8 Days Katavi & Gombe - pure nature
Highlights
Experience the untamed heart of Tanzania on our incredible 7-night Katavi & Gombe Tanzanian – pure nature – Safari, traversing the untouched corners of Katavi and Gombe National Parks.
Begin your journey in Katavi National Park, it offers a brilliant game viewing experience where you can see one of the largest populations of hippos, elephants, and buffaloes.
Journey onwards to Gombe Stream National Park it offers one of the world best chimpanzee trekking in the tropical forest on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Don’t miss this opportunity of the African safari experience in the western Tanzania.
Your days here will be filled with exceptional game drives and encounters with curious wildlife. Moving onto Gombe, you’ll experience the world-famous habitat of the chimpanzees and partake in the longest-running study of its kind in the world.
This is a journey that brings you closer to Tanzania’s hidden wilderness and leaves you with memories that will be etched in your soul forever.
When to Go : June to February
ITINERARY
Upon arrival at Arusha Airport, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the majestic Mount Meru in the backdrop. Your journey will then take you to the remote and less visited Katavi National Park. After a flight over Tanzania’s vast landscapes, arrive to Katavi Airstrip in the morning. Our Afrimine Tours guide will pick you up in a Landcruiser and drive you to your Camp, with a little game viewing on the way. After the staff of the camp welcome you and you have a chance to settle in, venture to the dining area for a hot lunch. Afterwards, head out into the park for a game drive and return in time for evening sundowners around the firepit and a delicious dinner. Enjoy a good night’s sleep as you are lulled by the sound of nature.
Wake to an alarm clock of animal noises and step out for a sunrise stretch. Who knows what beasts may be within sight! After a hot breakfast, depart the lodge for your morning game drive.
With an area of 4400 sq km, Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest park and one of its most unspoiled wilderness areas. It is well known for high habitat and species diversity with high concentrations of large mammals.
Katavi also serves as a refuge for endangered species such as wild dog and cheetahs. Return to camp for lunch and
spend a couple hours relaxing, before heading out for an early evening game drive. Return for an evening sundowner, dinner, and overnight at camp
After breakfast, depart camp for a full day game drive deep into the heart of Katavi National Park. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park. Return to camp in the late afternoon. Perhaps freshen up with a shower and gather round the fire for one last evening sundowner in Katavi, followed by another delicious dinner. After dinner head out for a night game drive where you are likely to see the predators behaving differently than you have during the day. Return to camp and settle in for a good night’s sleep.
After a hearty breakfast, depart camp and drive to the Katavi Airstrip with game viewing along the way. Board your flight from Katavi to Kigoma Airport. Our Afrimine Tours representative will pick you up and transfer you to the port, you will board a boat to Gombe National Park. Along the beautiful shoreline you can enjoy the 2 hours boat ride to the Nationalpark. The staff extend their warm welcome, and after you settle into your stunning forest tent, enjoy a lunch featuring the local flavors of this region.
In the late afternoon, depart on a chimpanzee trek or forest walk (depending on time), led by your expert guide.
Enjoy evening sundowners at the lodge, followed by a lovely dinner. Sleep well under canvas in the forest.
After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. With lush forest and a fascinating diversity of animals, Gombe stream National Park is home to one of the most beautiful and stunning natural forests in Tanzania, and one of the best locations for a Chimpanzee trek. Chimpanzees are known to be the species of primates closest to humans, sharing 98% of the genes that we also have. Efforts to conserve the chimps are widely acknowledged and supported.
The Jane Goodall Foundation plays a big role in the conservation of the Chimpanzees here in Gombe Stream, as well as the gorillas in Uganda. Here, you will also find troops of olive baboons, red-tailed and red Colobus monkeys, which stick to the forest canopy due to being regularly hunted by the forest chimps, as well as more than 200 birds species. Return to the lodge for hot lunch. Relax, enjoy a swim in crystal clear water of Tanganyika Lake. The lodge staff can then lead you to the beach for an early evening kayak on Lake Tanganyika.
Return back for evening sundowners, dinner, and another restful slumber to the sounds of the forest
After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. With lush forest and a fascinating diversity of animals, Gombe stream National Park is home to one of the most beautiful and stunning natural forests in Tanzania, and one of the best locations for a Chimpanzee trek. Chimpanzees are known to be the species of primates closest to humans, sharing 98% of the genes that we also have. Efforts to conserve the chimps are widely acknowledged and supported.
The Jane Goodall Foundation plays a big role in the conservation of the Chimpanzees here in Gombe Stream, as well as the gorillas in Uganda. Here, you will also find troops of olive baboons, red-tailed and red Colobus monkeys, which stick to the forest canopy due to being regularly hunted by the forest chimps, as well as more than 200 birds species. Return to the lodge for hot lunch. Relax, enjoy a swim in crystal clear water of Tanganyika Lake. The lodge staff can then lead you to the beach for an early evening kayak on Lake Tanganyika.
Return back for evening sundowners, dinner, and another restful slumber to the sounds of the forest
After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. With lush forest and a fascinating diversity of animals, Gombe stream National Park is home to one of the most beautiful and stunning natural forests in Tanzania, and one of the best locations for a Chimpanzee trek. Chimpanzees are known to be the species of primates closest to humans, sharing 98% of the genes that we also have. Efforts to conserve the chimps are widely acknowledged and supported.
The Jane Goodall Foundation plays a big role in the conservation of the Chimpanzees here in Gombe Stream, as well as the gorillas in Uganda. Here, you will also find troops of olive baboons, red-tailed and red Colobus monkeys, which stick to the forest canopy due to being regularly hunted by the forest chimps, as well as more than 200 birds species. Return to the lodge for hot lunch. Relax, enjoy a swim in crystal clear water of Tanganyika Lake. The lodge staff can then lead you to the beach for an early evening kayak on Lake Tanganyika.
Return back for evening sundowners, dinner, and another restful slumber to the sounds of the forest
After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. Return to the lodge for a hot lunch. After lunch, you will be taken with a guide from the lodge on a visit to a fishing village 3 km away, Mwamgongo, home of the Bembe people. Learn about the village’s fishing activities, palm oil extractions, embroidery, boat making, and visit the chief’s palace! You will also have a chance to see a performance of the traditional Bembe Ha Dance.
Return to camp for evening sundowners, dinner, and overnight at the lodge
After breakfast, depart for morning chimpanzee trekking. Return to the lodge for a hot lunch. In the afternoon, take
a kayak out on Lake Tanganyika. In the early evening, your guide will take you out on boat safari.
Return for evening sundowners, dinner, and one more lovely sleep in your forest tent.
After an early but hearty breakfast, we departure with the boat back to Kigoma and board your flight for Arusha to connect to your international flight home, or connect to the next leg of your holiday in Tanzania Northern Circuit, Tanzania Southern Circuit, Zanzibar and the Coastal Islands.
PRICE INCLUSION
• Pick up/drop off at Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport before and after the trip and/or transfer to the next leg of your holiday
• domestic flights and transport to and from Katavi, Kigoma, and Gombe
• Daily Conservation, Concession and Guide fees for park entrance
• Government Taxation
• Professional english speaking guide
• Transport and wildlife viewing in 4×4 Landcruiser with open roof hatches
• All game drives, chimp treks, and activities
• All cultural excursions mentioned in the itinerary
• Full board accommodations and additional meals, per itinerary
• Mineral water during the gamedrives
PRICE EXCLUSION
• International flights
• Visa fees
• Personal health insurance
• Travel insurance
• All items of personal nature
• Gratuities to safari guides and lodge/camp