Africa, West Tanzania: Chimpanzees, Safari, Rainforest & Lake Tanganyika | Sept 2026

Jane Goodall's Chimps | Rainforest | Hiking | Safari | Snorkeling, Canoeing Looking for travel companions (max. 6 travelers, 4 have already booked, 2 spots still free) for a 3-week COMPLETELY GUIDED trip in Western Tanzania, incl. all transfers (domestic flights, vehicle, boat), chimp treks, safaris, other activities, national park fees. I want to book with a tour operator in Germany. Itinerary: Dar Es Salaam, Gombe National Park, Mahale National Park, Katavi National Park, Lake Tanganyika Activities: Chimp treks, 3-day hike, Safaris / Game Drives, Sightseeing of the cities Dar Es Salaam, Kigoma, Mpanda, Diving / Snorkeling, Swimming, 3-day canoe trip, ... I love the wildlife, nature, and cultures of Southern and Eastern Africa, and I take a 3-week trip there every year. Countries visited so far (some multiple times): Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Namibia. This year I'm drawn to the far west of Tanzania. This is where Jane Goodall researched chimp behavior for years, and this is where the longest and second-deepest lake on earth, with drinkable water, is located - Lake Tanganyika. Travel from Germany (or Austria, Switzerland, ...) will be to Dar Es Salaam in Eastern Tanzania. Here we might spend a day exploring Dar Es Salaam with a guide. From there, it's a domestic flight of approx. 3 hours to Kigoma. The return flight to Dar Es Salaam will be from Mpanda. We will stay in a mix of very basic camps, mid-range lodges / hotels, and in Katavi in an exclusive safari camp. It's not uncommon for animals to come into the camp. During a rainforest hike in the African Rift Valley and a canoe trip on Lake Tanganyika, we will sleep in tents (2 nights each). All overnight stays will be in double rooms to keep the costs of this not-so-cheap trip within budget. In total, there are approx. 21 nights in Tanzania. Domestic flight from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma on 09/11, so arrival in DAR on 09/10 at the latest, return flight domestic to DAR on 10/01. If you are interested in coming along, write to me, preferably with your phone number, so we can quickly find out if our ideas align. It doesn't matter to me whether you love Africa just like me and have been on safari before, or if you are setting foot on the continent for the first time. What's important is that you want to experience nature and wildlife intensively and that getting up early is not a problem for you (safari starts at sunrise :-)). Age also doesn't matter, but you should have normal fitness and be able to manage hikes through difficult and mountainous rainforest. More info on the destinations we will visit: The diversity of vegetation (from lowland forests to afro-alpine rainforest) and the richness of wildlife (including the largest remaining refuge for chimpanzees) make Western Tanzania one of the most fascinating areas on the African continent. The 3 national parks Gombe, Mahale, and Katavi are among the most beautiful and, at the same time, hardest-to-reach national parks in Tanzania. We travel to Gombe and Mahale by boat after a domestic flight. Both parks can only be explored on foot (with a guide), there are no roads. The mountains rising steeply from the lake, covered with dense rainforest, offer a magnificent impression. For many years, chimpanzees have been habituated (accustomed to humans) here by research teams, and the quality of chimp treks is excellent. Besides chimpanzees, other species of monkeys also live here. To immerse ourselves even deeper into this breathtaking nature, we will undertake a 3-day hike through the rainforest and up one of the mountains (with a guide, porters, and cook). Katavi National Park is the heart of one of Tanzania's richest and largest ecosystems in terms of wildlife. The focus here is on game drives in a classic open safari vehicle with the camp's guides. We will observe huge herds of buffalo and elephants, one of the largest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in Africa, various antelope species, lions, hyenas, leopards, zebras. Night drives are also offered. Then we head to a beautiful lodge directly on Lake Tanganyika with a long sandy beach. The lake is one of the most species-rich in the world with 300 species of fish, 95% of which are endemic. Numerous activities are offered here: diving, snorkeling, swimming, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, sunset boat cruises, quad tours, mountain biking, visiting one of the idyllic fishing villages. We will also do a 3-day guided canoe tour (incl. cook) and camp on islands in the lake. TerraMater has produced a wonderful documentary in Katavi National Park, which has won multiple awards and is even part of the Green Screen Tour. Here are the links: https://www.terramater.at/prod​​uctions/katavi-africas-fallen​-​paradise/ https://www.greenscreen-festiv​​al.de/veranstaltungen/d/katav​i​-der-grosse-durst/ On 3Sat, a documentary about Lake Tanganyika was recently shown, which can still be viewed in the media library. Price range: Rather high, as there is little infrastructure due to the remoteness and only a few small camps. You will be rewarded with incredible wildlife richness, pristine landscapes, and diversity.