Five Distinct Activities in the Western Safari Circuit

There are many places to visit in Tanzania, including the world-famous Maasai tribe, wildlife-rich parks like the Serengeti, and majestic mountains like Kilimanjaro. A few tourists are aware of this country’s lesser-known Western Safari Circuit in addition to the well-known Northern Safari Circuit. This circuit, which is located in the far western region of the nation, includes parks with breathtaking sights to see, such as Katavi, Gombe, and Mahale.
Due to the Western Safari Circuit’s distant location and lack of popularity, visitors sometimes ponder what to do while in this pristine region of the nation. And for that reason, we are here. This blog post reveals five unusual activities you should partake in when on safari on the western circuit.

Trekking with chimpanzees in Gombe and Mahale.

This circuit offers the opportunity of encountering the last surviving chimpanzee. Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and other northern parks have excellent vistas of animals, but they do not allow visitors to get up close and personal with the endangered chimpanzees. These endangered primates can only be found in three parks: Rubondo Island, Mahale, and Gombe. However, Rubondo Island, which is also included in the western circuit, does not currently provide hiking safaris.
Trekking allows you to spend an hour observing the chimps in the wild, about eight meters away. The only two Tanzanian parks that provide chimpanzee trekking safaris are Gombe and Mahale. About 300 chimpanzees live in Gombe, which is well-known for Jane Goodall’s revolutionary chimpanzee study. The chimpanzees live along the wooded beaches of Lake Tanganyika. On the other hand, the Mahale Mountains range’s montane forests are home to around 1000 chimpanzees.
We’ll take care of getting you the necessary chimp trekking permit, which typically costs around $100 per person. The park only permits eight visitors each walk in order to prevent upsetting these animals. The experience begins with a briefing, often given by a ranger or other park official, and then continues with a woodland trek. The hike might take one to two hours or longer, depending on where they are right now. You locate a group of chimpanzees and then sit at a safe distance from them for an hour.

Katavi game drives.

Katavi National Park is ideal for driving, although Gombe and Mahale are wonderful for walking. Explore the wild splendor of this isolated area by getting into an open-sided vehicle. This park is well-known for having the biggest herds of buffalo and provides the greatest game drives that any nature lover could want.
Instead of congested pathways as in other northern parks, you may discover the abundant wildlife in peace and quiet here. You may see elephants, zebra, impala, giraffe, Defassa waterbuck, hartebeest, and buffalo while on a 4×4 trip through the floodplains and woods. During the dry season, the Katuma River is a haven for animals, particularly elephants. It is also home to an amazing number of crocodiles and big pods of hippos.
On an exciting night safari, explore the realm of the nocturnal creatures. In addition to seeing jackals, porcupines, genets, and even birds like owls and nightjars, the park offers an amazing safari experience.

Travel to Katavi and fly camp.

Fly camping and other evening activities are made possible by Katavi’s secluded location. As easy as it seems, this experience lets you sleep in a lightweight, mosquito-proof tent in the heart of the forest. And behind the enormous Katavi forest, the Milky Way galaxy’s real splendor is seen.
You begin the journey with a relaxed meal by candlelight at a picturesque spot close to your tent. After sharing stories around a campfire, you make your way to your tent, which is ready and positioned close to the riverbed so you can hear the rustles and ripples of crocodiles and hippos. To ensure that you can fully enjoy the splendor of the African blanket of stars, the tent is translucent.
Since the north rarely offers this unique activity, Katavi and its sisters, Ruaha and Selous, are ideal locations for experiencing the magic. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is provided by a number of lodges, including Katavi Wildlife Camp, Mbali Mbali Lodge, and Nomad Chada Katavi Camp.

Investigating Lake Tanganyika

Another daring sport on the western safari circuit is boating on Lake Tanganyika. This lake, which is renowned for being the longest tropical lake in the world, boasts sun-kissed beaches, diverse aquatic life, and crystal-clear waters.
You may dive and snorkel in the shallow waters or take a boat excursion to uncharted areas of this lake. Before visiting the breathtaking dive spots in Zanzibar, even novice divers may hone their diving techniques on the low-tidal beaches.
There’s a reason why fishermen adore this lake. With more than 200 different types of fish, going fishing is an amazing experience. To see whether you can capture and release the lake’s distinctive cichlid fish, you can go fishing. You may relax on its serene freshwater beaches in your spare time after visiting the chimpanzee.

Safaris on foot

It feels great to stroll in the wilderness, but it’s even better to trek to locations no one has been before. This exhilarating experience is revived in western parks. You may see primates including baboons, colobus, and vervets as you take a stroll through the Gombe jungles. Additionally, chimpanzees, birds, and several other species may be seen on a short trip up the Mahale Mountains.
You may spot animals and birds in Katavi by taking a stroll along the Katuma River. Or simply take a stroll to the well-known tamarind tree, which has a spiritual significance for the community. This tree is thought to be the burial place for the ghost of the fabled hunter Katabi. Therefore, villagers typically come here to make offerings.

The bottom line

Although leaving the well-known northern safari circuit and traveling to the isolated west may seem odd, we are confident that you will enjoy seeing the animals and the scenery by yourself. You will be amazed by our distinctive adventurous activities on the western circuit, regardless of how many times you have visited Tanzania.