Tanzania Unseen: Katavi Safari & Mahale Chimpanzee Tour

This tour opens your eyes to the unseen side of Tanzania, far off the usual circuit, trading busy national parks for authentically wild places. Begin in Katavi National Park, a vast sweep of seasonal floodplains and the Katuma River, where dry-season wildlife gathers in remarkable numbers: elephant and buffalo in force, hippos and crocodiles packed into the channels, and predators never far behind. 

Then swap savannah for forest in Mahale Mountains National Park, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, one of the world’s oldest lakes. Here, chimpanzee trekking takes centre stage, following habituated troops through rainforest and miombo woodland, with colobus monkeys and standout birdlife adding depth. 

Between treks, the pace shifts to the lake: white-sand beaches, clear-water swims, snorkelling, kayaking and dhow-style boat sailing. It’s a shorter trip, but it goes deep – raw safari, rare primates and a freshwater coastline that feels worlds away.

Quick Overview

Country: Tanzania

Highlights: Katavi’s remote safari, Mahale’s chimpanzee trekking, Lake Tanganyika’s white-sand beaches and clear water

Best for: Those wanting to experience Tanzania without the crowds; wild, remote and a little unexpected