Tanzania's Western circuit safaris, tours & holiday packages
Gombe, Mahale and Katavi
Come here to see chimps and experience natural locations that are off the beaten track
The Western Circuit embraces the parks along Lake Tanganyika, the western border of Tanzania with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The vast space in a remote natural location makes the circuit worth a visit. Gombe Stream National Park was made famous by Jane Goodall’s research on its chimpanzee population and subsequent habituation. Mahale Mountains National Park further south, on the shores of the gin-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, is a more authentic chimpanzee experience and highly recommended. You'll have to go further to find the chimps but you'll get a better idea of how chimps are in the wild than by observing them at feeding pens. Katavi National Park is another 150km towards the south-east of Mahale and probably gets fewer than 500 tourists a year.Popular Tanzania Western Circuit safaris
These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates
Tanzania honeymoon safari
Enjoy the wildlife of Tanzania as well as the paradise of Zanzibar
Price on Request
per person
13 daysTanzania June/July Great Migration safari with HerdTracker
Explore the wonder of the great wildebeest migration from the best Tanzania has to offer
$ 5,720
£ 4,551
R 82,144
€ 5,067
per person
9 days10-day HerdTracker August great migration safari
Experience the drama of the nature's greatest spectacle in the Tanzania
$ 7,165
£ 5,700
R 102,896
€ 6,347
per person
10 daysThe Selous Game Reserve and Pel’s fishing owl
Explore the Selous Game Reserve and Stiegler's Gorge by 4x4, boat or walking safari, looking for Pel's fishing owl, wild dog, rhino and elephant
$ 2,919
£ 2,322
R 41,920
€ 2,586
per person
6 daysHerdTracker February Calving Season in Tanzania
Travelling to Tanzania during the calving season is a sight to behold and something unique to the region
$ 9,960
£ 7,924
R 143,035
€ 8,823
per person
9 daysMigration Safari in Kenya and Tanzania
See the beauty of nature's greatest wildlife spectacle on one of the grandest stages of them all
Price on Request
per person
8 daysHoneymoon safari in the Serengeti National Park
Enjoy a romantic honeymoon at the Ngorongoro Crater where you can spot the Big Five and experience the wildlife-rich Serengeti National Park
$ 3,250
£ 2,586
R 46,673
€ 2,879
per person
6 days
More on Tanzania Western Circuit holidays
Two of the three Western Circuit parks are well worth a visit if you appreciate primates and off-the-beaten track safaris. Getting there is fairly expensive because all three parks are a long way to fly from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. There are only two flights a week so you'll have to stay at least a week (three days at Mahale and four at Katavi, or vice versa). You can link Katavi with Ruaha if you like; a good combination would be Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale Mountains.Tanzania Western Circuit Map
Tanzania Western Circuit's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Tanzania Western Circuit
Safari/bucket showers are common in mobile or tented camps where there is no permanent plumbing. They are an effective yet environmentally friendly way to shower where water is at a premium and provide plenty of hot water to wash… go there.
Safari lodges have guest rooms similar to a hotel with en-suite bathrooms. They are comfortably furnished with all facilities normally associated with a 3-star hotel. Tented lodges have rooms which are tents on a platform and with a roof and… go there.
Language The official language in Tanzania is Swahili but there are hundreds of other local dialects. English is the second official language and the country's commercial language. It is also the main teaching language used for all higher… go there.
A Grumeti safari is rewarding throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Grumeti Game Reserve is during the migration months of June and July - when massive herds of wildebeest arrive to cross the crocodile-infested Grumeti River… go there.
Family safaris in Africa are a worthwhile and meaningful experience. Aside from spending quality time with your nearest and dearest under a wide blue African sky, a safari in Africa offers invaluable experiences including unique cultural… go there.
The best time to visit Arusha National Park is from June to October, during the dry season. It is easier to spot the wildlife - since they normally gather around the waterholes, rainfall is minimal, vegetation is not too thick and mosquitos… go there.
The best time to visit Anysberg Nature Reserve is during late July and early August - when the Mesembryanthemums (vygies, ‘little figs’ in Afrikaans) are bursting into flowers. There are also impressive stands of proteas which occur at… go there.
June to October is the best time to visit Mkomazi National Park. During the dry season - when the wildlife viewing is at its prime. go there.
July to October, during the dry months - is the best time to track the chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park. Chimpanzees can be found easily on the low mountains slopes. go there.
Reviews on our Tanzania Western Circuit safaris
Discover Africa and Carel has put in such an effort for us to experience the annual wildebeest migration, meticulous planning and accurate predictions with logical and the best accommodation options both sides of the Mara River guaranteed us…
Jates and Hil Oettle
from South Africa
After initially contacting Discover Africa, Karl Svendsen contacted me and we started the process of getting a quote and defining an itinerary for a safari to Tanzania. Karl was extremely professional and timely in his responses and in short…
Fantastic safari and excellent logistics!
from United States
I just wanted to thank Discover Africa and Karl Svendsen - the safari was great - we saw many more animals than expected including cheetah, leopard, many lions and even a three-day old elephant calf. Additionally, we had our own hippo…
Margaret Dean
We had the most wonderful time in Tanzania. We left yesterday and miss it already. We saw the big 5 and felt super lucky to see the lions and leopard with their kill. Our guide was also wonderful. Thank YOU for planning our trip of a…
Debbie Wei
We had a wonderful experience with the Discover Africa team on our trip to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Due to unforeseen circumstances we needed to head down early and their team were most helpful in arranging exciting new options for us while…
Mark Tomlinson
from South Africa
Our service from Carel at Discover Africa was outstanding. His recommendations on the timing of our trip, the lodges we should book, communication and overall assistance ensured that our trip went off very smoothly and that we were in the…
Patti Legg
from South Africa
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