10 Days Katavi & Mahale & Gombe

10 Days

Katavi, mahale & gombe

Tour Overview

This is the perfect combination of a bush and beach retreat especially perfect for couples or family looking for adventure in a romantic setting.

Travel off the beaten track to one of Tanzania’s most remote destinations and enjoy that feeling of having Africa all to yourself. Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest national park and game drives will include encounters with some of Tanzania’s largest concentrations of hippo, crocodile and buffalo. Visit between May and June to catch migratory birds. Highlights of this safari include game drives, bush lunches or breakfasts and sundowners.

Travel by dhow boat on the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second deepest lake, to visit with the chimpanzees in one of Tanzania’s most untouched destinations. In Mahale Mountains National Park, Japanese researchers have studied an estimated population of about 1000 chimpanzees since the 1960’s. Highlights of this safari include chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, fishing excursions, kayaking, barbeques and sundowners on the beach.

Gombe Stream National Park is a fragile strip of chimpanzee habitat that straddles the steep slopes and river valleys that hem the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika. It’s chimpanzees, habituated to human visitors, were made famous by the pioneering work of Jane Goodall who in the 1960’s founded a behavioral research program that now stands as the longest-running study of its kind in the world.

DAY 1: FLY FROM DAR ES SALAAM TO MPANDA

Fly from Dar Es Salaam to Mpanda depart 07:00am, arrive 08:45 am. Vehicle transfer to the lodge combined with game drives. Staff welcome and introductions followed by lunch.
Afternoon/early evening game drives. Evening sundowners, dinner, and overnight at the lodge.
● Flights operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only.

DAY 2: GAME DRIVES IN KATAVI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, depart the lodge for your morning game drive at the Katavi National Park. Return to the lodge for brunch/early lunch. Afternoon at leisure . Afternoon/early evening game drive. Evening sundowner, dinner and overnight at the lodge.

DAY 3: GAME DRIVE IN KATAVI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, depart the lodge for a full day game drive of the Katavi National Park with a packed lunch. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. Evening sundowner, dinner and overnight at the lodge.
● Book an optional night game drive.
● Book an optional walking safari with armed ranger

DAY 4: TRANSFER TO LUKOMA VILLAGE and TRANSFER TO MAHALE BY BOAT

Transfer from Mahale to Kigoma to Lukoma village by vehicle and dhow boat transfer (approx. 45 min) to the Mahale. Dinner, and overnight.

DAY 5: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN MAHALE

You will spend a full day chimpanzee tracking in Mahale. Chimpanzees normally move in search of food and nest wherever there’s an abundant food source such as their favorite fruit. Dinner and overnight

DAY 6: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING and BOAT SAFARI

After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. Return to the lodge for hot lunch. afternoon boat safari in Mahale, see the hippos, take a short river cruise, and try your hand at local methods of freshwater fishing. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

DAY 7: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING & TRANSFER TO KIGOMA

After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. Return to the lodge for hot lunch. Transfer by dhow boat transfer to Lukoma village and vehicle transfer to Kigoma and overnight Kigoma Hilltop Lodge or similar

DAY 8: TRANSFER to GOMBE NATIONAL PARK

After Breakfast, transfer to Kibirizi port for your boat to Gombe (2 hours private boat). Pick up on arrival and transfer to the camp, lunch at the camp. Afterwards proceed for Chimpanzee tracking in the forest. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 9: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN GOMBE

On 08h30, Start Chimpanzee tracking in the forest, Gombe became well known for the conservation project started by Jane Goodall, who first arrived in Gombe in 1960. Apart from chimpanzee viewing, many other species of primates live in Gombe Stream’s tropical forests, like velvet, Colobus monkeys and baboons, visit Kakombe Waterfalls and Climb to Jane’s peak. Meals and overnight.

DAY 10: GOMBE to KIGOMA/ FLY back to DAR

Morning after breakfast, pick up and transfer by boat back to Kigoma town. Pick up on arrival and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Dar-es-salaam depart 10:10, arrive 12:20 pm

The price includes:-

Full Board Accommodation and Meals as specified in the itinerary.
Flights (DAR-KIGOMA-DAR). Luggage allowance of 20kgs per person.
Selection of house beverages, soft drinks and water
Daily TANAPA Conservation, Concession and Guide fees for park entrance
Guiding with English Speaking Driver/Guide.
Birding and forest walks in Mahale
Chimpanzee Trek per day in Mahale
1 x Boat Safari in Mahale
○ Option 1: See the hippos, take a short river cruise, and try your hand at local methods of freshwater fishing
○ Option 2: Visit a neighboring fishing village, Katumbi, for a cultural tour
○ Pay for an additional boat safari and do both
All Government taxes and levies; VAT and TDL
All transfers as indicated
All laundry services

The price does not include:-

All items of personal nature
Tips and gratuities to hotel, lodges, camp staff and guides
Medical Insurance and Evacuation
○ Flying doctors coverage: Optional @ USD 50 dollars per person. Covers guests within East Africa for a period of 14 days. In the event of a medical emergency, guests will be airlifted to a hospital in Nairobi. All hospital charges will be payable by the guest. Request more information on coverage.
Additional Boat Safari / Fishing Excursion in Mahale - USD 85 per person