8 Days Western Tanzania

Day 1:

Chada Katavi, Katavi National Park

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by our Travel representative and given a short Safari briefing then transferred to Arusha Airport where you will board your aircraft to Western Tanzania. On landing, the Chada Katavi representative will be waiting to greet you. Game Drive to camp. After tea is served in the afternoon, you can set off to explore Tanzania’s third largest park where hartebeest, giraffe, Defassa waterbuck, hyena, leopard, elephant, buffalo and wild dog can be easily spotted.

As the sun begin to set, return to camp in time for sundowner around the fire and a three course dinner and a chilled glass of wine.

Located in western Tanzania, the remote Katavi National Park is a great stop along the western circuit tourist route. Encompassing Lake Katavi, the Katuma River and picturesque Lake Chala, Katavi National Park stretches across roughly 4500 square kilometres of unspoilt Tanzanian woods, open savannah and wetlands. This park is the third largest in the country and is home to the world’s largest herds of buffalo. It boasts a wide array of bird and animal life, including leopard, elephant, zebra, lion and the densest hippo and croc populations in the country. Visitors can enjoy excellent bird and game viewing, and fascinating walking safaris.

Overnight: Chada Katavi

Little has changed at Chada Katavi since the Nomad Tanzania founders arrived 20 years ago. From the air you have to look carefully to spot it, you'll find your eyes are immediately drawn to such wide open spaces. That's the promise of Katavi, total absorption into the natural world.

Chada Katavi is much the same camp that it was when it began - designed to be a stylishly simple bushcamp, small and intimate with just six East African safari tents. Each of them is spacious and comfortable with wide-open fronts giving you panoramic views of the plain and animal life that constantly comes and goes. In fact, you often don't have to leave your tent veranda to see game of all kinds. Elephant are frequent visitors, attracted to the same shady fruit trees as our guests, and vast herds of buffalo graze on the flood plain in front of camp.

Katavi is known for unbelievable game, with vast herds of buffalo roaming the plains; also elephant, lion, leopard, crocodiles and hippo. Chada Katavi offers game drives in open 4WD vehicles, night drives, fly camping under the stars, outstanding birding and viewing of big mammals, daily walking safaris.

Day 2-3:

Chada Katavi, Katavi National Park

As dawn breaks, wake up to the smell of a fresh cup of coffee and head onto the park’s large plains and woodlands before returning to camp by mid-morning for breakfast. While away the mid-morning in the library or spotting game from your private deck. The remainder of the afternoon is left open so that you can relax, but for those feeling a bit restless why not return to the park’s open plains, this time on foot, in the company of a guide and armed scout for a chance to discover the smaller inhabitants. A walking safari is a unique experience and lets you get much closer to the animals. Once again, the cool temperatures of the early evening lead you out for the day’s final game arriving back in camp in time to relish in evening cocktails before dinner is served

Day 4:

Greystoke Mahale, Mahale Mountain National Park

This day you will be transferred to the airstrip for a flight to Mahale Mountains National Park. On arrival, you will be met by Greystoke Camp representative and take a 90 minute trip down the lake in the dhow to Greystoke Mahale with lunch on board

Arrive back at camp in time for piping hot showers followed by a three-course meal served on the white sandy beach

Overnight: Greystoke Mahale

It's no exaggeration to say there is nowhere in the world like Greystoke Mahale. Greystoke Mahale sits on a pristine, white sandy beach overlooking the turquoise water of Lake Tanganyika, with the forested slopes of the 8000 ft Mahale Mountains rising behind.

Greystoke affects people in a way that no other place does; perhaps it's because of its remoteness, and because of the mountains rising from the beach at your backs, the wide lake with its many different moods and the feeling that you are the only ones here. With just six wood and thatch bandas set on the edge of the forest line at the base of the mountains your days can start there, eating breakfast whilst waiting to hear news of the chimps and deciding what to do with your day. Evenings end with sundowners on the rocks of the headland, where drinks are served around the lamp-lit bar whilst the mountains, rising behind camp, disappear into the darkness.

Day 5-7:

Greystoke Mahale, Mahale Mountain National Park

Greystoke Mahale offers the most incredible setting to ensure that your stay here is both relaxing and adventurous. Each morning, wake up at your own pace. Rise early for a chance to watch the sun rise over the lake as you sip on your morning coffee or perhaps enjoy a lie in followed by a delicious breakfast with your toes in the sand. You may choose to engage in activities such as forest walks, swimming, water sports or visit the Park's famous chimpanzees.

Back at camp, sundowners are served at the bar followed by a candle-lit dinner under the stars with the warm sand beneath your feet.

Day 8:

End of Itinerary

After Breakfast transfer Mahale airstrip for Shared charter flight to Arusha airport then transfer to JRO for your departure flight back home.