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.
We have specialised in tailor-made Tanzania Holidays and Tanzania Safaris since 1998. Our knowledge and experience will guarantee you the very best possible itinerary for your budget and travel dates, and your money is protected by our ATOL bond.
Area to Visit in Western Tanzania
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.
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Western Tanzania Safari Circuit FAQ's
Tanzania is a year-round safari destination. Still, the best time is from late June to October. This is the time of the year when the weather remains dry and visibility remains great.
This makes it easy for travelers to spot wildlife. If you are coming for the first time then the dry season is the best.
For safaris on the northern circuit it’s best to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) located midway between the towns of Moshi and Arusha. Currently this airport is served daily from Europe by KLM and several times weekly by Ethiopian Airlines. KLM also routes via Nairobi (NBO), Kenya by partnering with Precision Air. Additional airlines such as British, Emirates and others fly into Dar es Salaam (DAR). Arriving via Dar may require an overnight stay and will require the additional expense of connecting with an internal Flight on a small regional airline with luggage restrictions.
Arriving overland from Nairobi on one of the daily scheduled tourist class shuttles is possible and recommended only for seasoned travelers. You will need to make your own International airline bookings, as that is not part of our service. We can assist you with booking a road transfer should you decide to take that route.
It’s absolutely necessary that you travel as light as possible. While some International airlines allow up to 50 kilos (100 lbs) of luggage, any internal Flights you may take within the region will restrict you to 15 kilos (33 lbs) or more rarely 20 kilos (44 lbs) total— including carry on—with exceptionally high charges for excess baggage and the distinct possibility that overweight cases will be left behind.
Also room in the safari vehicles is very limited so we highly recommend that you keep your luggage to one medium/large sized soft duffle bag (approximately 13″H x 30″W x 15″D) plus your carry on (a backpack works well) for your binoculars, camera gear etc. Hard suitcases will not fit in the safari vehicles and it may be necessary to leave them behind in the city hotel while you are out in the bush.
Yes, credit cards are accepted at some places such as lodges, hotels and larger shops. It’s probably a good idea to restrict use to these locations to be on the safe side and not to use cards indiscriminately.
Sometimes vendors will add a “fee” or a percentage for using a credit card to cover the commission charged by the banks. While this may not be acceptable in Europe or America it’s a normal practice here.
Tanzania has a number of great National Parks and Game Reserves supporting a wide variety of wildlife including Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Hippo, Zebra and Giraffe. Chimpanzees can be found on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Tanzania has over 1000 species of bird antelopes.
During the annual Wildebeest Migration, when approximately 3 million animals cross the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya, you can watch the Lion and Leopard in action trying to catch a meal. The three biggest lakes in Africa also border Tanzania; Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Niassa/Malawi.
A safari is a wonderful opportunity and generally speaking children ages five years and older enjoy the experience. If your children are Flexible and adventurous then planning a family safari will certainly create lifetime memories. It’s important to take into consideration that due to the vast distances covered, our safaris entail long stretches in the cars which normally don’t “sit well” with children if you’ll excuse the pun. When children are included in a group we’ll work with you to put on extra stops, limit extremely long days in the vehicles and book lodges that have swimming pools. Tanzanians love children and you’ll be warmly welcomed wherever you go with young ones. It’s important to know that you should NEVER leave your children unattended at a lodge or camp or in any wild area. You are ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of your children.
There is really no winter or summer here as we are located so close to the equator. However we do have rainy seasons which make it harder to get around. The long rains come from around late March – May and short rains in November – early December. The hottest months are late December – March, and then also September – October. But you are always welcome!
Safaris in Western Tanzania
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