Wild Tanzania: Katavi National Park & Mahale Mountains with Bawe Island

Itinerary in brief:

• 4 nights Katavi National Park
• 3 nights Mahale National Park
• 5 nights Zanzibar

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights 

Day 2: Arrive Arusha

Arrive in Kilimanjaro, before taking a one hour transfer to Arusha and connecting on your domestic flight to Katavi Airstrip. Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy a game drive after lunch at the lodge, where you’ll check in for four nights.

Included: transfers, charter flight, activities, dinner, Chada Katavi

Days 3 - 5: Katavi National Park

Chada Katavi provides an exciting safari experience for its visitors’ due to its location in the heart of Katavi National Park, one of the least visited areas of Tanzania.

Located on the western side of Tanzania, the park contains a vast wetland plain as well as the wild Katuma River which supports the country’s densest population of crocodiles and hippos. During the dry season, the wetlands retreat and the now shallow Katuma River becomes the only source of water for miles, attracting herds of elephants and buffalo to its side, as well as an abundance of giraffes, zebra and impalas. These groups become easy pickings for the pride of lions and hyena clans that stalk the floodplains but the fiercest animal you’ll come across in Katavi are the hippos; being squeezed together into depleting mud pools during the dry season means tempers can rise, resulting in territorial fights between these mighty animals.

The structure of your days is decided each morning, whether you enjoy morning and evening game drives, looking out for mammals and birdlife as you drive through this huge park or a full day game drive, eating a packed lunch when you’re out in the midst of the wildlife. Alongside game drives and walking safaris, you'll also have the opportunity to spend a night fly-camping in the wilderness, sleeping under the stars in one of Africa's most remote safari destinations and experiencing Katavi much as the early explorers did. However you spend your days, you'll spend each evening discussing the days incredible sightings when you’re back at the lodge having sundowners around the fire. Your time here will go quickly but four nights will give you long enough to truly take in this remote national park.

Included: All meals, daily game drives, Chada Katavi 

Day 6: Fly to Lake Tanganyika

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airstrip to catch your flight to Greystoke Mahale on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. If there is plenty of time you’ll be able to stop and admire any wildlife you spot on the way. Take the short flight before taking a dhow boat ride for 1.5 hours to the lodge, catching your first glimpse of the iconic Greystoke Beach is always an incredible moment. You’ll be welcomed and check into your room for three nights. Enjoy a delicious lunch here before embarking on an afternoon chimpanzee trek or forest walk, finishing the day with a sundowner as you watch the sun set behind the mountains of the Congo.

Included: All meals, charter flight, daily activities, Greystoke Mahale

Day 7 and 8: Mahale Mountains National Park

Accessible only by boat or air, Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the most isolated parks in Africa. Dots of lonely golden beaches and lush jungle-covered peaks make up the park, which is home to approximately 800 chimpanzees.  Each morning here you’ll enjoy a chimpanzee trek, looking out for these curious creatures in the dense foliage before spending your afternoons at leisure, enjoying the lodge, kayaking on the lake, or taking a boat safari along the shore.

As the park is so huge, chimpanzees have flourished here as they can fade away into the mountains whenever predators come near – this is the only place in Africa where chimpanzees and lions coexist. Researchers have habituated a group of around 60 which you’ll visit, climbing through the mountains to find these captivating primates is a magical experience. Exploring Mahale is a joy - listening for rare birdcalls over the general hum of life in the forest and watching monkeys squabble over fruit – you’ll feel so small in this mighty forest.      

Included: All meals, daily activities, Greystoke Mahale

Day 9: Fly to Zanzibar

After breakfast this morning, you’ll be transferred on the dhow boat back to Mahale Airstrip and catch your flight back to Zanzibar, via Arusha. On arrival, you’ll be taken to your hotel, Bawe Island, just off the western coast of the island, where you can settle in for five nights. We recommend you head straight to the beach! 

Bawe Island is the perfect place to relax after your safari - relax in your private villa, snorkel and kayak in the clear waters and indulge in peaceful spa treatments and long, lazy lunches overlooking the ocean. 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, charter flight, dinner, Bawe Island     

Days 10 - 13: Zanzibar

And relax! After all that exploration in the wilds of Western Tanzania, you deserve some beach time! These four days are for you to relax; whether you want to snorkel in the crystalline waters, take a sailing tour around the island or simply laze on the beach under the warm African sun. You could also take a sailing tour to Pange sandbank for a picnic, head to the north of the island to swim with dolphins or indulge in a local cooking class and enjoy the flavours that make Zanzibar famous.

If you can drag yourself away from the beach, then a few hours in historic Stone Town is a nice way to spend the morning. If you’d like to see more of the island then a tour of the spice plantations around full of nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper will show you the green interior of the island. However you spend your day, you can end each night with a delicious seafood dinner under the stars and toast a cocktail to your wonderful holiday in Tanzania.

Included: All meals, Bawe Island   

Day 14: Depart Zanzibar

After breakfast, you’ll be taken back to the airport in time for your flight home.

Included: Transfers, international flights            

Day 15: Arrive UK