KM 01 - 4 nights Katavi, 3 nights Mahale

This is the perfect combination of a bush and beach retreat especially prefect for couples looking for adventure in a romantic setting.  

Travel off the beaten track to one of Tanzania’s most remote destinations and enjoy that feeling of having Africa all to yourself. Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest national park and games drives will include encounters with some of Tanzania’s largest concentrations of hippo, crocodile and buffalo. Visit between May and June to catch migratory birds. Highlights of this safari include game drives, bush lunches or breakfasts and sundowners around a campfire. Add on an optional Night Game Drive or book a private vehicle for a more exclusive safari experience.    

Travel by dhow boat on the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second deepest lake, to visit with the chimpanzees in one of Tanzania’s most untouched destinations. In Mahale Mountains National Park, Japanese researchers have studied an estimated population of about 1000 chimpanzees since the 1960’s. Highlights of this safari include chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, fishing excursions, kayaking, barbeques and sundowners on the beach around a campfire. 

This itinerary includes flights from Arusha. However, we can amend the program to start/end from Dar es Salaam using Air Tanzania Flights from Dar es Salaam Airport to Kigoma Airport (for access to Mahale) and Mpanda Airport (for access to Katavi). You can book these flights directly with the airline (www.airtanzania.co.tz) and our services will be provided from/to Kigoma or Mpanda Airport. The price of the package reduces by 1930 USD per person without the shared charter flights from Arusha to Katavi and Mahale to Arusha; the flight from Katavi to Mahale will still be required, however.

• From Mpanda Airport to Mbali Mbali Katavi Lodge: guests can book our return transfer between Mpanda and Mbali Mbali Katavi Lodge. Mpanda Airport receives four commercial flights a week from/to Dar es Salaam. Currently, the schedule operates on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Guests can book our return vehicle transfer between Mpanda Airport and Mbali Mbali Katavi Lodge. Cost is $400 per vehicle (maximum 6 passengers). Vehicle transfer from Mpanda Airport to Mbali Mbali Katavi (2 hours). The itinerary length may need to be adjusted to match the flight schedules. 
• From Kigoma Airport to Mbali Mbali Mahale Lodge: guests can book our return transfer between Kigoma and Mbali Mbali Mahale Lodge. From Kigoma Airport, guests would take a vehicle transfer to Lagossa/Mgambo Village outside Mahale (5 hours) and then proceed on a dhow boat transfer (2 hours) to Mbali Mbali Mahale Lodge. Cost is $600 per vehicle (maximum 6 passengers).
• All groups using these transfers may need to return to Kigoma for the last night before their departure flight with Air Tanzania; we recommend a stay at our sister property, Kigoma Hilltop Hotel (www.kigomahilltop.com), which we can also add to your reservation.