14 Days Tanzania Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari

Tanzania primate safaris may not sound popular because they have been overshadowed by the neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda but west of the Country lays a naturally blessed forest that runs from the peak of the Mahale Mountains to the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. Hidden beneath that high canopy forest is a thriving population of wild and habituated chimpanzees. Our 14 Days Tanzania Chimpanzee and wildlife safari will take you to western Tanzania safari circuit where you will discover the wonders of Lake Tanganyika and trek the chimpanzees on foot.

Safari highlights

• Game drives in Nyerere national park
• Game drives in Mikumi NP
• Game drives in Ruaha NP
• Game drives in Katavi NP
• Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Dar es Salaam to Nyerere national park

Pick up from the Hotel in Dar at 08:00 and drive Nyerere Park former Selous Game Reserve hot lunch on the way, check in at Selous Ngalawa Camp short rest and wondering the camp, river and nature then proceed with Boat safari at 16:00 with skipper (guide) watching hippos, crocodiles, different species of birds and plenty of animals which are coming to drink water till sunset.

Day 2: full day game drives in Nyerere national park

After morning breakfast you will start your full day game drive till sunset exploring the wildlife in the Park through those oxbow lakes watching the birds and looking for the elusive wildlife. Elephants on the plains and in the bushes feed alongside zebra and impala. You will be scouring the different water holes for predator kills as well as catching the animals as they drink. Then late evening drive back to Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Walking safari in Nyerere national park and drive to Mikumi national park

After breakfast at 06:00Am starts walking safari with an armed ranger, the walk will take 2 hours; walking safari is a fantastic way to experience more about the Nyerere national park fauna and flora. Although you may see wildlife during the walk, the focus is also on the habitat that the animals live in, insects, trees and birdlife. You will have an interesting and amazing experience to walk within such a vast area of natural reserve – an experience which very few places in Africa are able to offer, back to camp for breakfast then collect your packed lunch and drive to Morogoro via Mwanarumango to Mlandizi connect Tazara Road where will to arrival late at Mikumi Park for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Morning games drive in Mikumi national park and transfer to Ruaha national park

Wake up early morning for sunrise game drive in Mikumi national park then later at 0900am back for breakfast, then drive to Ruaha National Park via Iringa where will stop for hot lunch. After lunch will proceed drive to Ruaha National Park and check in at your lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Ruaha National Park has a bimodal pattern of rain forest; the short rainfall season begins November to February, while the long season is between March and April. The park experiences its dry season between June and October.

The park is one of the Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species and some of them are known to be migrants from within and outside Africa.

Day 5: Full day game drives in Ruaha national park

After morning breakfast with packed lunch; start your full day game drive in Ruaha National Park, covering 10 300km², is the most visited national park in the southern part of Tanzania. Thanks to the size of the park and the fact that the South of Tanzania is less visited than the northern parks, you will have plenty of space and hardly encounter any other safari vehicles on your game drives and you will see incredible wildlife in the park.

Day 6: Morning game drive in Ruaha to drive to Mbeya town

After Morning breakfast you will start your drive from Ruaha National Park to Mbeya town via Makambako, hot lunch will be taken on the way, arrival Mbeya for dinner and overnight, Mbeya is a city in southwest Tanzania. It sits at the base of soaring Loleza Peak, between the Mbeya and Poroto mountain ranges.

Day 7: Drive from Mbeya to Sumbawanga town

After morning Breakfast at your lodge you will start your drive to Sumbawanga Town. Sumbawanga is the capital city in Rukwa region Tanzania. The town is located in the western part of Tanzania. Sumbawanga is a bustling city and a center of commercial and economic growth. Lunch will be on the way.

Day 8: Drive from Sumbawanga to Katavi national park

After breakfast at your Lodge you will drive to Katavi National Park its 4hrs drive, will arrival for registration then check in to your lodge have lunch, after lunch you will drive to Katavi National Park for game view till sunset. Wildlife features include large animal herds, particularly of Cape buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and elephants, plus along the Katuma river, crocodiles and hippopotamus which upon annual dry seasons results in mud-holes that can be packed with hundreds of hippos. Carnivorous animals that roam this park are cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, and lions.

Day 9: Full day game drives in Katavi national park

This day you enjoy Full day game viewing in Katavi National Park, you will enjoy packed lunch in the wild. Katavi has fewer human visitors and jeeps conducting game drives than other Tanzania parks. Your guide will assist you to spot different species of animal includes the rare seen roan and sable antelopes.

Day 10: Morning game drive in Katavi national park and afternoon transfer to Mpanda town

After an early morning Breakfast you will enjoys half day game view at Katavi National Park, Katavi National Park is the third largest national park in Tanzania, yet it gets a fraction of the visitors of the Serengeti or even Nyerere Park. It is a wildlife hotspot, famous for its abundance of hippos and past sightings of white giraffes. Afternoon after lunch will drive to Mpanda Town its two and half hours to drive.

Day 11: Drive from Mpanda town to Mahale mountains national park

After an early morning breakfast at 0730 am you will depart for Mahale Mountain National Park via Lukoma village, its 9hrs drive through Rough roads, on the way will stop for lunch. Arrival at the Park for registration then will connect Boat to Mahale mountains national park for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Mahale Mountain national park

After morning Breakfast you will spend full day following the Chimps trails with professional Chimp guide for the whole day. The main event is hiking into the mountains to find Chimpanzees after locating the chimpanzees you will view them, photograph them and follow them after you will return to the lodge for relaxation on the beach and optional activities can be arranged through the Lodge.

Day 13: Second chimpanzee trekking experience in Mahale Mountains

After morning breakfast you will head again to the forest to trek the chimpanzees for the second time, you will experience yet an incredible time with one of the closest primates to humans, chimpanzees are extra ordinary primates and after spending an incredible time with the chimpanzees you will return to the lodge for relaxation.

Day 14: Drive from Mahale Mountains to Kigoma town

After morning breakfast you will depart for Kigoma town, it’s an 8 hrs drive through rough road, on the way will pass small village and cross the ferry, Lunch will be saved on the way will arrival at Lake Tanganyika Hotel for dinner and overnight. Kigoma located on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma is surrounded by rugged mountains and forests that make it a pleasing and beautiful location.

Day 15: Domestic flight from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam

After morning Breakfast then you will have a short city tour of Kigoma Town; you will visit Ujiji, the nearby former Arab slave trading settlement, the famous meeting place of Stanley and Livingstone. After you will be transferred to Kigoma Airport for your domestic flight to Dar es Salaam, upon arrival in Dar es Salaam you will be transfer to your hotel for overnight or to the airport for your international flight.

Safari includes

• It’s an all-inclusive safari package with domestic flight from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam.

Safari Excludes

• International flights
• Tanzania tourist Visa
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Alcoholic drinks
• Pre and post safari accommodation

When to book the safari package

6 Months to 1 year in advance.

Best time for chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania

It is possible to track chimpanzees all year in Mahale Mountains. However, the chances of finding them improve towards the end of the Dry season (from July to October) when the chimps favour the lower slopes. If you have two or three days, your chance of seeing them is reasonable at any time of the year.