About This Journey
The 10 Day Western Tanzania Ultimate Safari 2026-2027 combines some of the best wildlife and chimpanzee experiences in remote western Tanzania.
The journey includes Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe National Park, combining traditional wildlife game drives with chimpanzee trekking, tropical forests and the beautiful shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Katavi offers elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, lions and other wildlife across remote floodplains, while Mahale and Gombe provide memorable chimpanzee trekking experiences in their natural forest habitats.
What Makes This Trip Special
Explore Katavi National Park
Wildlife game drives in remote western Tanzania
See buffalo, elephants, hippos and crocodiles
Search for lions, leopards and hyenas
Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale
Chimpanzee trekking in Gombe
Lake Tanganyika boat journeys
Tropical forest exploration
Beautiful Mahale beaches
Birdwatching and photography
Professional safari guides and rangers
Meals and accommodation included
A Look at the Journey
Itinerary
Meet your professional safari guide in Mpanda and begin your journey toward Katavi National Park.
After completing park entry formalities, start your first game drive.
Look for elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and antelopes as you explore the park.
Continue to your lodge or safari camp for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, spend the day exploring the Katuma River and Ikuu wildlife areas.
These areas attract hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo and many other animals.
Lions and spotted hyenas may also be seen around the open floodplains.
Enjoy lunch during the safari before continuing your afternoon game drive.
Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, explore the Lake Chada and Lake Katavi areas.
These wide floodplains provide excellent opportunities to see buffalo, elephants, zebras, antelopes and different bird species.
Your guide will select the best routes according to wildlife movements and road conditions.
Return to your camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, transfer toward the airstrip for your journey to Mahale Mountains National Park.
Depending on the confirmed schedule, the journey may include a light aircraft flight followed by a boat transfer.
On arrival in Mahale, continue to your accommodation beside Lake Tanganyika.
Spend the afternoon relaxing before dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, meet your park ranger and begin your first chimpanzee trekking experience in Mahale.
Walk through the tropical forest while searching for chimpanzees.
The exact walking distance depends on their location because the chimpanzees move naturally through the forest.
Once they are found, enjoy time observing their behavior while following your ranger's instructions.
Return to your accommodation for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing beside Lake Tanganyika.
After breakfast, return to the forest for another chimpanzee trekking experience.
You may also see other primates, forest birds and smaller wildlife.
After the trek, return to the lake for lunch and relaxation.
Depending on your package and local conditions, the afternoon may include swimming, kayaking, snorkeling or a short boat trip.
Enjoy your final evening in Mahale.
After breakfast, depart Mahale and begin your journey toward Kigoma.
The transfer may be completed by flight, boat or a combination of both depending on your confirmed arrangements.
On arrival in Kigoma, transfer to your hotel.
Enjoy dinner and overnight before continuing to Gombe the following day.
After breakfast, transfer to the Lake Tanganyika shoreline and board your boat to Gombe National Park.
Enjoy the scenic journey across the lake before arriving at Gombe.
After completing park registration, transfer to your accommodation.
Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short forest or lakeshore walk.
Dinner and overnight in Gombe.
After breakfast, meet your ranger and begin your Gombe chimpanzee trekking experience.
Walk through forest trails while searching for wild chimpanzees.
You may also encounter red colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and forest birds.
After trekking, return to your accommodation for lunch.
Spend your final afternoon relaxing beside Lake Tanganyika before dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, enjoy your final morning in Gombe.
Board your boat and travel approximately 16 km back to Kigoma.
On arrival, transfer to your hotel, airport or other confirmed departure point.
Lunch is included according to your departure schedule.
Your 10 Day Western Tanzania Ultimate Safari 2026-2027 ends in Kigoma.
Included & Excluded
Included
- Katavi National Park fees
- Mahale Mountains National Park fees
- Gombe National Park fees
- Professional safari guide
- Professional chimpanzee trekking rangers
- 4x4 safari vehicle in Katavi
- Wildlife game drives
- Chimpanzee trekking arrangements
- Boat transfers between Kigoma and Gombe
- Mahale transfers as specified
- Accommodation during the safari
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water during activities
- Guided forest walks
- Lake Tanganyika activities as specified
- Government taxes
Excluded
- International flights
- Domestic or charter flights unless included
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips for guides and staff
- Personal expenses
- Laundry
- Optional activities
- Additional accommodation
- Personal trekking equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
The safari combines Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe National Park.
Katavi is known for elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, predators and remote floodplain landscapes.
Mahale is known for chimpanzee trekking, rainforest covered mountains and Lake Tanganyika beaches.
Gombe is famous for chimpanzees, forest trekking and its long history of chimpanzee research.
No. Chimpanzees are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Trekking difficulty depends on the location of the chimpanzees. Some walks can involve steep and humid forest trails.
Transfer distances are provided where practical. Game drive and chimpanzee trekking distances are approximate because routes depend on wildlife locations and local conditions.
Yes. Meals are included according to the daily itinerary.
Yes. Accommodation is included during the safari according to the confirmed package. Day 10 is the departure day unless an additional night is requested.
