Western Tanzania Safari – 7-Day Adventure in Katavi & Gombe

Your adventure begins with an early morning flight from Dar es Salaam to Mpanda Airport in western Tanzania. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional driver guide who will assist with your luggage and transfer you to Katavi National Park, located approximately 55 kilometers away a journey of about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on road conditions. Once inside the park, you'll immediately begin your first game drive. Katavi is one of Tanzania's most remote and untouched parks, offering rich wildlife experiences with fewer crowds. You’ll explore its vast floodplains, woodlands, and river systems where large herds of buffalo, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles thrive. After a day of adventure, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge situated within the park, surrounded by nature.

Wake up to the sounds of the wild as the sun rises over the vast plains of Katavi National Park, one of Tanzania’s most remote and unspoiled wilderness areas. After an early breakfast at your lodge, set out for a full day game drive across the park’s diverse landscapes from floodplains and grasslands to dense woodlands and seasonal lakes.
Katavi is known for its raw, untouched beauty and offers a truly wild safari experience, with very few other visitors around. During your drive, you’ll have the chance to spot large herds of buffalo sometimes numbering in the thousands along with elephants, giraffes, zebras, and numerous antelope species. The park is also home to a healthy population of predators, including lions, leopards, and hyenas, which you may encounter during the day.
A picnic lunch will be served in a scenic spot within the park, allowing you to enjoy your meal surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. In the afternoon, continue exploring the park, possibly visiting the Katuma River or Lake Chada, where large pods of hippos and crocodiles gather, especially during the dry season. The area is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 400 species recorded.
As the day winds down, return to your lodge in time to relax, enjoy dinner, and reflect on the extraordinary sights and moments of your day. Overnight stay in Katavi.

After breakfast, you’ll spend the entire day exploring Katavi National Park in depth. The park is known for its dramatic scenery, seasonal lakes (like Lake Katavi and Lake Chada), and incredible concentrations of wildlife during the dry season. You’ll enjoy both morning and afternoon game drives, with chances to witness predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas on the hunt. Your guide will also help you track animal behaviours and share insights into the park's unique ecosystem. Between drives, you can relax at the lodge or enjoy a bush lunch if conditions allow. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight amid the wild ambiance of Katavi.

After an early breakfast, you’ll embark on a scenic game drive en route out of Katavi National Park, making your way toward Kigoma via Mpanda and eventually to Kibirizi Port. The road journey from Katavi to Kigoma (via Mpanda) covers approximately 350 km and takes about 6 hours by road, offering views of rural Tanzanian landscapes. Upon arrival at Kibirizi Port near Kigoma town, you’ll board a motorized boat for a 1 to 1.5 hour cruise (20 km by water) along the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika to reach Gombe National Park. This park is famous for Dr. Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research and its lush, mountainous terrain. Once you arrive, check in to your lodge inside the park, have dinner, and rest for the night in preparation for tomorrow’s exciting trekking experience.

Wake up to the serene sounds of the forest and the gentle waves of Lake Tanganyika. After breakfast at your lodge, set off on your second day of chimpanzee tracking a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of these incredible primates. With guidance from experienced park rangers, you’ll venture into a different part of the forest, increasing your chances of observing new chimpanzee families and witnessing varied social behaviors, from grooming and playing to foraging and vocalizing.
As you trek through Gombe’s thick vegetation and hilly terrain (some trails moderately challenging), you may also come across other wildlife, including red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and colorful bird species such as the African fish eagle or the crowned hornbill. Along the way, your guide will also share insights into the forest’s diverse ecosystem, from the medicinal plants used by chimpanzees to the unique geological formations within the park.
After the morning trek, return to the lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, you can opt for a relaxed nature walk along the lakeshore, a swim in the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, or a visit to Jane Goodall’s old research camp (if accessible), where you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of her pioneering work in primate conservation.
Dinner will be served at the lodge, followed by a peaceful overnight stay surrounded by the untouched beauty of Gombe. Reflect on your rare experiences and prepare for the journey back on the following day.

Today is dedicated entirely to exploring the wonders of Gombe National Park. After breakfast, you’ll head into the forest with an experienced park ranger to begin your chimpanzee trekking adventure. The hike can vary in duration depending on the location of the chimpanzees but is usually moderate and highly rewarding. As you trek through the dense forest, keep an eye out for other primates such as red tailed monkeys, colobus monkeys, and baboons, as well as a variety of birds and butterflies. Once you locate the chimps, you'll have the opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat grooming, playing, and interacting in social groups. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk to the Kakombe Waterfall or along the lakeshore, where you can even take a refreshing swim in Lake Tanganyika. All meals are included today, served at the lodge: breakfast, a packed or hot lunch, and dinner in the evening. Overnight at your lodge in the park.

After an early breakfast, you’ll leave Gombe by boat back to Kibirizi Port in Kigoma (approx. 1 to 1.5 hours). From there, your guide will transfer you to the Kigoma airstrip in time for your scheduled domestic flight back to Dar es Salaam. Depending on your flight time, a short town tour of Kigoma can be arranged if time allows. This marks the end of your unforgettable western Tanzania safari.