
4×4 safari vehicle for all game drives in northern parks
Park entry fees for all visited national parks
Chimpanzee trekking permits in Mahale Mountains National Park
Boat transfers on Lake Tanganyika (airstrip – lodge – return transfers)
Bottled drinking water during safari activities
Airport and airstrip transfers in all destinations
Government taxes and conservation fees
Safari briefing and full on-ground support during the trip
International flights to and from Tanzania
Tanzania visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, etc.)
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Tips and gratuities for guides, rangers, pilots, and lodge staff
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Accommodation before and after the safari in Arusha or Dar es Salaam
Why Choose This 11-Day Tanzania Safari & Mahale Adventure
This 11-day safari combining Tanzania’s northern parks with Mahale Mountains National Park is designed for travelers who want a **complete, diverse, and immersive safari experience** that goes beyond a standard wildlife trip.
One of the main reasons to choose this safari is the **wide variety of experiences in one journey**. You will enjoy classic game drives in Tanzania’s famous savannah parks, spotting elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and buffalo, before heading into the remote western region for chimpanzee trekking in dense rainforest.
Another key advantage is the **exclusive chimpanzee trekking experience in Mahale**, one of the best places in Africa to observe wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The encounters are intimate, emotional, and unforgettable, offering a rare connection with primates in the wild.
The extended 11-day duration allows for a **relaxed travel pace**, giving you more time for wildlife viewing, photography, and leisure without rushing between destinations. It also increases your chances of multiple chimpanzee and big game sightings.
This safari is ideal for **adventure travelers, wildlife photographers, researchers, and nature lovers** who want a once-in-a-lifetime journey combining big game safaris, rainforest trekking, and Lake Tanganyika relaxation in one seamless itinerary.
Best Time to Visit 11 Days of Tanzania Safaris and Mahale National Park
The best time to visit Tanzania for this 11-day safari, including visits to northern parks and Mahale Mountains National Park, is during the dry season from June to October.
During this period, wildlife viewing in northern parks is at its peak, with animals gathering around water sources making them easier to spot. It is also the best time for photography due to clear skies and excellent visibility.
In Mahale, the dry season offers the best chimpanzee trekking conditions. Forest trails are easier to walk, and chimpanzees are more concentrated in accessible areas, increasing your chances of successful sightings.
Lake Tanganyika is also calm and beautiful during this season, making it ideal for boat transfers, swimming, and relaxation after safari activities.
The green season from November to May offers lush landscapes, fewer tourists, and excellent birdwatching. However, heavy rains from March to May can make travel and trekking more challenging.
Overall, June to October is the best time for this 11-day Tanzania safari, offering the perfect balance of wildlife, accessibility, and comfortable weather conditions.
