Description
Fly overnight to Nairobi and onward to Katavi National Park, perhaps Tanzania’s most hidden gem. A classic dry-season reserve, Katavi is renowned for its huge (1000-strong) herds of buffalo, spectacular numbers of hippopotamus and impressively sized crocodiles as well as an array of bird species including pelicans, storks and fish eagles, whose cry is synonymous with African water-wildernesses. Chada Katavi sits on the shores of the lake after which it is named and is a small intimate camp with just six tents in traditional safari style.
You then head west to Lake Tanganyika and Mahale Mountains National Park, on the far western border of Tanzania. Its inaccessibility is no small part of its charm, with just two or three flights a week bringing a handful of visitors to one of the most beautiful national parks in Africa.
Greystoke Mahale is a uniquely designed lodge set on the shore of Lake Tanganyika with the forest-clad Mahale Mountains rising behind it. Apart from beautiful natural surroundings and the tranquil atmosphere of the vast and pristine lake, the highlight of Mahale is its chimps. You will almost certainly hear them before you see them and an encounter with man’s closest relative is one of the most wonderful experiences you could ever wish for.
Please see our itinerary below. It is a suggested itinerary and can be tailored to suit your individual needs.
Guide price
£4,535 per person
£4,535 price per person based on two people sharing on a full board basis (except Arusha) including flights and transfers.
Itinerary
| Stay | Location / Route | Overnight |
|---|
| 1 night
| Fly to Kilimanjaro via Nairobi | Overnight flight |
| 1 night
| Transfer Kilimanjaro to Arusha | 1night in Arusha |
| 4 nights
| Katavi, Tanzania | Chada Katavi |
| 3 nights
| Mahale Mountains, Tanzania | Greystoke Mahale |
| 1 night
| Fly to London (via Arusha) | Overnight flight |
When to travel
Tanzania is a large country, with a varied climate. Generally, the long rains run from March to May - the temperature is warm and the humidity is high. June to October is the long dry season, and the short rains are in November and December, much lighter than the long rains. January and February are again dry (the short dry season) so this is another good time to visit. The wildebeest migration happens most of year in Tanzania's Serengeti, and is linked to the rainfall.
Jan
Feb
Mar
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Dec
Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Katavi and Mahale, Tanzania
Chada Katavi is set in a remote part of Katavi National Park in western Tanzania. The camp has an elevated vantage point, shaded by acacias and tamarinds, rising out of the miombo woodland, with panoramic views over the Chada plains. Katavi National Park is wonderfully remote and little frequented, and its plains are home to vast herds of buffalo, some of the largest such herds in East Africa. You then head west to Greystoke Mahale, Lake Tanganyika and Mahale Mountains National Park, on the far western border of Tanzania.
How to get there
8-hour 40-minute British Airways international flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. From Nairobi it's then a 1-hour international flight to Arusha Airport, followed by a 4-hour light aircraft flight to Ikuu airstrip.
