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RUBONDO → GOMBE → MAHALE NATIONAL PARK 10DAYS/9NIGHTS

This trip to Rubondo, Gombe and Mahale National Parks enables you to sail through the African great lakes the Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika respectively, enjoy the clear waters and breathtaking views. Gombe and Mahale take you into a close imminent visual contact with man’s closest genetic relative the chimpanzee. These parks have a healthier population of primates, birds, insects and other faunal species plus a variety of floral species and habitats. If you are a chimp’s lover, then this is the right place to be, if you’re also looking for new experience and need to set your own personal memories on the African lakes as they are all accessed by boat from Mwanza and Kigoma towns then do not hesitate to travel with us.

ITINERARY DETAILS

DAY 1-3

RUBONDO ISLAND NATIONAL PARK Upon your arrival at JULIUS KAMBARAGE NYERERE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JKIA), KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JRO), or from the hotel at Dar es Salaam you will be met at 08:00am by a member of DASSIE SAFARIS team who will transfer you by air to KIGOMA AIRPORT, on reaching the airstrip, you will be met again by a member of DASSIE SAFARIS team who will transfer you by road, then later on by boat to ASILIA RUBONDO ISLAND CAMP, with lunch at the camp, after a short nap, do a late afternoon excursion in the park. Enjoy meals and overnight stay at camp.
What we love about the ASILIA RUBONDO ISLAND CAMP is its good location, eco-friendly designed 8 cottages, and the camp immerses guests in the unique ecosystem of an area untouched by man, quality services and professional staff. Rubondo island national park is one of the most unique destinations in Africa, established in 1977, with a total area of 457km2 of which 240km2 is an island for which it named, but it does protect 11 islets, none much larger than 2km2 making it to be the Africa’s largest island national park. It’s green throughout, measuring 28km north-south and 10km east-west width. The island has no rivers and the soil is volcanic. Rubondo has a variety of habitats, the dominant vegetation type, being a closed canopy lowland forest, which covers 80% of the islands surface area, others include grassland, acacia woodland, rocky areas and sand beaches. Lake Victoria is a bilharzia free lake and swimming is reputedly safe at least at the beaches in front of the lodge and camp but be aware that crocodiles occasionally swim past the beaches so be careful before leap in water. The park has a pleasant climate with temperatures rarely falling outside a range of 20-25°c by day or night. Fishing is allowed (licensed).
Highlights of this trip includes walking safaris, boat excursion, sport fishing, canoeing trips, game viewing etc

DAY 3-6

MAHALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Located on the western tourist circuit of Tanzania, 100km south of Kigoma town, its 50km along Lake Tanganyika, where it forms an arch. The park covers a total area of 1613km2 and it was officially gazetted in 1985. It’s a foot walking national park, as there are no roads within the park boundaries.
The vegetation in this park includes the evergreen Kasoge Forest, Miombo Woodland, Montane forests and high-altitude grasslands. The attractions of Mahale are many and varied, but split into 3 main categories both natural, scenic and cultural. The park has a healthier population of primates, other animal species, and variation of floral species.
The northern and most accessible area of the park, contains a number of pristine beaches. The unspoiled nature of these beaches set between the steep rise of the Mahale Mountains behind the majestic expanse of Lake Tanganyika in front, provides an idyllic location for park visitors to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, picnicking and sun-bathing, other activities include bird watching, camping, hiking, visiting the Africa’s 2nd highest waterfalls (KALAMBO) and the Tongwe sacred sites. After a hearty breakfast at the camp at around 08:00 am, start a half-day excursion in the park, lunch at camp, after lunch transfer to GREYSTOKE MAHALE LODGE, in Mahale Mountains National Park.
Enjoy meals and overnight stay at lodge.
What we love about GREYSTOKE MAHALE LODGE, is that it is located along Kangwena beach on the edge of Lake Tanganyika, its six open-fronted double Bandas set at the edge of the forest and the base of the mountains, starlit dinners on the beach and sundowners on the dhow or even kayaking, making it be the best place to encounter chimpanzees in Tanzania.

DAY 6-9

GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK The park was established officially in 1968 and covers a total area of 56km2, formerly 52km2 before it was increased in 2013, the park is about 16km north of Kigoma town, in the north-western part of Tanzania, it consists of a narrow mountainous strip of country stretching for some 16km along the eastern shore of the world’s longest Lake Tanganyika and running inland about 5km to the peaks of the mountain range forming the rift escarpment. The lake zone stretches for about 1km into the lake and protects the biodiversity in the shallow, oxygenated waters along the lakeshore a suitable place for camping, sun-bathing and swimming. This park has a lot to offer ranging from chimp’s treks, bird watching, swimming, boating, canoeing trips, and wildlife viewing among others. After a warm breakfast at the GREYSTOKE LODGE at around 08:00am, transfer to GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK at MBALI MBALI LODGE. Enjoy meals and overnight stay at lodge. What we love about the lodge is that its set in the shade of ancient forest trees by the shores of Lake Tanganyika, it offers complete privacy, a small lodge library, reliable services and breathtaking views. Full-days excursions will give you more than a chance to set your eyes on the great apes of Gombe. The tour highlights include chimpanzee tracking, swimming, hiking, fishing, lakeshore walks, visiting the Kakombe and Mkenke waterfalls, bird watching, boating, taking in scenic views from JANES’S peak and canoeing trips.

DAY 10

DEPARTURE After a warm breakfast at the lodge at around 08:00am, transfer to Kigoma Airstrip catch a local flight to DAR ES SALAAM (JKIA) or KIA, and connect with your international flight back home. End of services NB: The same itinerary can be extended to northern and southern tourist circuit or Zanzibar, kindly let us know. Same itinerary can be quoted in both budget and mid-range lodging.