Depart from Arusha, you will beassisted with your flight west to Katavi National Park, one of the nicest and most remote National Parks in Tanzania and even Africa. This has to be one of the best-kept secrets in Africa. The Park is only open during the dry season when the Katuma and Kapapa Rivers are the main sources of water, and it attracts large herds of buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles that dig caves in the riverbanks. The black cotton soil prevents game drives during the wet season, therefore the park’s camps close for the season.

During the dry season, when the rivers have dried up, super pods of 4000+ hippos compete for space in the drying pools, making for thrilling game viewing. Crocodiles in this area are also remarkable in that they have learned to burrow caves into the riverbanks in order to stay cool and damp. Large herds of buffalo and elephants can be seen quenching their thirst in the river systems, while lions and leopards take advantage of the herbivore population.

You will be able to enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, as well as bush, walks. Because this is such a remote National Park with so few visitors, travelers can expect to have unique experiences.

From Katavi’s broad grass plains, travel west to Lake Tanganyika and the lush woods of the Mahale Mountains National Park, which has the best chimp tracking in Africa. From the lake’s airport, it’s another hour by boat along the lake’s clear waters to the camp, which is located at the base of the forest and on a white sandy beach. You’ve arrived in paradise, far from the rush and bustle of daily life. There are no roads here, only solitude and the passage of time.

The forests surrounding the camp are home to several habituated chimp families, which is why you’ve come here. Few people get to spend a beautiful hour with their families as they go about their regular lives. Chimpanzees are incredibly active primates, making tracking difficult, especially since they reside in densely forested hillsides.

Once you’ve discovered the troop, you’ll get to spend an hour with them as they go about their regular life. This reduces the possibility of their contracting a human disease and also allows them to carry on with their lives without the intrusive aspect of our visits. The chimps have gone through a long habituation process and thus appear entirely natural in our company, making the time spent with them even more memorable.

After a morning of monkey trekking, you can spend the afternoon sunbathing on the sandy beach or sailing on the dhow.

This sample itinerary is designed to inspire your next vacation. It is ready to be tailored to your own interests, tastes, and budget, allowing you to interact with local cultures and enjoy true travel on your own terms, departing whenever you want from June to October.