Western Tanzania safaris

Katavi memories recall the spellbinding beauty of its dry, open landscape, while Mahale is lush, mountainous and densely forested. Everything is enormous: Katavi is Tanzania’s third-largest park, and Lake Tanganyika laps Mahale’s shores: it’s the deepest freshwater lake in the world. Tiny fishing villages back onto pristine mountains, and it is a remarkable family safari holiday destination.

Mahale is the place for primates: chimpanzees, red-tailed monkey and red colobus grace the treetops, as do giant forest squirrels — while huge herds of wildlife and populous pods of hippo are dry season highlights in Katavi.

Greystoke Mahale is an iconic castaway lodge to seduce the imagination and would suit any modern-day Tarzan with taste; we love this lodge and can’t imagine Mahale without it. Its sister camp in Katavi offers up a similar down-to-earth Tanzania luxury safari style that couldn’t be better suited to its environment.

Plan your family safari holiday between July and October; it’s dry season, which is the best time for chimp trekking and Katavi’s wildlife also comes into its own.

In terms of activities, the diversity on offer is wonderful for a Tanzania family safari. Katavi is wonderful for walking safaris and fly camping adventures, as well as game drives. After a spot of chimp trekking, the gin-clear water might prove irresistible for a dip or snorkel — or take your gin with tonic and a fishing rod and stay dry aboard a dhow.