20-35 years of age
Review about Katavi National Park by Alie Sijbersma
A great off the beaten track destination far away from the tourist hubs, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture while still seeing all animals Tanzania is famous for, with barely seeing any other people while driving through the park.
Mpanda can be reached by train, as well as by bus. Although a small town, Mpanda has some local guesthouses, as well as some restaurants and bars.
A tip for Swahili speakers: try to arrange a local minibus (daladala) to take the day off and instead drive you through the park for a predetermined fee. This will most likely be a lot cheaper than the vehicles that can be rented in the park.
For the upscale tourist there is also a small airstrip in the park, serving a tiny luxurious guesthouse in the middle of the park.
20-35 years of age
An unforgettable extraordinary experience with amazing animals
Gombe Stream National Park is mostly known for its chimpanzees and the research of world famous primatologist Jane Goodall. As the park is small and situated in forest in a hilly area you walk through the park with a guide. A day's hike will get you around the park and get you to see the chimpanzees from very close up. As they move around all the time it can take a while for an encounter, but the guides know the park and the behaviour of the animals very well and are therefore excellent at tracking them down. Seeing these animals in their natural habitat was an amazing and extraordinary experience! It's very fascinating, and quite indescribable. Definitely something to go experience yourself.
The scenery is beautiful, there are plenty of baboons and other monkeys, and the forest is right next to Lake Tanganyika. This is also how you reach the park: by boat from Kigoma. You can either enquire at the Jane Goodall Institute when a boat is going from there, or go to Kibirizi and take a local boat from there. This will take you up to the park in about 3 hours, regularly stopping at villages along the shore. This is definitely a great (local) experience and I would recommend to take one of those!
There are 2 places for accommodation in the park itself. Camping is not allowed, so there is no other option than that. There is a forest lodge and a (sort of) motel (it was still being build when I was there). Since there are usually not that many visitors in the park you can take your chances and just go, but if you want to be sure you can book beforehand. If you're for example staying in Kigoma in Nzimano Hotel (highly recommended: lovely staff, great local food, quiet and peaceful, overlooking Kigoma bay), the staff there will be able to help you with bookings.
Kigoma can be reached by plane, but there is also a train going from Dar Es Salaam to Kigoma twice a week, which is well worth the trip. The train crosses the whole country, so you will have an amazing view of the country (it passes through the capital Dodoma, through the Uluguru mountains, over vast plains, and much more). I can very much recommend to take the train in Tanzania. Great experience!
Highlights of Kigoma: Gombe Stream National Park, local markets, Ujiji (where explorers Livingstone and Stanley met), Lake Tanganyika (with apparently an enormous range of unique fish), Amani Beach, Jacobson's Beach, MV Liemba (old German ferry going every week around Lake Tanganyika to Bujumbura(Burundi), Kalundu-Uvira(DR Congo) and Mpulungu(Zambia) and back to Kigoma), Katonga(small fishing village).
35-50 years of age
Review about Kenya by navrajghataura
Amazing beaches, loads of wildlife, scuba diving, Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, Aberdares...the list goes on.
ES
35-50 years of age
Review about Tanzania by Miquel Nieto-Gallardo
I've been there three times. Two safaris and climbing the Kilimanjaro. Always a great experience. Lovely people; the sense of freedom. I love the way Tanzania smells.
NL
35-50 years of age
Review about Kenya by jhazevoet
There have been a number of new parks in Africa the last years, but Kenya still has an advantage in terms of tourist facilities, good roads and connections.
20-35 years of age
Review about Tanzania by Alie Sijbersma
Tanzania is a great safari destination, because you have everything you want on a safari in one country. You have the upscale tourist areas in the northeastern part of Tanzania, while there are plenty of off-the-beaten-track destinations around the country. The wildlife is amazing, with a great diversity and of course the Big Five. It has 2 parks where you can see chimpanzees in the wild. You can climb Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa). Tanzania has gorgeous beaches and plenty of places where you can dive and see amazing marine life, can swim with dolphins, and perhaps spot a whale shark. Next to that, Tanzanian people are extremely friendly, helpful and hospitable, which will guarantee an amazing stay in this beautiful country. Moreover, in the last years many cultural events have developed, such as cultural villages, the Sauti za Busara music festival on Zanzibar, and the Zanzibar International Film Festival.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about South Luangwa National Park by ~lustedtowander~
The South Luangwa River attracts heaps of animals, and one can camp just outside the park, on the banks of the river. It is my ideal safari experience, to be immersed IN the wilderness. No need to drive all day. Just live in the outdoors and be an organic member of it all.
US
35-50 years of age
Review about Kafue National Park by ~lustedtowander~
We saw one other vehicle during our 3 day stay in Kafue. Wildlife viewing requires a canny eye, but the bush experience makes it all worth the trip.
CZ
35-50 years of age
Nice days full of wild animals, pleasant people, nice countryside and delicious food :-)
Transportation to Inyati is comfortable by plane from Joburg (with one transfer). Lodge is near to airstrip. Buildings are placed just few tenth of meters from bank of the Sand river. You can watch animals even from window of your bungalow or from terrace. Staff is very very friendly and professional. Kitchen is outstanding. And safari trips at all are perfect. During short stay you can see whole the Big five and much much more.
US
35-50 years of age
Rugged and Remote!
Travel in Zambia is a quintessential African experience. People are poor, friendly and hard working. Bicycles laden with firewood or produce or water jugs or families or pigs fill the roads. Chaos and confusion reign at border crossings. The scenery is sublime, and the National Parks are remote. It requires an impressive amount of travel endurance just to make the drive into parks such as South Luangwa and Kafue. But go there. Do not miss Zambia!
