Primates & Untouched Wilderness In Northern & Western Tanzania

Arusha, Osunyai & Tarangire National park,
Katavi National Park, Mahale National park.

Day 01: Arusha
After your arrival in Kilimanjaro airport, you will be met by your Wildlife Explorer vehicle and your personal driver-guide, and transferred to your lodge. Ngare-Sero Mountain Lodge is a farm house dating from the 1900’s, set in lush gardens, beside a forest and crystal clear spring waters, on the slope of Mount Meru. Two hundred species of birds have been recorded; Colobus and Sykes monkeys roam the forest. Ngare-Sero is the ideal place to start a safari in Tanzania.
Dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Ngare-Sero Lodge

Day 02: Osunyai Private Concession
Drive to Tarangire for your first game drive. Secluded Tarangire National Park is a superb wildlife oasis; the Tarangire River is the only permanent water source in the area, therefore bringing large herds of antelopes and elephants to the Park in search of water. Predators are numerous, following the herds as they descend towards the freshwaters. Baobab trees scattered across the plains lend a feeling of mystery to the landscape.
In the afternoon, continue to Osunyai, Wildlife Explorer’s exclusive concession within the Lokisale Conservation Project, bordering Tarangire National Park to the South. Set within shady trees on the banks of a Sand River, Osunyai is exclusive and remote. Your private camp features roomy walk-in tents with attached bathrooms and hot showers, and comfortable beds made up with linen and duvet. You can also expect delicious, freshly cooked meals and menus adapted to your preferences.
Dinner in camp
Overnight: Osunyai Luxury Private Camp

Day 03 & 04: Osunyai Private Concession
The Lokisale Conservation Area is a 40,000-acre zone, which was created to protect the main season migration corridor for the migrating herds of zebra and wildebeest as they travel en-route to the neighbouring Tarangire National Park. An agreement with the local villages ensures the area retains its state of nature, while providing the local villagers with direct revenue from each guest who enters the area.
Close liaison with your driver-guide is greatly encouraged to ensure the choice of daily activities match your mood and pace. A wide range of wildlife and nature activities are offered within the area: visitors have the freedom to night drive or carry out foot safaris, as well as game drives in open vehicles. Enjoy a bush breakfast in the shade of a majestic Baobab tree, or Sundowners atop a kopje overlooking Osunyai with Mount Meru rising from the plains in the distance. You can also spend a full day in Tarangire National Park for a more traditional day game driving.
Overnight: Osunyai Luxury Private Camp

Day 05: Katavi National Park
Early morning departure from the Camp to connect with charter flight, which will take you directly to Katavi National Park. You will be in Camp in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive and evening walk.
Dinner in Camp.
Overnight: Katavi Wilderness Camp

Day 06 & 07: Katavi National Park
Each day will be different in this untouched wilderness, taking you to the most secret parts of the park, by foot or in open land rovers. Early mornings - when the air is cool - you’ll walk with guides to spy on the hippo pods in “Flat Dog (Crocodile) Creek”; standing absolutely still as a herd of elephant passes by; moving across the land at animal pace and taking in the power and beauty of this paradise.

As the day warms up, you might return to camp for food or find lavish picnic breakfasts, brunch or lunches laid out under shady trees. Land rovers will arrive to take you longer distances - circling the great herds of buffalo, looking for the prides of lions that stalk them continually - following the meandering rivers, crossing the tamarind forests in search of eland, sable and roan antelope. In the evenings we’ll retreat to camp, candlelit dinners under canvas, while the hyenas screech on the plains.
Dinner in Camp.
Overnight: Katavi Wilderness Camp

Day 08: Mahale National Park
Today you will leave for Mahale National Park. A short morning flight – less than an hour, takes you across the unbroken wilderness of western Tanzania to the Mahale Mountains. The airstrip borders the sparkling blue waters of Lake Tanganyika, on whose shoreline the camp has been built. On our forty-foot wooden dhow, you’ll take a gentle voyage down the lake to the camp beach. Arrive an hour and a half later. Short forest walk to attune in the early evening.
Overnight: Mahale Wilderness Camp

Day 09, 10 & 11: Mahale National Park
Mornings you’ll be chimpanzee tracking in the fairy tale Mahale forests. This can take anything from half an hour to catch up with them, to the whole morning. Once amongst them, you’ll have an hour to watch as they live out their daily lives, right in front of you.
Afternoons and time away from the chimpanzees can be enjoyed by further exploring the forest (nine types of primate alone live in Mahale), boating expeditions for fishing, birding, snorkelling or relaxing on the soft sand beach and taking the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika as the sun goes down. On fine evenings, we’ll have barbecues, dinners on the dhow, or simply razz it up in the splendid Mahale Mess.
Overnight: Mahale Wilderness Camp

Day 12: Depart
Fly to Arusha, where lunch will have been arranged at ‘Olerai’ the private homestead of Jo & Gary Strand before continuing to Ngare-Sero Mountain Lodge where a day use room will be at your disposal. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your International departure flight.