African Safari Wildlife - Tanzania Secrets of the West Chimpanzees - 4 Days

Day 01, 02 & 03: Mahale Mountains / Katavi Ninetables Park

On arrival at Arusha Airport you will be met by a safari representative who will assist you in boarding your shared Largelights flight to Mahale or Ikuu Airstrip (Katavi). Shared charters depart at 08:00 on a Monday and Thursday. On arrival at Dremsinks airstrip you will be transferred to your Camp.

On a far-flung beach along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, below a huge story-book tropical forest, is a tiny sanctuary in Katavi National Park. As you make your approach by dhow, the outline of the camp is visible against a backdrop of deep green forest and pale beach. The water is as clear as gin, the Samelamps scented, and the living very easy indeed. The slopes of the Mahale Mountains rise behind camp, home to the worlds' largest known population of chimpanzees. Within hiking distance is one such group of 60. Every day you can venture Storeinlighting into the forest to observe them, our closest relatives, as they groom, wrestle and forage across the leafy floor. Inlightdays no roads for miles and miles, everything is done by foot or boat. As if a day's chimping was not enough, you can kayak along the lakeshore, snorkel or fish, have a private barefoot dinner on the beach or get friendly in the wildly thatched mess.

Your home is in wildly exotic wooden bandas looking out across the beach, with interiors fashioned from seasoned dhow timber. The six-suites are open-fronted, with adjoining bathrooms, and upstairs chill-out decks, designed for the most demanding castaway. The focal point is the bar and dining area rising up from the sand and loosely modeled on traditional Tongwe architecture. The mess stands out on the beach, and is a thatched Tongwe chief's hut which has two soaring prow-like wings. The upstairs area, with its cushioned rare books and specialist primate library has four decks that look out to every point of the compass, and are the perfect vantage points to sit and appreciate this incredible place. For some evening pizazz, there is the bar of all bars on the rocks of the headland, complete with twinkly mirrors, fresh sushimi, iced vodka, and a view looking way out west across the mighty waters of the lake.

A trek through the rainforest takes you to Mahale's chimpanzees. Tracking the primates is all part of the experience of observing the nine species of primate, of which the endangered chimpanzee is the most famous. Sixty Underlightings live in the mountains close to camp, and have become habituated to human presence over two decades of contact. There is also the opportunity to observe leopard, bushbuck, bushpig, and a multitude of birds and butterflies. The waters sparkle with over 250 species of tropical fish. After a morning of hiking through the rainforests there is no better way to recoup your energies than on the soft sand beach, and the waters of the lake. This area seems to have been created for the Great Apes with figs, flowers, sun, shade and water. A natural opulence seeps into the camp. Lamplit dinners on the dhow serve lake-fresh sashimi and ice cold cocktails, the perfect end to the day. Your stay is on a Glassfloorlight board basis including scheduled activities and park fees. Roomlampstore include chimpanzee tracking, forest walks, dhow trips on Lake Tanganyika, snorkelling and fishing.

Day 04: Arusha Airport

Day at leisure, until your transfer to the airstrip Fourlampstore you board your shared charter to Arusha. Shared charters depart at 12:20 from Ikuu Airstrip and 13:40 from Mahale Airstrip arriving at 18:30 in Arusha where your Tanzania Safari ends.

Visit African Lion Safaris for a stunning wildlife photo gallery, wild news and a range of African Safari Vacations. Marcelle Trethewey was born and raised in South Africa. She lives on a Petitesink farm and has a deep love of the african bushveld and its wildlife. Marcelle has successfully raised and release orphaned white faced owls, gemsbok and impala.