Tanzania · A private journey
The Lost Horizon Expedition
From the wild floodplains of Katavi to the chimpanzees of Mahale, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Arusha · Katavi · Mahale · Lake Tanganyika
Journey Into the Wild
The Journey
The Essence of the Journey
Far in Tanzania’s west lie two of its most remote parks: the open plains of Katavi and the forested shores of Lake Tanganyika at Mahale. Reached only by light aircraft, it trades the busy safari circuit for quiet plains, then a beach camp beneath the mountains where wild chimpanzees live.
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Arusha to Katavi
By Light Aircraft
Small flights carry you west from Arusha, landing on bush airstrips far from any road.
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Katavi
Tanzania’s Wildest Plains
Three nights at Chada Katavi, among great herds of buffalo and crowded hippo pools, with few other vehicles in sight.
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Lake Tanganyika
Along the Lake Shore
A boat carries you along the lake to Greystoke Mahale, a beach camp beneath forested mountains.
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Mahale Mountains
Among the Chimpanzees
On foot with local trackers into the forest, to spend an hour with a wild chimpanzee community.
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Greystoke Mahale
Days on the Water
Swimming in clear water, kayaking along the shore and sunset trips by dhow between forest walks.
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In camp
Camp Life, Unhurried
Small camps, days paced to suit you and dinners by lantern light on the sand.
Why Hayah Reserve
Why choose a Hayah Reserve journey?
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Planned around you
Every journey is built from scratch, around how you like to travel, eat and rest.
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Handled end to end
Flights, transfers, guides and timings, arranged so the days run without friction.
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Quiet access
Private visits and experiences that are hard to arrange alone, often before the crowds arrive.
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Chosen with care
Hotels, lodges and villas we know well, picked for character rather than star ratings.
The Journey
Arusha
Where the journey west begins
You are met on arrival and settled in for the night before the flight. Western Tanzania sees a fraction of the visitors of the north, and the morning plane carries you across the whole width of the country, over the Rift Valley and miombo woodland, to some of the most remote wilderness left in Africa.
Light aircraft across Tanzania, refuelling at Tabora, met by your guide in Katavi · about 4 hours
Katavi
Chada Katavi
Katavi is the Africa of a century ago, and you may not see another vehicle all day. Chada Katavi is a small tented camp in the shade of the trees at the edge of the Chada floodplain. As the dry season deepens, the rivers shrink to pools crowded with hippo, huge buffalo herds come down to drink, and lion are rarely far behind. Days are spent on game drives and walks with Nomad’s guides.
A short flight over the Mahale Mountains to the shore of Lake Tanganyika, then by boat to camp · about 25 minutes in the air
Mahale
Greystoke Mahale, on Lake Tanganyika
The forested Mahale Mountains rise straight out of Lake Tanganyika, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world. Greystoke sits on a white sand beach at their foot, its thatched bandas open to the water. There is no road in, only the boat, and when you are not in the forest the days are for swimming, kayaking and sundowners aboard the camp’s dhow.
On foot from camp into the mountain forest with your guide and trackers
The chimpanzees
In the forestInto the Mahale forest
The reason to come this far. A community of wild chimpanzees lives on the slopes behind camp, and the trackers set out at first light to find them. The walk can be a short stroll or a steep climb, depending on where they slept, and then you spend a quiet hour in their company as they feed, groom and call through the trees.
Boat back up the lake, then light aircraft to Arusha via Katavi and Tabora · about 5 hours flying
Departure
Arusha, for your flight home
The boat carries you back along the shore in the early light, and the aircraft returns you to Arusha in time to connect with your flight to the Gulf.
The Field Sanctuaries
Chada Katavi
An intimate canvas outpost overlooking untamed predator plains.
Greystoke Mahale
An architectural beach sanctuary where the rainforest meets the lake.
The Investment & Inclusions
A Note on Design & Tariff: Expeditions of this scale are custom-priced based on your seasonal travel window and private party requirements.
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All private circuit light-aircraft flights from Arusha; luxury accommodations at Chada Katavi and Greystoke Mahale; private 4x4 game drives and lake dhow excursions; mandatory chimpanzee tracking permits, National Park conservation fees, and 24/7 remote tracking support by Hayah Reserve.
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International flights to and from Tanzania; medical visas; personal travel insurance; discretionary gratuities for local guides/camp staff; premium imported cellar wines or vintage champagnes.
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