11 Days Western Tanzania Safari

On arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport you are warmly greeted by our representative and transferred to the Dar es Salaam Serena in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, around twenty-five minutes away depending on the time of day. The rest of the day is yours to unwind after your international flights before the safari adventure begins tomorrow.

A morning transfer connects with your flight to Ruaha, perhaps with brief stops at other airstrips along the way. At Msembe Airstrip a camp guide meets you with cold drinks and snacks, and after a short welcome briefing you set off on your first game drive towards camp, roughly an hour away depending on the wildlife you meet. You settle in over lunch, relax in your suite or cool off in the pool, and take afternoon tea before an afternoon game drive in search of big cats and herds of buffalo, pausing for a romantic sundowner framed by towering baobabs and returning to a drink by the fireside and a feast in the dining area.

The day begins with a gentle wake-up call as tea or coffee is delivered to your room. Early mornings are ideal for walking safaris, where the emphasis falls on the miniature ecosystems often overlooked from a vehicle, before the rising heat sends you back to the lodge for an ice-cold drink, a dip in the pool and a leisurely lunch. The early afternoon is open for relaxation or a soothing spa treatment, before an afternoon game drive, with the option of an exhilarating night drive in search of Ruaha's rarer, shyer nocturnal species.

An early start takes you to Msembe Airstrip for the ninety-minute flight to remote Katavi. Greeted at the airstrip with light refreshments, you transfer to the lodge, which can be extended into a longer game drive if you wish, and enjoy a satisfying lunch under the trees. After an afternoon at leisure, perhaps a nap or a book on your veranda, you head out to the plains, meandering along the river to find large pods of hippo and great numbers of crocodile basking in the sun, before returning for a hot shower, drinks by the crackling fire and dinner beneath a panoply of stars.

Mornings begin with a gentle good morning called from outside your tent as your wake-up call arrives with your preferred hot drink, and there is real flexibility in how you shape the day. Breakfast is usually a picnic to get out into the bush early, after which you may return to camp for lunch and a rest before an afternoon drive, or take a packed lunch and stay out for a full day. Walking safaris are best enjoyed in the cool early morning, while an early dinner can be followed by a night game drive in search of Katavi's shyer, more elusive species.

With two full days here, there is ample time to sample everything Katavi offers and get the whole measure of the place, from full-day game drives along its rivers and floodplains to walking safaris and nocturnal drives, in one of the wildest and least-visited corners of Tanzania.

The flight to Mahale departs mid-morning, allowing a more relaxed breakfast in the lodge before departure. After about an hour in the air heading north-west, you land on the lakeshore airstrip, where a lodge guide welcomes you, then travel by boat for a couple of hours along Lake Tanganyika, enjoying light snacks on board, to your remote lodge set between the forested mountains and the clear waters of the lake.

Each twenty-four-hour stay entitles you to one chimpanzee trekking expedition into the forest in search of Mahale's habituated chimpanzees. As they are wild animals, sightings can never be guaranteed: some days they are just behind the lodge, on others high in the forest, so every encounter becomes its own adventure alongside expert trackers.

Beyond the chimps, the forest is home to eight other fascinating primate species and a phenomenal collection of birds, insects and plant life to discover on guided walks. The lake offers its own pleasures, from a restful dhow cruise along the shoreline to an early-morning kayak to watch the sunrise from the water.

A final day to enjoy Mahale's rare combination of chimp trekking, forest exploration and water-based activities, or simply to let the remoteness and isolation of this magical place recharge you completely.

After a final breakfast in the lodge it is time to make your way to the airstrip for the long flight back to Dar es Salaam, departing with a packed lunch to keep your spirits up and landing in the late afternoon, in good time to connect with your international flight home.