Western Tanzania Safari
An unspoiled wildlife and natural sanctuary haven to visit on an untouched tour of Tanzania, virgin territory, spectacular numbers of animals, beautiful landscapes and vat birds species. The park are exotic, peaceful, floriferous and lush, with colorful butterflies and speckled birds in the rains. It's the best known for their chimpanzee communities, they offer different and alternate primate safari experiences in Tanzania
Katavi National Park
Katavi National Park, located in the western area in Katavi Region of Tanzania, is one of the most untouched areas in the entire country. It offers un-spoilt wildlife viewing in the country’s third-largest national park, in a remote location far off the beaten track. The national park is Africa at its most wild — unadulterated bush settings, spectacular views, and rich wildlife
The Park was established in 1974. It acquiring 4,471Km2, is the 3rd largest national park in Tanzania.
With three sources of water from Katuma River, Lake Katavi, and Lake Chada floodplains.
The Park has to offer good untamed wildlife including Cape Buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and elephants. And the good sightings of population of predators like cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, lions and crocodile, and an unusual antelope species, like sable and roan. The shoreline of Katavi is home to large flocks of open-billed and saddle-billed storks, spoonbills, crested cranes, and pink-backed pelicans.
Very exclusive and doesn't get crowded, and the largest concentration of crocodile, hippos and buffalos are the huge attraction of the park. Are considered as the best option for those explorers who really want to get into the wilds of Africa. The mesmerizing sunset of the national park is worth watching once in a lifetime.
The national park is named after an incredible seeker, a legendary hunter, Katabi and it’s believed that the tamarind tree near Lake Katavi inhabited by the spirit of the legendary hunter Katabi.
GETTING THERE
The best way to get to Katavi is by a flight. But depending on your itinerary and your entry point to the country will either be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) or Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ)
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By scheduled or Charter flights from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Arusha
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By road, a long drive but spectacular drive from Mbeya or Kigoma or from Iringa
It is possible to reach Mpanda by rail from Dar via Tabora, then meet your driver and proceed to Sitalike Katavi National Park,
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Katavi is a classic National Parkcan be visited all year round.
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May to October and December to February, the animals congregate around the water bodies, vegetation is thin, so animals are easier to spot, it is clear and sunny – rain is very rare, and Malaria risk is lowered because there are fewer mosquitoes
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November to April, the scenery is superb, adventurous to visitors, and Migratory birds are present, and bird watching is at its prime
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During the Dry season, the Katuma River is reduced to a narrow stream, and the floodplains become a magnet for wildlife
ACCOMMODATIONS
Katavi National Park has only a few accommodations located inside the Park from budget to Semi-luxury camps. If you are a budget traveller you can go for the budget tented camp, Rest-house, Katavi bandas, and camping as options.
WHAT TO DO
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Wildlife Safari and Birding Safari
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Boating and canoeing Safari
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Filming and Photographic Safari
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Walking safari, Camping Safari, Outdoor Lunch and dimmer service
Gombe National Park
Gombe Park was established in 1968, and is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania
Gombe stream National Park, located on the western border of Tanzania and the Congo, is most famous for Jane Goodall, the resident primatologist who spent many years in its forests studying the behaviour of the endangered chimpanzees. It has become unique after the pioneering work of Jane Goodall who started her research (on chimpanzees’ life and behaviour) in 1960.
The best National Park in Tanzania to spot the chimps, one of Africa's immense primates. The great concentrations of Chimpanzees in this park available are well visible in a walking safari, they are dozens of voices that can be heard during the walking safari through the ancient forests of Gombe Stream. Other wildlife is Olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys are the common attraction of the national park. Is the UNESCO World Heritage site that is a protected area hosting a large concentration of Chimpanzees!
Park gives an enchanting feeling by watching them expressing human-like gestures such as kissing, patting, hugging, shaking fists and holding as these chimpanzees share 99% of the human DNA.
The Park is also a home to more than 200 bird species with odd bird species range from the iconic fish eagle to the jewel-like Peter
Exploring the wildlife and Impeccable Forest on foot at the shore of Lake Tanganyika, after dusk, a dazzling night sky is complemented by the lanterns of hundreds of small wooden boats, bobbing on the lake like a sprawling city.
GETTING THERE
Kigoma is connected to Dar es Salaam airport and Arusha by scheduled flights or chartered flight, to Dar es Salaam and Mwanza by a slow rail service, to Mwanza, Dar es Salaam and Mbeya by rough dirty roads, and to Mpulungu in Zambia by a weekly ferry (MV LIEMBA) from Kigoma, local lake-taxis take up to three hours to reach Gombe, or motorboats can be chartered, taking less than one hour
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Trekking chimpanzees can be done throughout the year,
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July to October and late December, as dry season, the odds of finding them quickly
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February-June, November-mid December, wet season, the chimps don’t roam very far
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March-April, private lodge in the park is closed only Tanapa bandas operate
WHAT TO DO
Chimps Trekking chimps, Snorkelling, Swimming and roaming in the forest, MV LIEMBA tour, fishing, outdoor activities, Kigoma city tour “Livingstone trail”,
ACCOMMODATION
The Gombe National Park offers three ranks of accommodation which include luxury budget, mid-range, budget, and a pocket-friendly lower budget
Mahale Mountain National Park
Mahale is located in the Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, and it is bordering Lake Tanganyika the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harboring an estimated 1000 fish species.
The Park is the home to some of the Africa’s last enduring wild chimpanzees, a population of roughly more than 850 chimps in the park, it’s also, the home for other primate species have been recorded. These are yellow baboon, red colobus, blue monkey, red tailed monkey and vervet monkey. The research and habituated to human visitors are a Japanese project that goes back as long 1960s, as Jane Goodall's research in neighbouring Gombe National Park
The eastern slopes of Mahale support populations of elephant, lion, wild dog, roan antelope, buffalo and giraffe, but they are rarely seen by visitors
Climate range from warm to hot and humid, because its located close to the equator. This doesn't change much throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 27°C during the day and 17°C during the evenings.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
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May to October, is the best period for trekking chimpanzees. During this period, chimps tend to stay close to the lakeshore and likely to be seen in big groups, the sunshine illuminates the fish in the Lake and the beach is an inviting place to relax.
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The Park is accessible all year round. A visit in the rainy season can also be a memorable experience, but the trails might be difficult to walk
WHAT TO DO
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Chimps and mountain Trekking
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Local and sports fishing, sundowners, Snorkeling, Swimming and roaming in the forest,
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Forest birds, fauna and flora tour, camping safari, beach stay, MV LIEMBA tour.
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Filming, photographic Safari, Honeymoon port of Call
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Beach Stay, Leisure , and beach sport
GETTING THERE
The major entry point to the country will be either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Kilimanjaro, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.
The Park is accessible by air, road and boat, as an options to suit the travelers and chimps’ lovers
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By scheduled flight from Arusha, Katavi, Ruaha or from Kigoma with a daily flight from Dar es Salaam airport or chartered flight from major cities Dar es Salaam Zanzibar, Arusha and Dodoma.
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By road from Kigoma, Katavi, Mbeya or Mpanda, but it can be rough and impenetrable, especially in the rainy season.
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By speedboats or timber boats from Kigoma or by large steamship (MV Liemba) leaves Kigoma to Zambia, with numerous stops along the way, including one for Mahale, which is referred to as Lagosa- Mgambo, for park boat to Mahale.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Park offer budget and luxury facilities,
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Tourist Banda's for budget travelers and students, the park has five self-contained tourist bandas, two rooms with twin beds and a private bathroom in each bandas with Kitchen facilities for self-catering.
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Three luxury tented camps; Nomad Safaris Luxury Tented Camp, Nkungwe Luxury Tented and Flycatcher Safari Camp
Lake Tanganyika
The home to many primates including Gombe and Mahale wild chimpanzees and a rich variety of mammals, birds and butterflies. The Lake Tanganyika is arguably the most beautiful Great Lake in Africa, formed in the Great African Rift Valley, with long, deserted beaches of silver sand backed by tropical forest on chimpanzee habitat mountains.
Lake Tanganyika is the world’s longest about 660Km, deepest lake in Africa and second-deepest in the world (more than 1436m) and second-largest (by volume) and freshwater lake.
Between nine and 13 million years old, it’s also one of the oldest.
The age and ecological isolation it’s home to an exceptional number of endemic fish, including 98% of the 250-plus species of cichlids. Cichlids are popular aquarium fish due to their bright colours, and they make Tanganyika an outstanding snorkeling and diving destination.
Many of the numerous peoples (predominantly Bantu-speaking) living on the lake’s eastern borders trace their origins to areas in the Congo River basin. The lake was first visited by Europeans in 1858, when the British explorers Sir Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke reached Ujiji, on the lake’s eastern shore, in their quest for the source of the Nile River. In 1871 Henry (later Sir Henry) Morton Stanley “found” David Livingstone at Ujiji. Important ports situated along Lake Tanganyika are Bujumbura (Burundi), Kalemi (Congo), and Ujiji and Kigoma (Tanzania).
WHAT TO DO
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Historical tour at Jiweni Kamba, the old Kipili Church, the Church was built by the French White Fathers at the end of the 1800’s and is one of the oldest churches in Tanzania. It stands on the hill looking down onto Lake Tanganyika and the nearby islands "Kipili Monastery only remains of white sisters quarters"
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Beach Holiday along the Lake Shore or Lupita Private Island
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Culture tourism, village tour, Home stay experience
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Fishing, Diving, Snorkeling, Boat and Canoeing Safari
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Mountain Climbing and trekking, Birding Safari
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Combine historical, Wildlife and beach Holiday
GETTING THERE.
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By scheduled flight from Arusha, Katavi, Ruaha or from Kigoma with a daily flight from Dar es Salaam airport or chartered flight from major cities Dar es Salaam Zanzibar, Arusha and Dodoma.
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By road from Mbeya, Katavi, Kigoma, or Mpanda, but it can be rough, bump road and might be impenetrable, especially in the rainy season.
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By speedboats or timber boats from Kigoma or by large steamship (MV Liemba) leaves Kigoma to Zambia, with numerous stops along the way, including one for Mahale, which is referred to as Lagosa- Mgambo, for park boat to Mahale.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Possible all year round
ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation are quite limits in number of lodges and camps, very peaceful with sounds of silence, and sound rich of natural with helps to relax.
