USD 3450 Per Person Sharing.
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be welcomed by a member of Our team, who will transfer you to the Arusha Coffee Lodge for the night, experiencing luxurious accommodation cradled in endless acres of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantation
Transfer to Katavi airstrip for your four hour flight to Arusha, where you will spend a further night at the Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your onward flight
Today after breakfast you will be
transferred to Arusha airport for your morning five hour flight to Mahale. Your
adventure begins with a boat transfer to Greystoke Mahale – your base for the
next three nights, situated on a white sandy beach at the foot of the Mahale
Mountains overlooking glistening Lake Tanganyika. In the Mahale Mountains
National Park there are still no roads, so this camp is truly secluded. Your
accommodation here is in one of just six wood and thatch open-fronted ‘bandas’,
located at the edge of the forest with views toward the lake and mountains,
each with its own private bathroom with hot water, shower and flush toilet,
accessed by a short boardwalk. The bandas also have a dressing room and
upstairs relaxation deck – and provide complete comfort whilst remaining in
perfect harmony with the natural environment.
Chimpanzee trekking is generally conducted in the mornings, with resident
guides and trackers leading small groups to seek out the various chimp families
amongst the stunning forest scenery. Guides have tracked chimpanzees in this
remarkable environment for over 20 years, getting to know their unique
characters, family history, relationships and friendships. The anticipation and
the journey to find the chimpanzees is all part of the adventure – and though
the primates traverse this terrain easily, you should prepare for potential
rock scrambling and arduous walking! You may find yourself quietly tracking
these incredible primates ahead of you only to realise suddenly that they are
all round you, nonchalantly going about their daily routine. Be lucky enough to
observe young chimps playing and grooming; the adult chimps feeding or swinging
effortlessly between the vines. Once you have found them, one hour is spent in
the chimps’ company before making the journey back to camp, filled with awe and
exhilaration. In addition to chimpanzees you may also spot leopard, bush pig
and bushbuck.
After returning to camp for lunch, afternoons can be filled with further
chimpanzee tracking, fishing, snorkelling or swimming in the crystal waters of
the lake. Hike forest paths in search of birds and butterflies, swim in
mountain waterfalls, go kayaking on the lake – or simply relax on the beach.
After inspiring and rewarding days, enjoy sundowners on the old wooden dhow or
on the rocks at the end of the beach; and swap stories over dinner in the main
mess banda on the beach.
Morning boat transfer to Mahale airstrip for your flight to Katavi National Park, in the far west of Tanzania. On arrival in this little-visited park with its wide open plains, embark on a game drive transfer to Mbali Mbali Kitavi Lodge for three nights. Just six open-fronted tents raised on wooden platforms lie at the edge of the Chada plain, each with en-suite bathroom with hot water and bucket showers. Spend your days bush walking, and spotting buffalo, elephants and hippo amongst other wildlife.
