Mahale & Katavi

Western Tanzania is an amazing, yet remote destination. It comprises Mahale National Park, known for its chimpanzees, and Katavi National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking in Mahale National Park

Mahale National Park is set on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania. This is a very special destination, both for its setting and the opportunity to trek to see the chimpanzees. Here the 8,000 ft forested mountain slopes are home to around 800 wild chimpanzees and nine different species of primate. These chimpanzees have been habituated to humans through the research of a Japanese team. So this makes for some great wildlife encounters.

Katavi National Park

Katavi National Park is to the south-east of Lake Tanganyika. Isolated, unspoiled and seldom visited, Katavi is a true wilderness. This park provides the intrepid traveller with a thrilling taste of ‘old’ Africa. Indeed Katavi is the third largest national park in Tanzania. The Katuma River and associated floodplains such as the seasonal Lake Katavi and Lake Chada are the most rewarding.

It is here, during the dry season, that Katavi National Park safaris truly comes into their own. The muddy trickle of the Katuma River is now the only source of drinking water for miles around. So it’s not unusual for huge pods of hippo and thousand-strong herds of elephant or buffalo to converge on the area. The plentiful giraffe, zebra, and antelope delight the hyena and lion prides of the floodplains.

Gombe Stream

Also on Lake Tanganyika is Gombe Stream National Park, famous for the work of Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research team. At 52 sq km, Gombe Stream is Tanzania’s smallest national park. From Mbali Mbali Gombe, you can enjoy chimpanzee tracking, hiking, swimming and snorkelling, You can also visit the site of Henry Stanley’s famous “Dr Livingstone, I presume” meeting at Ujiji near Kigoma.

Return to main Tanzania safari pages