The Wilderness Explorer - The Great Migration, Primates of Mahale & Katavi Wilderness 14 Days

Day 01 (Northern circuit - Katavi)
Morning departure from Kilimanjaro or park airstrip for four-hour flight to remote Western Tanzania, to arrive in Katavi National Park in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive and evening walk.

Days 02, 03: Katavi
Each day will be different in this untouched wilderness, taking you to the most secret parts of the park, by foot or in open Landrovers. Early mornings - when the air is cool - you'll walk* with guides to spy on the hippo pods in "Flat Dog (Crocodile) Creek"; standing absolutely still as a herd of elephant passes by; moving across the land at animal pace and taking in the power and beauty of this place.

As the day warms up, you might return to camp for food or find lavish picnic breakfasts, brunches, lunches laid out under shady trees. Landrovers will arrive to take you longer distances - circling the great herds of buffalo, looking for the prides of lions that stalk them continually - following the meandering rivers, crossing the tamarind forests in search of eland, sable and roan antelope. In the evenings we'll retreat to camp, candlelit dinners under canvas, while the hyenas screech on the plains.

Wherever you go, the sheer numbers, variety and vitality of the Katavi game will blow your mind. For a wildlife fanatic, it's one of the most exciting places on earth. After three miraculous days in Katavi, just when you didn't think things could get any better, you are taken to another dream world.

*Landrovers available for those who don't want to walk

Day 04: To Mahale
A short morning flight - less than an hour, takes you across the unbroken wilderness of western Tanzania to the Mahale Mountains. The airstrip borders the sparkling blue of Lake Tanganyika, on whose shoreline lies Mahale Camp. On our forty-foot wooden dhow, you'll take a gentle voyage down the lake to the camp beach. Arrive an hour and a half later. Short forest walk to attune in the early evening.

Day 05, 06, 07: Mahale
Mornings you'll be chimpanzee tracking in the fairy tale Mahale forests. This can take anything from half an hour to catch up with them, to the whole morning. Once amongst them, you'll have an hour to watch as they live out their daily lives, right in front of you.

Afternoons and time away from the chimpanzees can be enjoyed by further exploring the forest (nine types of primate alone live in Mahale), boating expeditions for fishing, birding, snorkelling or relaxing on the soft sand beach and taking the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika as the sun goes down.

On fine evenings, we'll have barbecues, dinners on the dhow, or simply razz it up in the splendid Mahale Mess.

Day 08, 09, 10, 11: The Ngaroi
After a leisurely start, we'll leave camp and take a boat back to the airstrip with a pack-lunch, for a flight to your next destination-The Ngaroi.

Nestling against the western borders of the Serengeti National Park, The Ngaroi is a vast forgotten wilderness where game responds as if man has never before encroached on this wondrous land.

Freedom is the key word of The Ngaroi, freedom to explore on foot the treasures laid out throughout the open plains, ridge systems, kopjes and riverine forests, freedom to safari at night wandering in search of nocturnal creatures hidden from view during the daylight hours and freedom to enjoy undisturbed the closing light of day perched high as the sun sets.

The camp is set amongst the copious kopjes, islands of life on the edge of the Serengeti Plains where The Great Migratory Herds thunder past in search of lush green grasses to feed and give birth on.

Following the hundreds and thousands of wildebeest and zebra come the predators creating a symphony of life unrivalled anywhere else on earth.

We make each day a different experience from the last with guided bush walks stalking the game of The Ngaroi along rivers and ridges as if we ourselves were floating predators high on the food chain.

Professional Walking Guides, armed and experienced in the art of tracking accompany all of our walks in this stunning wilderness.

Drives in completely open vehicles allow incredible exploration circumnavigating the migratory herds and searching out new spectacles as they unfold.

The Ngaroi isn't for the masses; it's for the purists, the small number of guests that truly wish to experience Africa at her best.

Day 12-13: Ngorongoro
As if the past dozen days were not enough the drive away from The Ngaroi and out onto the vast short grass plains of the Serengeti seals the experience. Striking out from camp across grasslands dotted with predators and prey the only hint of mankind lies a hundred kilometers in front of us on the edge of the largest calderas on Earth.

Perched high on the Crater Rim the last two nights can either be to relax with champagne and a journal full of unique experiences (recommended!) or journey onto the floor of Ngorongoro to search out the Black Rhino and Leopards elusive amongst the Lerai forest. Either choice can hardly be considered frivolous at the end of this magnificent journey.

Day 14: Arusha
A lazy departure through clouds down onto the Rift Valley Floor with lunch at 'Olerai' the family homestead of Jo & Gary Strand where hospitality, great food and a tranquil setting pass the last few hours before departure.