Tanzania Chimps and Game Safari - 9 days

This very exciting safari is a top trip for those who can appreciate the combination of wildlife and luxury. The price per person starts at 28000 AED in the low season. Included are all meals in the safari lodges (ex Arusha Coffee lodge), house beverages, safari outings and local flights. Not included are international flights

 

Day 1 Arusha

Met upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to your Serengeti and Ngorongoro Arusha Coffee Lodgelodge to relax and freshen up to get ready for the adventures of the upcoming week. Arusha is a city of northern Tanzania surrounded by some of Africas most famous landscapes and National Parks. Beautifully situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, it has a pleasant climate and is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire and Mount Kilimanjaro as well as having its own Arusha National Park on Mount Meru.

Accommodation: Arusha Coffee Lodge – a comfortable lodge with pool and a great restaurant located on the outskirts of Arusha. The Arusha Coffee Lodge accommodation consists of 18 plantation houses lavishly furnished, featuring split-level living room area and a private deck patio. Offering every guest amenity and fancy, the Arusha Coffee Lodge is the place to relax and rejuvenate before or after a Tanzanian Safari. Laze around the swimming pool, enjoy a sun-downer at the Safari Bar, unwind after a delectable meal in the lounge with a good liqueur and a fireside chat.

 

day 2 Chada Katavi

Day 2 Chada Katavi

An early morning departure to catch your shared charter flight from the Arusha airstrip to

Katavi (08:00/12:00hrs). Upon your arrival you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred to your base camp for the next few days, the delightful Chada Kavati Camp. After lunch you will have a little time to relax before heading out for an exciting early evening game drive. Please note: departure for the shared charter flights leave on thursday!

Accommodation: Chada Katavi Camp: This wonderful camp is set on a wooded promontory overlooking the plains of Katavi; you cannot get much more "bush" than this! Six luxury tents set in the shade of acacia trees with commanding views of the open plains provide amazingly comfortable lodging, with open camp fires at night and overfriendly elephants wandering through the camp

 

Days 3 - 5 Chada Katavi

Uniquely isolated in western Tanzania with over a million hectares of wilderness

surrounding you this park is one of the last remaining true wildernesses of Africa. The majority of your wildlife safaris are centred around Lakes "Katavi" and "Chada" - which are more open grasslands in the dry season and wetland areas during the rains. Large numbers of hippo (approx 3,000 in one pool!!), crocs, elephant and all other savannah game congregate around these watering holes. With access to the park limited the number of visitors to the park is minimal whilst game viewing is optimal! Usual days in Chada involve morning activities beginning at around 07:00am. Both walking and driving safaris are available. Afternoon activities start after tea at around 4pm. The beauty of a staying at the Chada camp is that each couple, or group of guests has total flexibility to plan their daily activities according to their own interests. Daily walks are available along with the option of overnight ‘fly camping’ in the bush one night’s free fly-camping is included, but this must be booked in advance.

 

Day 6 Mahale mountains

This morning you set off on the next leg of the adventure. Departing from the Ikuu airstrip to

Mahale National Park, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika (12:20/13:20hrs). Landing at the airstrip nestled at the foot of the Mahale Mountains you then have a pleasant cruise on a traditionally constructed (but very comfortable) dhow along the shores of the lake and to the private retreat of Greystoke Camp. A beautiful camp located at the foot of the Mahale Mountains with a private beach and direct access to one of the largest habituated troops of chimpanzees.

Accommodation: Greystroke Mahale camp: The camp consists of exotic wooden bandas overlooking the beach with adjoining bathrooms and imaginatively designed interiors. The bar and dining area are the focal point of the camp rising up form the sand and loosely modelled on traditional Tongwe architecture

 

Days 7 – 8 See the Chimps

Two full days to track the habituated chimpanzees of Mahale and enjoy all that this amazing

lodge has to offer. After an early morning breakfast at camp you set off chimpanzee tracking into the forested foothills of the Mahale Mountains. Lush tropical jungle surrounds you as you follow the frenetic pant hoots of the chimps off in the distance; it is only when you finally come across them that you realize how privileged you are to spend time with these intelligent apes in their natural habitat. Sometimes sitting in the middle of the group it is difficult not to feel part of the family. A truly amazing experience! Returning to camp in the afternoon spend time relaxing on the soft sands of the private beach or swimming in the gin clear waters, or take a canoe out for a spot of fishing. A perfect way to end the day is to have with cocktails and dinner served on the beach! One chimp trek per full/non-transfer day is included and as much boating, fishing, canoeing and forest walks as you’d like.

 

Day 9 Departure

Today you transfer by dhow back along the shores of the Lake Tanganyika to the airstrip from where you will catch an afternoon charter flight back to Arusha (12:30/18:30hrs).