Western Tanzania Safari

Western Tanzania is one of Africa’s genuine final frontiers — a vast, remote region of astonishing wildlife that sees a fraction of the visitors of the northern circuit. Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains and the shores of Lake Tanganyika together form one of the most extraordinary safari combinations on the continent.

Katavi is famous for one thing above all else: hippos. As the dry season advances and the Katuma River shrinks, thousands of hippos become concentrated in ever-smaller pools, creating scenes of extraordinary density and noise. In July and October you may see 1,000 hippos in a single pool, accompanied by enormous crocodile populations. The park also holds excellent populations of lion, leopard and massive buffalo herds.

Combine Katavi with Mahale Mountains for a complete western Tanzania experience — trekking through ancient rainforest to observe wild chimpanzees, then swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. This journey requires a genuine sense of adventure and a willingness to travel to truly remote places.