Mahale Mountains National Park · Tanzania
Beach dinner table set before thatched lounge, Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania

14 Day Tanzania Chimps Safari And Zanzibar

Destinations: Tanzania, Mahale Mountains National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Zanzibar

Over 14 days this route takes in Mahale, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Zanzibar, each stop with its own character. Mahale rises straight from Lake Tanganyika, its forested slopes reaching Mount Nkungwe at 2,462 metres. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor.

Day By Day

Day 1 Arrival At Mahale

You fly in from Kigoma, you fly to Kigoma on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, and land near Mahale Mountains National Park, where our guide meets you and the transfer to camp works as your first afternoon out in the park. Chimp trekking is the draw, with primate walks, kayaking and snorkelling around it. Mahale rises straight from Lake Tanganyika, its forested slopes reaching Mount Nkungwe at 2,462 metres. It protects one of the largest populations of wild chimpanzee, the habituated M-group. You settle into camp as the light goes. An hour with the group is the permitted limit, and it is enough.

There are no roads, you arrive by light aircraft and boat, and move on foot. White-sand beaches meet the clear lake right below the forest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.

Day 2 Chimpanzee Trekking In Mahale

A full day in Mahale Mountains National Park. You are tracking chimpanzees on foot, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. It protects one of the largest populations of wild chimpanzee, the habituated M-group. There are no roads, you arrive by light aircraft and boat, and move on foot. White-sand beaches meet the clear lake right below the forest. The forest is loud with primates once you are inside it.

Chimp trekking is the draw, with primate walks, kayaking and snorkelling around it. Mahale rises straight from Lake Tanganyika, its forested slopes reaching Mount Nkungwe at 2,462 metres. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere. Late in the afternoon the light turns gold and the game comes back to the open ground. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush.

Day 3 Chimpanzee Trekking In Mahale

A full day in Mahale Mountains National Park. You are tracking chimpanzees on foot, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. There are no roads, you arrive by light aircraft and boat, and move on foot. White-sand beaches meet the clear lake right below the forest. Chimp trekking is the draw, with primate walks, kayaking and snorkelling around it. An hour with the group is the permitted limit, and it is enough.

Mahale rises straight from Lake Tanganyika, its forested slopes reaching Mount Nkungwe at 2,462 metres. It protects one of the largest populations of wild chimpanzee, the habituated M-group. Late in the afternoon the light turns gold and the game comes back to the open ground. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars.

Day 4 Transfer To Serengeti

A short morning tracking chimpanzees on foot at first light in Mahale, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Serengeti National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Serengeti in the afternoon. You head out out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. With a drink in hand you watch the day close over the bush. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars.

Day 5 Game Drives In Serengeti

A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Back at camp, dinner is served under a sky thick with stars. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up.

Day 6 Game Drives In Serengeti

A full day in Serengeti National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. The Serengeti runs to nearly 15,000 square kilometres of open plains and scattered kopjes. It carries the great wildebeest migration, well over a million animals moving in a yearly loop. Big cats are the draw, lion on the kopjes, cheetah on the plains, leopard in the riverine trees. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

The Grumeti and Mara rivers hold crocodile and stage the migration’s river crossings in season. Dawn balloon flights drift over the herds where operators offer them. Each time out turns up something new, and the pace is yours to set. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count.

Day 7 Transfer To Ngorongoro Crater

A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Serengeti, then to the road for the move to Ngorongoro Crater. The country changes on the way, and you reach the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon. You head out out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. Its walls hold around 25,000 large animals, so game viewing is concentrated and reliable. It is one of the best places in Africa to see black rhino, completing the Big Five in a day. On most drives you will not pass another vehicle.

The rim sits at 2,300 metres and mornings are cold before the sun clears the wall. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres of floor. Lion, elephant, buffalo and flamingo-lined soda lakes share the crater floor. You stop for coffee where the view is good and let the morning warm up. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count.

Day 8 Transfer To Tarangire

A short morning out on game drives at first light in the Ngorongoro Crater, then to the road for the move to Tarangire National Park. The country changes on the way, and you reach Tarangire in the afternoon. You head out out on game drives as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. It holds good lion, and dry-country species like fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk on its edges. The birding is among the best in the north, with over 500 species recorded. Back at camp after dark, dinner is under the stars.

Tarangire is known for its elephant, in herds that can number several hundred in the dry season. Big baobabs stand across the park, and the Tarangire River is the dry-season lifeline that pulls in game. It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. Nothing is promised in the wild, which is what makes a good sighting count. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves.

Day 9 Game Drives In Tarangire

A full day in Tarangire National Park. You are out on game drives, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. The birding is among the best in the north, with over 500 species recorded. It is quieter than the Serengeti and makes an easy first or last stop on a northern trip. Tarangire is known for its elephant, in herds that can number several hundred in the dry season. You rest through the midday heat and head out again as it cools.

Big baobabs stand across the park, and the Tarangire River is the dry-season lifeline that pulls in game. It holds good lion, and dry-country species like fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk on its edges. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

Day 10 Transfer To Zanzibar

A short morning out on game drives at first light in Tarangire, then to the airstrip and a light aircraft for the move to Zanzibar. The country changes on the way, and you reach Zanzibar in the afternoon. You head out by the sea as the light softens, a first look at the new ground. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Fresh seafood by the water closes the day.

The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest.

Day 11 On The Coast At Zanzibar

A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. The tide, the reef and a long lunch set the pace.

Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. The morning is cool and the animals are moving, so the first hours out are the busiest. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools.

Day 12 On The Coast At Zanzibar

A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. It is proper downtime after the early mornings of the safari.

The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. You carry a packed breakfast and stay out while the going is good. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere.

Day 13 On The Coast At Zanzibar

A full day at Zanzibar. You are by the sea, out early while the light is low and the country is at its best, with the guide working the ground slowly and time to stop for whatever the day turns up. The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Fresh seafood by the water closes the day.

Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich. Around midday the heat sits heavy, and you rest in the shade before heading out again as it cools. The guide reads the tracks and the birds, and there is no rush to be anywhere. Late in the afternoon the light turns gold and the game comes back to the open ground.

Day 14 Departure

A final morning by the sea before you leave, the best window of the trip for anything still on your list. You make the most of the early light, then your light aircraft flies you back toward Kigoma. The food is a highlight, grilled seafood, coconut and spice along the Swahili coast. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. This 14-day trip links Mahale, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Zanzibar, with the travelling done between the wildlife so your days stay on the ground that matters. Spice farms outside town still grow the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that made the island rich.

The north and east coasts are lined with white sand behind a protected coral reef. Mnemba atoll offers the island’s best snorkelling, with reef fish, turtles and dolphins offshore. The country is quiet here, and on most outings you have it to yourselves. Your guide has the ground worked out, and knows where the day is likely to lead.

What’s Included

  • All internal flights and road transfers on the route
  • Full-board accommodation on safari as shown
  • Game drives and the activities named in the day plan
  • Park entry fees for the days shown
  • Airport and airstrip transfers, drinking water in the vehicle

What’s Not Included

  • International flights and any visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks, tips for guides and staff
  • Activities not listed and items of a personal nature

Why Should Travelers Choose This Tanzania Safari?

This trip earns its place because the stops are nothing alike, and seeing them together makes each one land harder. Chimp trekking is the draw, with primate walks, kayaking and snorkelling around it. Mahale rises straight from Lake Tanganyika, its forested slopes reaching Mount Nkungwe at 2,462 metres. Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of lanes, carved doors and old trading houses. Linking Mahale, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Zanzibar in one route means you cover more of Tanzania than a single park allows, and the travelling between them is short. On 14 days you get range without the trip feeling rushed, the set-piece wildlife, the quieter corners, and the change of country from one stop to the next. For a traveller who wants variety over a single famous name, this is a strong, well-balanced way to see the region, and it works whether it is a first trip or a return.

Are 14 Days Enough for a Tanzania Safari?

14 days across Mahale, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Zanzibar is a well-judged length, though it is a read of each stop rather than a deep stay. You get a full day or more at the main parks, enough to see the headline wildlife and still catch the quieter moments. It suits travellers who value breadth and do not mind moving every couple of days. What this length cannot do is exhaust any one park, the biggest of them could fill a week on their own, so the remote corners stay for another trip. If a single place is your priority, spend the nights there instead. And if you have longer, the route takes an easy add-on, whether that is more time with the wildlife or a stretch on the coast to finish. As it stands, this 14-day trip is balanced and full.

What Is the Cost of This Tanzania Safari?

What you pay turns mostly on the camps and the season. In Tanzania, park fees run from USD 35 to 70 per adult per day depending on the park, with the Ngorongoro Crater charged higher. As a rough guide, most trips of this length run from around USD 4,200 to 9,100 per person sharing, higher in the peak dry months and cheaper in the green season. Camp and lodge level is the big lever, from simple tented camps to the smarter river and bush camps, and a shared vehicle between four brings the per-person cost down. Tell an operator your dates, group size and the standard you want and it can be quoted to the figure.