Category: Western circuit

Rubondo Island National Park has a size of 240 km². It is only one of two Tanzanian national parks located on an island in Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest lake. It is located in the southwest corner of the lake. Rubondo became a game reserve in 1965, to provide a sanctuary for animals. Tanzania gazetted Rubondo in 1977 as a national park. It is uninhabited and consequently 90% of the island remains forest today. With nine smaller islands under its wing, Rubondo also protects precious fish breeding grounds.

Best Time to Visit Rubondo

Best time: from June to October ( dry season). The best time to visit is during the cooler, As a tropical island, it may rain on Rubondo on any given day.

By flight

With its own airstrip, Rubondo can be accessed via Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha and the Serengeti. Travellers can also fly directly from Kigali to easily combine this wild island escape with an epic gorilla encounter in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

By boat

Rubondo Island can be reached by park boat from two different locations. One option is the boat from Kasenda, a small village near Muganza in Chato District. The other option is the boat from Nkome in Geita District.

• A variety of water birds , Eurasian migrants and introduced African grey parrots
• High density of African fish eagles distinctly seen
• Animal species including Sitatunga, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Bushbucks, Pythons, Crocodiles, Chimpanzees (not fully habituated), Bush pigs and Suni
• The Lake Victoria forming a spectacular sight for visitors with the deepest point in the lake (Irumo) forming part of the park
• Magnificent view of one of the last remaining representatives of evergreen dense primary lowland Congolese forest with a unique habitat mosaic in the midst of high biodiversity value
• Beautiful and attracting beaches such as Fly catcher, Mchangani and Michicoco
• Important gulfs of Irumo and Kamea
• Clear sighting of both sunrise and sunset
• Cultural sites such as “Ntungamirwe”, “Maji Matakatifu”, “Altare” and “Solo” which explain the life of natives who once stayed in the park
• “Birds Islands”, breeding sit for water birds
• Crocodile Island

• Game drive
• Fishing
• Bird watching
• Boating and canoeing safari
• Chimpanzee trek

Rubondo island camp, Queen Doro lodge, Rembo guest house.

If you liked Rubondo Island National Park, you might also like Zanzibar Island.

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Welcome to the magnificent Mahale Mountains National Park!

Mahale is located in the Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, it is bordering Lake Tanganyika-the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harbouring an estimated 1000 fish species.

Famous for: 

Its fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, which makes it an essential stop for keen photographers and safari enthusiasts.

Interesting Facts About Mahale Mountains National Park

• Foot-walking National Park
• Research-and conservation-oriented park
• Conservation of indigenous fish of Lake Tanganyika: No commercial fishing is permitted within 1.5km from the shore line
• Mixture of western and eastern Africa fauna and flora
• Unique combination of forests, mountains and the lake

Bird life, Insect life & Mammals

• Abundant bird life
• Abundant insect life with over 30 species of Charaxes butterflies
• Abundant primate life: at least 9 species of non-human primates including a  habituated group of chimpanzees
• Intact fauna of mammal predators including leopards, lions and hunting dogs

Best Time to Visit

• Best Time: July to October (Chimp trekking is easy)
• High Season: July to October (Mahale is never crowded)
• Low Season: April and May (Most lodges are closed)

Getting to Mahale

Mahale is not the easiest or cheapest place to get to. Depending on your itinerary, your entry point to the country will be either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha town, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and make ongoing arrangements.

Getting to Katavi

The best way to get to Katavi is by a flight from Arusha. The only public, scheduled flight is the twice-weekly service between Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale operated by Safari Air Link.

• The Chimpanzees
• Chain of Mountains (Mahale range)
• Forest fauna and flora (Angola colobus, red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, forest birds, alpine bamboo, montane rain forest etc).
• Beach along Lake Tanganyika
• Local fishermen
• Sun set on the Lake horizon

• Chimp tracking (allow two days)
• Hiking to the Park’s highest point “Nkungwe” (8,069ft) held sacred by the local Tongwe people.
• Boating and canoeing
• Diving and Snorkeling
• Sports fishing and many more water sports activities

• Mid range accommodation: Greystoke mahale camp, Tarn hut resort, Nkungwe tented camp
• Luxury accommodations: Mbali Mbali Mahale lodge

• Best Weather: May to October (Almost no rainfall)
• Worst Weather: November to April

If you liked Mahale Mountains National Park, you might also like Nyerere National Park.

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The Ibanda Kyerwa Park is a new park in 2019, founded in the Kagera region in Tanzania. This is the park where the three countries of Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda borders’ meet and is an important destination to add on your Tanzania Safari Tours.

The park is rich in wildlife attractions and sunrise and sunset are easily seen. KageraRiver is the main source of water for this park and nourishes its rich resources. The Tanzanian government has done a brilliant job in developing this spectacular park that was once a game reserve into a national park. Now Ibanda Kyerwa Park Safari that would soon rival all the other Parks and safaris in Tanzania and the world.

Famous for: 

In Ibanda Kyerwa Park, one can find a variety of attractions – ranging from savannah, lakes, rivers and swamps inhabited with different kinds of wildlife. This magnificent Park is endowed with various wild animals such as African Buffalo, Hippos, Leopards, Antelopes like reed buck and roan and birds.

• Particularly fascinating is that Ibanda Kyerwa National Park is an exceptionally gifted place with a variety of attractions. Ranging from savannah, lakes, rivers to swamps that are inhabited with different kinds of wildlife.
• Unquestionably the park is home to the various wild animals such as African Buffalo, Hippos, Leopards, Antelopes like reed buck and roan and birds.
• Shooting and Hunting safaris are the most common activities in this area and for the adventure explorers this is a best place for you.

• Best Time: From June to September (when the area is dry.)

By Road

From Bukoba to Murongo (220 km). From Chato to Murongo (327 km). From Murongo to the Park (3 ½ km). From the airstrip at Ibanda to Murongo (110 km).

By Air

There are airports at Chato and Bukoba from which light aircraft can fly to Ithanda Village or an airstrip within the Park.

• Wild animals
• Kagera river

• Game drive
• Walking safari
• Bird watching
• Hunting safari
• Picnicking
• Camping

• Karenge bush camp, Ntende hotel,  Al -tawakal hotel

• Best weather: From October to November
• Wet season: From March to May

If you liked Ibanda Kyerwa National Park, you might also like Gombe Stream National Park.

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Welcome to Gombe Stream National Park!

About Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is located in the westernmost region of Tanzania along the shores of Lake Tanganyika.  The national park encompasses an area of 14 square miles (35sq km) making it the smallest national park in Tanzania as well as most of Africa.

The park consists of grasslands, woodlands, steep valleys, and tropical rainforest.   The diversity is surprising for such a small region.  The area where the monkeys and primates are found is dense jungle, which some may describe as a true Tarzan-like setting.

Famous for:

The location where Jane Goodall pioneered her behavioural research conducted on the chimpanzee populations.

Interesting Facts

• Gombe Stream is one of the best places in Africa to track chimpanzees.
• First researched in the 60’s by Jane Goodall, the primates are remarkably habituated. The project now ranks as the world’s longest running study of any wild animal population.
• The experience is one that you are unlikely to forget.

• Best Time:  July to October
• High Season:  July to October (Gombe never gets crowded)

Getting to Gombe

The only way to get to Gombe is by boat from Kigoma town. Depending on your itinerary, you might book your international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha town or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.

In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport or, if not, you can take a taxi. Your tour operator will also book your ongoing domestic flight to Kigoma Airport (TKQ) and will charter a private motorboat to Gombe. The boat trip takes less than an hour.

It is also possible to take a public motor boat or ‘lake taxi’ from Kigoma to the park. This trip takes about four hours.

• Chimpanzees
• Varied primates
• The natural history of Jane Goodall
• Kakombe and mkenke waterfall
• Lake Tanganyika
• Birds life

• Mountain climbing
• Birdwatching
• Walking safari
• Chimpanzee trekking
• Boat  cruise
• Butterfly gazing
• Kayaking
• Sport fishing
• Snorkeling and diving
• Filming

• Mid  range accommodation: Kesekela Rest house, Mitumba Rest house
• Luxury hotels: Kasekela Luxury Campsite, Gombe Forest lodge

• Best Weather: June to October  (Little to no rainfall)
• Worst Weather: November to April  (Wet season)

If you liked Gombe Stream National Park, you might also like Ibanda Kyerwa National Park.

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Welcome to Katavi National Park in Tanzania! Because it’s not crowded the animals are acting natural, so this is your perfect destination!

About Katavi National Park

• The park is not well known and because of that it has its charme.
• One can find almost all species.
• It’s a cheap alternative for the Northern National Parks.

Interesting Facts

• Rare Antelope species, like sable and roan
• Katavi boasts of massive herds of buffaloes
• It has the highest hippo and crocodile populace in Tanzania

• Best time: from June to October ( dry season) – best wildlife sightings and more
• Wet season: from November to April ( best time for bird watching)

Getting to Katavi

By Plane

The easiest way to get to Katavi National Park is via one of two scheduled flights that run weekly from the town of Arusha or the capital city of Dar es Salaam. This flight can take anywhere between 4-5 hours and is operated by Safari Air Link.

From Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), Arusha is a 46 kilometres (29 miles) drive. Usually, a driver will be waiting for you, as a part of your safari package.

By Road

The only option to travel to Katavi National Park via vehicle involves an incredibly arduous three day 4×4 mission, which can be especially daunting in the wet season as many roads become inaccessible.

Combine it with Mahale Mountains National Park

The scheduled flights to Katavi National Park are quite costly (anywhere from US$350 each way), so travellers usually combine this with a trip to the Mahale Mountains National Park – one of the best places in the world to encounter chimpanzees.

With their ‘way out West’ locations in Tanzania, getting to both parks is part of the challenge and makes reaching the destination all the more satisfying.

• Wildlife, eg: elephant, leopard, giraffe, lion, zebra and the largest herds of Cape buffalo
• Birds, eg: African fish eagle, African openbill, Lilac-breasted roller, Pink-backed pelican,Yellow-billed stork,
• Historical sites

• Game  drave
• Walking safari
• Birdwatching
• Visit historical sites eg: stone and iron age
• Fly camping

Mid ranges accommodation: Chada camp, Mbali Mbali Katavi lodge, Katavi wildlife camp

Luxury accommodation: Palahala luxury camp

If you liked Katavi National Park, you might also like Mkomazi National Park.

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Welcome to Saanane National Park in Tanzania! It is the smallest National Park in both – Tanzania and East Africa.

About Saanane National Park

Saanane Island is a fully fledged National Park since July, 2013, covering an area of 2.18 sq km comprises of three islets and aquatic environment. The islets lie on the southern part of the main Island.

The park made a record of being the first ever National Park to be located within the City and the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa. The Park is the home of mammals like Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys and Wild Cats. The presence of “De-brazza’s Monkey” underscores its potential as the only Park in the country inhabiting the species.  Reptiles are also dominant; they include crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, Snakes particularly Python.

The aquatic part of the Park inhabits a variety of fisheries life, mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch.

Famous for:

Wildlife viewing lovers, it is an excellent place for game viewing, sightseeing and bird watching. As mentioned previously, it contains a number of mammals including Rock Hyrax, and Wild Cats.

Interesting Facts

• The park made a record of being the first ever National Park to be located within the City and the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa.
• The Park is the home of mammals like Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys and Wild Cats.

Best Time to Visit Saanane

June to August during the dry season is the best time to visit Saanane Island National Park. This season is great for game drives, picnics as well as rock hiking.

Getting There

One can travel by road or air from either Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro International Air Ports to Mwanza.  Also can travel by road or railway to Mwanza City from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Tabora. to mention a few. Moreover, people can travel by ship/vessel to Mwanza Port from Uganda, Kenya, Bukoba and nearby Islands.

The Island is accessed by a regular short boat ride for about 5 minutes from Park Offices, on the mainland. Park Offices are easily accessed about 15 minutes short walk from the City Centre.

• Wildlife such as : zebra, impala, rock hyrax, velvet monkey and wild cat. It’s the only place in Tanzania where you might encounter the De-brazza’s monkey.
• Bismarck rock
• Samaki round about mwanza city center
• Kamanga ferry terminal

Saanane Island is an ideal place for :

• Game viewing
• Bird watching
• Rock hiking
• Boat cruise
• Walking
• Picnics,
• Bush lunch,
• Photographing/filming,
• Meditation and sport fishing.
• Special occasions like wedding, engagement, team building, family day and birthdays can also be organized.

• Mid Range hotels: Hotel tilapia,
• Luxury accommodations: Wag hill lodge & Spa, malaika beach resort, Ryans bay hotel, Belmont fairmount hotel, The Lahe hotel, Gold crest hotel, Isamilo lodge and Spa

Coldest month

The coldest month is July, with an average high-temperature of 26°C and an average low-temperature of 18°C.

Warmest month

The warmest month is October, with an average maximum temperature of 27°C.

If you liked Saanane National Park, you might also like Kitulo National Park.

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