Off the beaten path in Tanzania
This itinerary is a true wilderness experience. Mahale National Park, set along the shores of Lake Tanganyika is where Japanese scientists began chimpanzee research here in the mid-1960’s, making it arguably the best wild chimpanzee experience in the world today.
Day 1 Arrival Dar es Salaam
Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be escorted to your light aircraft flight to Ruaha National Park and transferred to your accommodation.
Day 2 Ruaha National Park
Enjoy the beauty of Ruaha National Park. Take in the stunning views, keep an eye out for strolling wildlife, relax by the campfire at night and embark on an unforgettable journey.
Day 3 Ruaha National Park
Head on game drives, searching for elephant, giraffe, zebras, lion, leopard, cheetah, bat-eared foxes and jackals. In the morning, stop for a picnic under the shade of a tree; in the evening, sip on a cold gin & tonic in the heart of the bush.
Night drives will introduce you to the elusive animals that come out after dark, and walking safaris can be enjoyed with experienced armed guides and local trackers.
Day 4 Ruaha National Park – Selous Game Reserve
Today you’ll be transferred to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Selous Game Reserve before heading to your accommodation.
Embark on game drives in the Selous Game Reserve which - at 55,000 sq km - is almost twice the size of Belgium, and four times larger than the famous Serengeti in the North. Home to plants, birds, elephant, buffalos, and an estimated 1,300 of the worlds’ roughly 4,000 remaining rare wild dogs, there’s plenty to see.
Day 5 Selous Game Reserve
Spend the next few days on morning and evening game drives, game walks or birding safaris.
Day 6 Selous Game Reserve
Explore the Great Rufiji River and its surrounding forests and woodlands, go on a boat safari, or try fishing and fly camping.
Day 7 Roho Ya Selous – Arusha
Today you’ll be transferred to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Arusha and transferred to your accommodation.
Day 8 Arusha – Mahale Mountains National Park
You’ll fly into Mahale Mountains National Park by light aircraft before being transferred to your next accommodation.
Mahale Mountains National Park is in the far west of Tanzania, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and home to some of the Africa's last remaining wild chimpanzees.
Take a late afternoon trip in the dhow and enjoy sundowners on board.
Day 9 Greystoke Mahale
Go on a chimp trek, hike the forest paths looking for birds and butterflies, swim in ice-cold pools in the mountain waterfalls, or try fishing or kayaking on a lake. Alternatively, relax on the beach before enjoying sundowners on an old wooden dhow cruise.
Day 10 Greystoke Mahale
You will have today at your own leisure.
Day 11 Greystoke Mahale
Explore all that Greystoke Mahale has to offer before you depart tomorrow
Day 12 Arusha – Kilimanjaro - Departure
Today you’ll take a light aircraft flight back to Arusha for your onward journey.
African game drives in Ruaha National Park searching for elephant, giraffe, leopard, wild dog and lion
An early morning bird safari in Nyerere National Park
Explore the Great Rufiji River on a walking safari
Search the Mahale Mountains National Park for chimpanzees
Swim in ice-cold pools in the mountain waterfalls of Greystoke Mahale
Lightfoot Travel is a fully licensed global tour operator with a 24/7 support line for our guests, giving you peace of mind on your vacation . We have three core values that underpin our commitment to creating meaningful vacations for our guests.
AUTHENTICTravel your way with Lightfoot. We’ll take you into the heart of each destination and introduce you to the people and places that reveal the true essence of a country. With our trusted local connections, we create vacations that immerse you in culture, history, and everyday life. Far from the crowds, always deeply authentic.
EXPERT Travel with confidence, guided by experts. Our team boasts decades of first-hand knowledge and we are passionate about creating meaningful experiences for our guests. We specialise in unveiling the world’s most extraordinary and lesser-known destinations.
PERSONAL Your journey is as unique as you are. We take the time to understand what inspires and excites you, creating 100% tailormade itineraries that reflect your personality, interests, and vacation aspirations. Our bespoke vacations are designed to elevate every moment of your travel experience.
