The Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the most magical and remote places in Tanzania. Inaccessible by road, a visit to this incredible place is best as part of a safari itinerary combining some of the more remote areas of Tanzania.
Mahale is probably one of the most exclusive destinations for viewing some of the planets most fascinating and intelligent creatures: chimpanzees. The once-in-a- lifetime opportunity of witnessing chimps in their natural environment comes at a price, however for many people this incredible adventure is well worth it. In addition, the geography of this beautiful area on the shores of the lake is an experience in itself.
The safari below offers this unique opportunity at a more affordable price (although still expensive) staying in small and intimate camps in great locations, but without the frills of luxury camps.
This safari can be booked from July to the end of October (dry season) and due to flight schedules, departures are on Mondays or Fridays from Arusha.
Of course there are luxury options if your budget allows! Please request more details.
Day 1 , 2, 3 & 4
Flight from Arusha to Lobo – Northern Serengeti – Flycatchers Camp
Today you will be picked up from your accommodation in Arusha and transferred to Arusha Airport for your flight to Lobo. Upon your arrival you will be met by a driver-guide and will head North for 2 hours to the area of Bologonja, arriving for lunch at Flycatchers camp. After lunch you will head out on an afternoon game drive.
You will stay in the area for 4 days, game driving in the Northern Serengeti. Each day you decide together with your driver guide whether to go on a a full day game drive and take picnic lunch with you or whether to go on two half day game drives and have lunch at the camp.
From August till October the large herds of wildebeest and zebras migrate through the Northern part of the Serengeti. There are no hotels or permanent camps in Bologonja and therefore only few tourists visit the area, making it a pristine and intact place in Africa where you can enjoy an unhindered view of the landscape and animals!
While on game drive you will cross the beautiful and crystal clear spring of Bologonja several times. With the exception of rhinos, you can come across any species of African animals of the Serengeti. Only wildebeests and zebras migrate, all other species are resident and have their territories. During the warm hours of the day the numerous water-bearing ditches with the shady trees are the best places for seeing animals. If the vegetation is dry and of little nutritious value there is no species of animal that does not regularly visit places with water.
You are never in a hurry and have time for approaching animals and birds carefully and for observing them for a long time.
Day 5, 6 & 7
Flight Lobo - Mahale Mountains - Chimpanzee tracking - Flycatcher Mahale camp
This morning you will be driven to Lobo airstrip to catch your flight to Mahale Mountains. On arrival you will transfer by boat from the airstrip to the National Park. It takes around 1 hour to the camp which is located on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
During your stay in Mahale Mountains NP, you will go chimpanzee tracking every day (apart from the day you arrive). The main purpose of a visit to this remote area is to encounter and observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Mahale Mountains is home to some of Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees: one group of approximately 800 chimpanzees are habituated, allowing close observation. Smaller and larger groups of these chimps are spread over a huge area. The trackings are guided by a tracker/ranger of the park in the mornings and it usually takes 1-2 hours to find the chimps.
The terrain is steep, passing through diverse forest fauna and can be quite demanding as the animals, of course, do not always remain in the same place. More thank 90% of clients who have been to Mahale have seen the chimps, so the chance of seeing the animals is high. You can stay 1 to 2 hours with the apes, depending on how many Mahale visitors visit the chimpanzees on each day and the ranger/tracker decides when it is time to return to the camp. It is great if you meet the animals in a rest period which they normally spend on the ground. When hiking and climbing in the forest you can also see beautiful plants, other monkeys, small mammals and birds. In the afternoons you can relax in the green, absolutely undisturbed environment.
Day 8, 9, 10 & 11
Flight to Katavi - Game drives Katavi National Park - Flycatcher Katavi Camp
Today the boat takes you back to the airstrip of Mahale Mountains National Park, where you will catch your flight to Katavi National Park. On arrival you will be met and driven to camp for lunch.
Again you can go on full day game drives with picnic lunch or morning and afternoon drives with lunch at the camp.
Katavi is the most remote and most inaccessible of the Tanzanian National parks which is what makes it so special. Nature is completely undisturbed and the fauna amazing. Typical pictures of Katavi are big herds of buffaloes, zebras and topis, ponds with hippos and crocodiles and elephants in small families. Roan and Sable antelope are the highlights of the park. You can see lions and with a bit of luck also leopard with rare sightings of wild dogs. Game driving in Katavi is all about discovery, even for experienced driver guides. The tranquil atmosphere in the camp and the animal sounds at night top your stay in this pristine wilderness!
Day 12
Flight Katavi - Arusha
Today you will fly back to Arusha. This is where your safari ends!
