tanzania
Tanzania arguably is the greatest wildlife extravaganza on our planet – offering an abundance of birds and mammals in the most dramatic and amazingly beautiful settings! The country is known for many things; it is the largest nation in east Africa; the highest mountain in Africa is here - Mt. Kilimanjaro; Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa; one of the most important paleoanthropological localities is here, at Olduvai Gorge... Tanzania is home to over 20 national parks and 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Long ago Tanzania realized the importance of its natural resources, and diverse cultural heritage, and today more than 30% of the country is protected land in the form of national parks and reserves.
With so much to see, and so much to do, we have partnered with local experts - Beyond Adventures - to bring you the best of Tanzania. Beyond Adventures is owned by Deus Haraja, and he has been guiding in his homeland for more than 20 years. Today he splits his time between Tanzania and California, where he lives with his young family just down the street from the Galapagos Travel offices. He returns to Tanzania several times each year, leading specialized groups with a focus on wildlife, photography and anthropology. Both individual travelers and groups who want the best experience possible seek Deus out. Recent clients have included PBS, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He has been working with Galapagos Travel since 2018, and personally leads all of our expeditions.
We are offering two safari options, of 13 or 18 days. Our Remote Tanzania itinerary is more challenging in that several days will include forest hikes to see the chimpanzees of western Tanzania. The focus is on far more than just chimps though, with some incredible game drive experiences in store too! An optional 4-night pre-tour is available, with a focus on an eastern national park and remote black rhino sanctuary. Our signature Tanzania expedition - Tanzania in depth - covers the most ground with 5 national parks and conservation areas, plus the historical center of Zanzibar. This is again an “easy” game drive safari. In addition to these set itineraries customizable private birding safaris are available in February and March, when the wealth of migratory species join the already vast Tanzanian bird list.
Group sizes are always kept small, typically capped at 16 participants or fewer, so you may experience the wonders of these parks and preserves without the crowds. The photo opportunities will be unrivaled, with early-morning and late-afternoon excursions to catch the peak animal activity as well as lighting for photography!
2 itineraries to choose from…
Tanzania in depth: 17 days
In true Galapagos Travel style our signature expedition is longer than most safaris offered. Over the course of 18 days get ready to wander among the giant baobab trees of Tarangire National Park, explore the compact Lake Manyara National Park, and visit two of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations—the Ngorongoro Crater and the vast Serengeti. Next head south to the lesser known Nyerere National Park; the largest reserve on the continent, where exploration options include vehicles, boats and walking. Finally we finish on the island of Zanzibar – rich in history and culture, surrounded by the beautiful blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
chimpanzee trekking
Remote Tanzania: 16 days
This is an expedition into some of the remote and rarely visited regions of Tanzania, including the vast northwest parks and reserves.
Even if you’ve seen Tanzania before, we bet you haven’t seen this Tanzania! In far western Tanzania we will visit both Katavi National Park and Mahale National Park, as well as the iconic Northern Serengeti (where we hope to witness the wildlife spectacle of the great migration crossing the Mara River). We will also visit the remote Mkomazi National Park, known for the Black Rhino reserve that affords visitors remarkable views.
In addition to safari game drives our planned activities include chimpanzee trekking in the forests of Mahale, boat safaris on Lake Tanganyika, plus forest walks ideal for birding. Katavi also gives us the option of a rare nighttime game drive.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations have been selected to give the best access to the places we really want to be for the fullest wildlife experience. They are a mix of traditional hotels, country lodges, permanent and mobile tented camps. Accommodations are in doubles, with a very limited number of singles available at a surcharge. All have private en suite facilities. Many camps have wonderful views, swimming pools, laundry options, WiFi, mosquito nets, and places were camera batteries and phones can be charged.
