Exploring The Western Tanzania Safari Circuit : Tanzanian attractions are situated in various safari zones which are Northern Circuit, Southern Circuit, Eastern Circuit and Western Circuit. Many visitors end up visiting the northern circuit, as it is home to most spectacular attractions including the Kilimanjaro Mountain, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Mount Meru and the Maasai communities. In fact, the northern circuit is famous than other zones. However, tourists miss a lot of things from other safari zones especially the Western Circuit with Explore Africa Safaris
The Western Circuit is endowed with some iconic attractions including Lake Tanganyika, Gombe National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Lake Rukwa and Katavi National Park. It is also home to vibrant ethics such as Waha, Wafipa and Wabende. Let’s have a glimpse of the attractions of the Western Circuit.
Gombe Stream National Park
This is a paradise for those who are interested in learning about the chimpanzees. This park is found in Kigoma region on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It spans about 35 square kilometers and its fame came after Jane Goodall, the famous British conservationist who spent years there studying the chimpanzees.
What draws visitors to this smallest park is chimp trekking, which is a once-in-a-lifetime activity conducted in this superb destination. Chimpanzee trekking begins with a short brief on the rules and regulations that you will have to observe. This activity requires a chimp trekking permit before you start your adventure in the wild. Chimp trekking safari also enables you to learn more about the habits of chimps, their feeding style, breastfeeding and family organization and roles with Explore Africa Safaris
Gombe National Park deserves a visit by any nature lover interested in learning more about the chimps. Your visit will also support the indigenous community thus increasing their morale of preserving these endangered primates.
Mahale Mountains National Park
On the eastern shore of the second deepest lake in the world Lake Tanganyika, lies a magnificent park called Mahale Mountains National Park. It is another home of the endangered chimpanzees that is situated in Uvinza District of Kigoma region. It obtained its name from the Mahale Mountains range which lies within its borders.
With an area of about 1650 square kilometers, Mahale Mountains National Park is very remote as compared to Gombe, and it can be explored on foot.
Chimpanzee tracking is awesome when done on foot. The eastern chimpanzees are concentrated (about 800 chimps) in this park and will offer you unforgettable experience. Several habituated chimpanzees are there for tracking, and you will be amazed by their lifestyles and division of labor.
Hikers will enjoy hiking the Mahale Mountains range. An exercise hike through various peaks of this range. Mahale Mountains are of various peaks, but the highest peak is at 2462 meters (8077 feet) at Mount Nkungwe.
Another fun fact about this park is that, lions coexist with the chimps. Therefore, you can combine chimp tracking with the views of the ‘king of the jungle’. Other wild animals that can be encountered in Mahale Mountains National Park include red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys. Guided nature walks will leave you with unforgettable views of the scenery, small animals, vegetation and the birds.
Katavi National Park
Katavi National Park is one of the must-visit parks in the Western Circuit of Tanzania, which lies between the Katavi and Rukwa regions of Tanzania. It is well known for being home to the largest population of Cape buffalos. These giant wild bulls are usually spotted in open grasslands and in floodplains. Katavi National Park also hosts a large number of seasonal swamps and lakes which are homes to the black hippos and Nile crocodiles.
Katavi National Park can be reached by air and road. Chartered flights from Arusha or other regions can be organized to Katavi airstrip. Chartered flights from other parks like Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Mkomazi and Nyerere National Park are also available. By road, from anywhere in Tanzania, you can travel by using private or public transport and stop at Mizengo Pinda Bus Terminal or drive directly into Katavi National Park. A common drive is from Mbeya region and is 550km.
Generally speaking, the Western Circuit is less frequented by visitors. Therefore, it is private and less crowded as compared to other safari zones. For a private Tanzania safari through natural and untouched Mother Nature, consider planning a trip to this zone.
