9 Days Western Tanzania Safari

Spreading out from the shores of beautiful Lake Tanganyika, the mountainous terrain of the Mahale Mountain National Park is home to some of Africa’s last surviving wild chimps, and trekking in search of these endearing primates is one of the main attractions of the reserve. Other highlights include on-foot game safaris that take in the park’s diverse wildlife, hiking up the 2460-metre Mount Nkungwe – the highest of the Mahale mountain range’s six peaks – and fishing and snorkelling in Lake Tanganyika on the park’s western border. While the park is home to over 900 chimpanzees, it is also home to a variety of other wildlife including: leopards, blue duikers, red colobus monkeys, giant pangolins, lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, otters and a variety of bird species.

Covering a mere 52 square kilometres of surface area, Gombe Stream National Park is Tanzania’s smallest park but is exceptional for its prolific primate species, including chimpanzees, red colobus, red-tail and blue monkeys. The park’s connection to Jane Goodall has given it worldwide renown. The wild chimpanzee population is at the heart of Goodall’s groundbreaking research. Accessible only by water from the town of Kigoma, the park’s dense forests are also inhabited by a myriad of avian species and offer phenomenal bird watching and walking safaris. Other popular activities include chimp tracking, lakeshore walks, taking in spectacular views from Jane’s Peak and visiting the magnificent Kakombe Waterfall.