WESTERN TANZANIA - A HEART OF THE ALBERTINE RIFT
Western Tanzania is dominated by Lake Tanganyika surrounded by landscapes such as mountainous parks, waterfalls, as well as vast seasonal dry plains with abundant wildlife. This remote region indeed is "the heart of the Albertine Rift". A road trip to this less visited and vast region offers you an unparalleled opportunity to soak in its powerful natural wonders and diverse cultures.
Posing with hippos
Resting with LX in katavi
Cargo man in Kasulu
Sunset over Katavi plains
Perfect Alignment!
Road through the forests!
Mahale Mountains in evening glow
What do we do next?
Nice cold swim holes in Mahale
Sunset over the Lake in Kigoma
Kalambo Falls
Northern Zambia/Southwestern Tanzania
Kalambo Falls are one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in Africa, and certainly the most spectacular waterfalls I ever visited, located in a dramatic rift landscape covered in miombo woodlands. The splendid creation is a result of the rift dropping to nearby Lake Tanganyika. It is an adventure to get to this area but one can explore this area from two countries (Zambia, Tanzania) without even crossing through the official border post.
Activities: Hiking / Trekking, Water Sports (on nearby Lake Tanganyika), Natural Attraction, Birdwatching
Recommended Stay: 1 day. 3 days with additional activities on Lake Tanganyika
Read more: Link to the Blog Entry
Katavi National Park
Southwestern Tanzania
Definitely one of my top three wildlife safari destinations in Africa. The density and diversity of animals is superb, the floodplains and the surrounding hills make for fabulous scenery, and the river is the park’s lifeline. During my visits here (both in the late dry and peak rainy seasons), we have not encountered any other visitors, only lots of giraffes, buffaloes, elephants and many other animals.
Activities: Wildlife Viewing, Natural Attractions, Bird Watching, Camping
Recommended Stay: 2 to 4 days
Blog: Wet or dry season - wildlife safari as it should be!
Mahale National Park
Western Tanzania
What is the most beautiful wilderness of all our destinations? I love all of them but Mahale is hard to beat, it is simply stunning and the visit there is powerful. Trekking to see chimps in Mahale is unlike in many other locales – it is simply more adventurous and fun then anywhere else I seen - mainly due to challenging terrain. However, nothing can beat the afternoon beach, snorkeling, and swimming to relax.
Activities: hiking/trekking, chimpanzee trekking, water sports, swimming, birdwatching, kayaking
Recommended Stay: 4-6 days
Lake Tanganyika
Western Tanzania, Northern Zambia
Lake Tanganyika is amongst the most spectacular water bodies in Africa and globally, estimated to be the longest and 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world and the 2nd deepest. There are actually only a handful of points to access this Lake as it is remote. We explore the Lake from four distinct points during our journeys – Kigoma, Kipili, Mahale, and Northern Zambia. The preferred location to enjoy all water sports is the small fishing village Kipili.
Activities: Water Sports (kayaking, diving, water skiing)
Recommended Length of Stay: Kipili 2-5 days, Kigoma 1-2 days, Mahale 3-5 days, Northern Zambia 3-5 days.
Sights of the Road
Western Tanzania can be best appreciated when criss-crossing the region from north to south by road. The above sites are indeed the region's "crown jewels" but you have an opportunity to see many other attractions along the road: vast forests, waterfalls and the regions many towns, villages and its diverse cultures.
Questions? Let's Talk about your Adventure Trip
I am Juraj, your Adventure Travel expert for East and Southern Africa. I have worked and lived in Uganda and Zambia for the past 15 years and traveled by road to many corners of this vast and beautiful region. My work in conservation has enabled me to explore unique places, walking across vast savannas teeming with wildlife and trekking mountains. My specialty is always to seek new and less-visited attractive destinations for active adventure travelers to enjoy diverse activities in nature and experience rich local cultures. My passion is to show you this corner of Africa the way most people do not see.
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