Safari experts & storytellers. Since 1991
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
This safari ventures deep into the remote wilds of Western Tanzania. In Katavi National Park, where vast floodplains draw huge herds of dry season buffalo and elephant and tightly packed pods of hippo, and to the forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to meet habituated wild chimpanzees.
Expect spectacular wildlife encounters, rare exclusivity and seamless flight connections.
Africa's most exclusive park + her best chimpanzee trekking
Highlights
One of Africa's most exclusive parks. Katavi is so far off the traditional beaten safari track that it receives few visitors every year, ensuring absolute exclusivity.
Spectacular dry-season wildlife sightings. Katavi hosts some of the largest hippo pods and buffalo herds in the world, mega-prides of lions and piles of crocodiles hiding in sandbank caves.
The best chimp trekking in the world. Mahale's more than 1,000 chimps have been the subjects of a long-running study and are habituated to human presence, making them excellent subjects for chimp trekking. They regularly venture from the forested slopes onto the white-sand beaches of Lake Tanganyika.
Lake Tanganyika. Swim, kayak and explore the clear waters of one of Africa’s most beautiful and remote lakes.
Authentic camps that hark back to a simpler time when the essence of luxury was the rare privilege of having an entire wilderness almost entirely to yourself.
Light aircraft flights linking these isolated parks, ensuring more time to enjoy the spectacular landscapes and wildlife encounters.
Locations
Arusha: Arusha town, located at the foothills of Mount Meru, is the gateway to Tanzania's northern and western safari circuits. Although most visitors to Arusha are en route to or from the better-known safari parks, the nearby Arusha National Park is worth a day visit, and there is some good last-minute shopping available in town - including curio, art and jewellery shops.
Katavi National Park: This is one of Africa’s most remote and wild parks, offering a unique, off-the-beaten-path experience sought by seasoned safari-goers. Katavi features vast floodplains, palm-lined rivers and seasonal pans and hosts some of the largest hippo pods and buffalo herds in the world. The park has robust populations of lions, painted wolves (wild dogs), cheetahs, and hyenas and piles of crocodiles hiding in sandbank caves.
Mahale Mountains National Park: A chimpanzee paradise, where fantasy mountains & forests rise out of Lake Tanganyika. Mahale features craggy mountains, rolling hills, and verdant forests, offering some of the best chimpanzee trekking in Africa. The forests are met by the white-sand beaches and warm turquoise waters of Lake Tanganyika, which stretch as far as the eye can see, and lap gently onto the shores of unspoilt sandy coves.
Lodges
1 night at Katambuga House – Arusha. A peaceful guesthouse set among gardens and coffee fields, offering warm hospitality and a gentle start before flying west.
3 nights at Chada Katavi – Katavi National Park. A classic tented camp under a shady canopy of acacia and tamarind trees, overlooking Chada Plain, a hub of wildlife activity in the dry season.
4 nights at Greystoke Mahale – Mahale Mountains National Park. A distinctive lakeshore camp built from timber and thatch, opening onto a pristine beach beneath the Mahale Mountains and ideally placed for chimp trekking and lake activities.
Timing
Best travelled between July and October, when Katavi’s floodplains recede, and wildlife gathers in impressive densities, while chimpanzees in Mahale tend to range lower on the forested slopes, making trekking more accessible and rewarding.
This itinerary is designed to begin on a Sunday, aligning with the scheduled bush flights that connect Katavi and Mahale.
Price per person sharing
8 nights (9 days) | ||
Low season | 1-14 Jun 2026 | from US$ 9,220 |
High season | 15 Jun to 31 Oct 2026 | from US$ 14,325 |
Includes: All accommodation, meals, local beverages and laundry, twice-daily safari activities with professional guides, chimpanzee trekking in Mahale, park entrance and conservation fees, bush flights connecting Arusha, Katavi and Mahale, all road and boat transfers, and 24-hour logistical support.
Excludes: International flights and airport taxes, entry visas, gratuities, personal expenses, optional activities not specified, and mandatory cancellation, travel and medical insurance.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
"My special place”
Ross Exler, Tanzania safari expert: “In all my travels, I’ve never enjoyed such an 'end of the Earth' experience as sitting on the beach at Greystoke Mahale, watching distant lightning light up the sky over Lake Tanganyika. What a special place!”
“Chimp haven”
Our community manager, Sarah Goodman, says, “Thanks to Mahale’s ongoing chimp research program, these eastern chimps thrive in this remote wilderness. Trekking to find the semi-habituated M group offers a rare, immersive conservation experience.”
“Raw wilderness”
Christian Boix, Tanzania safari expert: “Remote, raw and riveting, Katavi is a mega wilderness hosting the largest buffalo herds I have ever seen, hungry lion mega prides, huge hippo pods, and stately roan and sable antelopes strutting their stuff.”
Start planning your dream safari
Our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!