10-Day Katavi & Mahale, Nkungwe Trek & Chimpanzees

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Dar Es Salaam-Katavi National Park

Into Tanzania’s Last Frontier
Fly this morning from Dar es Salaam to Mpanda, where your Bahati Safaris guide welcomes you for the transfer into Katavi National Park. After lunch and check-in, enjoy your first afternoon game drive across one of Africa’s most untouched wilderness areas.
Explore Lake Katavi, famous for large hippo gatherings, crocodiles, and rich birdlife.
✦ Scheduled flight to Mpanda
✦ Afternoon game drive
✦ Lake Katavi hippo pools
Overnight: Katavi Tanapa Bandas
Inside the park • Private bathroom • Budget safari stay.

Main Destination:

Katavi National Park

Best Time To Visit July to October

High Season July to October (Katavi is rarely crowded)

Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Wildlife in Katavi NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloAbundant

HippoAbundant

LeopardOccasional

Show more

ZebraOccasional

HyenaOccasional

Wild DogOccasional

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Accommodation:

Katavi Tanapa Bandas

• Budget banda located inside Katavi NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full-day Katavi National Park

Wild Africa, Unscripted
Spend a full day exploring Katavi’s vast plains, woodlands, and seasonal rivers. This hidden gem is home to lion prides, elephant herds, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, crocodiles, and sometimes wild dogs.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush surrounded by true wilderness.
✦ Full-day safari experience
✦ Big game & predator viewing
✦ Picnic lunch in the park
Overnight: Katavi Tanapa Bandas.

Main Destination:

Katavi National Park

Accommodation:

Katavi Tanapa Bandas

• Budget banda located inside Katavi NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Sunrise game Katavi – Mpanda

Sunrise Predators
Rise early for a sunrise game drive when predators are most active. Watch the bush come alive with lion, hyena, leopard, and antelope moving through the golden morning light.
After breakfast, drive back to Mpanda for a comfortable overnight stay.
✦ Sunrise game drive
✦ Predator activity
✦ Transfer to Mpanda Town
Overnight: Mpanda Lodge.

Main Destination:

Katavi National Park

Accommodation:

Lilisha Lodge

• Mid-range hotel located in Sumbawanga (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mpanda - Bilenge Mahale

The Great Overland Journey
After breakfast, depart on a scenic overland drive toward Mahale through remote villages, farmland, forests, and landscapes rarely seen by visitors.
Arrive in Bilenge near the park headquarters, meet your mountain crew, and receive your summit trek briefing.
✦ Rural western Tanzania journey
✦ Trek briefing
✦ Meet guides & porters
Overnight: Bilenge Rest House
Mahale area • Tanapa accommodation.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Best Time To Visit August to October (Chimp trekking is easiest)

High Season August to October (Mahale is never crowded)

Best Weather June to October (Almost no rainfall)

Wildlife in Mahale Mountains NP

ChimpanzeeCommon

HippoOccasional

ElephantRare

GiraffeRare

LeopardRare

ZebraRare

Show more

LionVery Rare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Accommodation:

TANAPA Mahale Rest House

• Budget guest house located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Nkungwe Summit Trek

The Roof of Mahale – 2,462m
Begin your climb to the summit of Mount Nkungwe, the highest peak in the Mahale range. This demanding trek passes forest ridges and dramatic viewpoints before reaching the summit.
From the top, enjoy panoramic views across Lake Tanganyika and the distant Congo mountains.
✦ Full-day mountain ascent
✦ High fitness required
✦ Summit panorama
Overnight: Nkungwe Summit Camp
Mountain camping experience.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Descent – Kasiha Mahale

From Peaks to Shorelines
After breakfast, descend through ancient mountain forest back to Bilenge. On arrival, board your boat across Lake Tanganyika to Kasiha.
Settle into your lakeside bandas surrounded by forest and beach.
✦ Mountain descent
✦ Boat transfer
✦ Lakeside arrival
Overnight: Mahale Mango Tree Bandas
Mahale National Park • Lakeside stay.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Mahale Mango Tree Bandas

• Budget banda located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpanzee Tracking

First Encounter
Enter the rainforest this morning in search of Mahale’s famous M-group chimpanzees. Watch them feed, groom, communicate, and move naturally through the forest.
Later, enjoy a refreshing walk to Kasiha natural pool for a swim.
✦ Chimpanzee tracking
✦ Forest walk
✦ Natural spring pool swim
Overnight: Mahale Mango Tree Bandas.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Mahale Mango Tree Bandas

• Budget banda located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpanzee Trek & Sunset Cruise Lake Tanganyika

Deep in the Forest
Return to the forest for your second chimpanzee tracking experience, often allowing even more intimate encounters.
In the afternoon, enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Tanganyika.
✦ Second chimp tracking
✦ Relaxed wildlife viewing
✦ Sunset cruise
Overnight: Mahale Mango Tree Bandas.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Mahale Mango Tree Bandas

• Budget banda located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kasiha Mahale – Kigoma

Farewell to Mahale
After breakfast, return by boat to Bilenge, then continue by road to Kigoma through villages and countryside.
Arrive in Kigoma for a comfortable overnight stay.
✦ Boat crossing
✦ Scenic road transfer
✦ Kigoma arrival
Overnight: Sunset Vista Hotel.

Main Destination:

Kigoma (Town)

Accommodation:

Sunset Vista Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Kigoma (Town)

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kigoma – Dar Es Salaam

After early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam, carrying memories of one of Tanzania’s wildest and most rewarding adventures.
✦ Airport transfer
✦ Domestic flight
✦ End of safari.

Main Destination:

Dar Es Salaam (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.