Chimpanzee Trekking
Track wild chimpanzees on foot in Gombe and Mahale, two of Africa’s best places to see them.
Tanzania Safari Circuit
The WesternSafari Circuit
Tanzania’s remotest wilderness on the shores of Lake Tanganyika: chimpanzee trekking in Gombe and Mahale, and the untouched plains of Katavi.
CHIMPANZEES & WILDERNESS
01 — Overview
One of Africa’s great wildlife journeys — remote, wild, and rarely visited.
The Western Circuit is Tanzania's most remote and least-visited safari region, built around the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the world's second-deepest lake. Gombe Stream National Park — made famous by Dr Jane Goodall's decades of chimpanzee research — and the larger, wilder Mahale Mountains National Park both protect healthy populations of wild chimpanzees, tracked on foot through forested slopes running down to the lake.
Katavi National Park, further inland, is one of Africa's least-visited parks despite huge concentrations of hippo and buffalo along its seasonal rivers and floodplains. Together these three parks make for a genuine wilderness expedition rather than a conventional safari — reached almost entirely by light aircraft, with very few other visitors along the way.
- Key Parks
- Gombe, Mahale, Katavi
- Gateway
- Kigoma & Katavi airstrips (via Arusha/Dar)
- Best Time
- May–October (dry season, chimp trekking)
- Typical Length
- 4–7 days
- Famous For
- Chimpanzee trekking on Lake Tanganyika
02 — Why This Circuit
Why choose the Western Circuit
For travellers seeking Africa’s last great wildernesses.
True Remoteness
Among the least-visited national parks in Africa — days can pass without seeing another vehicle.
Lake Tanganyika
Africa’s longest freshwater lake, with white sand beaches and clear water for swimming and snorkelling.
Katavi’s Wildlife Density
Huge dry-season gatherings of hippo and buffalo along the Katuma River.
Sample Route
A sample 5-day route
A typical way to combine chimpanzee trekking with Katavi’s wildlife.
Day 1
Fly to Mahale Mountains
Arrive by light aircraft and boat transfer to your lakeshore camp.
Days 2–3
Mahale Mountains National Park
Guided chimpanzee trekking on forested slopes above Lake Tanganyika.
Day 4
Fly to Katavi National Park
Transfer to Katavi for an afternoon game drive along the Katuma River.
Day 5
Katavi & Departure
A final game drive before your onward flight.
Wildlife
Wildlife of the Western Circuit
Gombe and Mahale protect wild chimpanzee populations habituated to researchers and, in Mahale, to visitors — tracking them through the forest is the highlight of any Western Circuit safari. Both parks also hold red colobus and red-tailed monkeys, and Mahale's lake shore adds swimming and snorkelling among colourful cichlid fish.
Katavi's seasonal floodplains support some of Africa's largest hippo and buffalo concentrations, alongside lion, elephant and, in the dry season, large herds of plains game drawn to its shrinking waterholes.
- Chimpanzee
- Hippopotamus
- African buffalo
- Lion
- Elephant
- Red colobus monkey
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit the Western Circuit
The dry season (May–October) offers the best chimpanzee trekking conditions, with drier forest trails and chimps easier to locate. This period also concentrates wildlife in Katavi around its remaining water sources. Access becomes difficult in the heart of the wet season (March–April), when some camps close.
Dry Season
June to October
Best game viewing; wildlife gathers at rivers and waterholes.
Wet Season
November to May
Lush scenery, migratory birds and newborn animals; some roads can be muddy.
Getting to the Western Circuit
By air
Scheduled and charter flights connect Arusha and Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, from where boats reach Gombe and Mahale, and to airstrips serving Katavi directly.
Overland
The Western Circuit is reached almost entirely by air; overland travel from other regions takes several days and is rarely used by visitors.
Location
Western Circuit Map
Gombe, Mahale and Katavi lie in far western Tanzania, along and near the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Western Circuit
Open in Google MapsFAQ
Western Circuit FAQs
What to know before planning a Western Circuit safari.
Is chimpanzee trekking guaranteed?
Sightings are very likely but never guaranteed, since the chimpanzees are wild and roam the forest. Guides use daily tracking to maximise your chances.
How remote is the Western Circuit?
Very. It is one of the least-visited safari regions in Africa, reached almost entirely by light aircraft, with only a handful of camps across all three parks.
How many days do I need?
A minimum of 4–5 days allows for chimpanzee trekking plus one or two nights in Katavi; longer trips allow more trekking time and a relaxed pace.
Can I combine this with the Northern Circuit?
Yes, though it typically requires an extra day or two of flying, since the Western Circuit is on the opposite side of the country from the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro.