How demanding is the trekking?

Moderately hard: one to four hours on steep, humid forest trails with uneven footing. Once the group is found you have a strictly limited hour with them, at a minimum distance of ten metres and wearing a face mask.

June to October. The forest is drier for trekking and Katavi's floodplain concentrations peak from August, so late in that window is the strongest combination.

9 Days / 8 Nights · Fly-in

Chimpanzee Expedition

Mahale, Katavi and the far west

The Journey

Overview

Tanzania's most ambitious safari, and for many travellers its best. Four nights tracking wild chimpanzees in the forested mountains above Lake Tanganyika, then three in Katavi, where the dry season concentrates hippo and buffalo on a scale that has to be seen. The scheduled flight routing links the two naturally.

Highlights

Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale's rainforest
Snorkelling and kayaking on Lake Tanganyika
Katavi's extraordinary dry-season hippo pools
Walking safaris in genuinely remote country
Some of the lowest visitor numbers in Africa

At a glance

Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Style: Fly-in
Destinations: Mahale Mountains · Katavi
Best for: Primate enthusiasts · Repeat visitors to Tanzania · Serious photographers
Pricing: Tailored to season, lodges and group size — request a personal quote.

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Day by Day

How the journey unfolds

Day 1

Arrive in Dar es Salaam

Arrive and overnight in the city, ready for the westbound flight in the morning.

Day 2

Fly to Mahale

A long, spectacular flight west, then a boat along the lakeshore to camp with the mountains rising directly behind the beach.

Days 3–5

Chimpanzee trekking

Guided treks into the forest each morning with the research team's trackers, following the Mimikire community. Afternoons belong to the lake — snorkelling over cichlids, kayaking, or doing nothing at all.

Day 6

Fly to Katavi

The scheduled hop north into Katavi, landing on a grass strip. An afternoon game drive across the Katisunga floodplain.

Days 7–8

Katavi

Two full days on the floodplain and along the Katuma River, where the dry season packs hippo into shrinking pools and draws buffalo herds a thousand strong. Walking safaris available with your guide.

Day 9

Fly out

A morning drive to the airstrip and the scheduled flight back to Dar es Salaam or Arusha.

What's included

Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
All park entrance and concession fees
Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
Drinking water throughout the safari
Airport transfers
24/7 support from our Dar es Salaam office
Scheduled flights Dar–Mahale–Katavi–Dar
Chimpanzee trekking permits and guides
Boat transfers on Lake Tanganyika

Not included

International flights and visas
Travel insurance (we can arrange this for you)
Alcoholic and premium beverages
Gratuities for guides and camp staff
Items of a personal nature
Overnight in Dar es Salaam on day 1 (we can book this for you)

Good to Know

Questions, answered

Nothing wild is guaranteed, but across three trekking days the success rate is well over 90% — which is exactly why we insist on four nights at Mahale rather than two.

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