An adventurous safari combined with lakefront chimpanzee trekking.
Three of Africa's wildest, least-visited parks on one classic Nomad circuit from Dar es Salaam. Ruaha's huge elephant herds and lion prides, Katavi's remote floodplains, then chimpanzee trekking on the forested shores of Lake Tanganyika at Greystoke Mahale. Flights are limited but a Nomad long-stay offer applies.
3 nights
Ruaha, Tanzania's largest national park, in the remote southern highlands where East and Southern African species overlap along the sand rivers of the Great Ruaha. Huge and little-visited, it holds one of Africa's biggest elephant populations and the largest lion population in East Africa — big prides, wild dog, and both greater and lesser kudu — across baobab-studded hills and open miombo. The dry season (roughly June to October) concentrates game on the shrinking river, and a handful of small camps mean you rarely see another vehicle.
3 nights
Katavi is Tanzania's third-largest park and one of its wildest — remote, roadless and barely visited, deep in the western miombo. In the dry season (Jun–Oct) huge herds of buffalo and elephant, big lion prides and hippo crowd the shrinking Katuma River and its floodplains. A single classic bush camp (Chada Katavi) means raw, old-Africa safari with almost no other vehicles.
4 nights
The Mahale Mountains rise straight out of Lake Tanganyika's clear water on Tanzania's remote western border — forested peaks sheltering one of Africa's largest populations of wild chimpanzees. Days are spent trekking the forest to track a habituated chimp community, afternoons on the white-sand beach, kayaking or snorkelling the lake. Greystoke Mahale, reached only by boat, is one of the continent's great wilderness camps.
Departure airport
Tanzania's largest city and main coastal gateway — the transit point between international flights and light-aircraft connections to the southern safari circuit (Nyerere/Selous, Ruaha) and the Zanzibar coast. Used here as a connection rather than a stop: most travellers pass straight through Julius Nyerere International (DAR), with an overnight only when flight timings require it.
Visa — required. US passport holders need a visa, available on arrival or as an e-visa in advance. Volunteer work isn’t permitted on a tourist visa, and you should carry a round-trip ticket and be ready to show proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
Mandatory travel insurance. Tanzania now requires every visitor to buy the government’s local travel insurance to enter — it was Zanzibar-only, but now applies nationwide. This is in addition to your own travel insurance; purchase it online before you go.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with 1 blank page per entry stamp.
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from a country where yellow fever is a risk. This applies to travel from Kenya if you have your passport stamped.
Currency. Up to US$10,000 may be brought in or taken out.
Good to know. Single-use plastic bags are banned nationwide — pack toiletries in a small, clear reusable zip-lock. Dress is conservative in public, especially on Zanzibar; keep beachwear to the resorts. And it’s illegal to photograph military sites, government buildings, bridges, airports, or police.
U.S. Embassy, Dar es Salaam: tz.usembassy.gov
Guidance for US passport holders — if you travel on another passport, please confirm the requirements for your nationality.
Every departure runs a similar route with all-in pricing. Prices vary by season.
Inclusions: Safari lodge and camp rates are inclusive of all meals, drinks, and most activities — including game drives — but exclude top-shelf drinks and premium activities like helicopter excursions. City and beach stays follow each property's own board basis, shown on the lodge.
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