How The Adventure Unfolds 

Day 1 – Arrival – Ruaha National Park – Overnight Ikuka Safari Camp,

Our adventure will begin in Dar Es Salaam. Fiona & Raj will meet you here, where we will connect with our morning shared charter flight to Msembe Airstrip, Ruaha.

On arrival in Ruaha we will be met by staff from Ikuka Safari Camp and transferred to the lodge, our base for the first 4 nights. This is approximately a 45 minute transfer through the reserve and immediately offering game viewing opportunities.

Once we’ve settled in & had a chance to relax and freshen up at the Lodge, this afternoon we will head out for our first game drive and a chance to explore Ruaha. A sundowner will round off the drive before heading back to the lodge for dinner and drinks at the bar before bed.

Day 2 – 4 – Ruaha National Park – Overnight Ikuka Safari Camp,.

Your days will start with a wake up call and tea/coffee or hot chocolate in your room. We set off on our game drive as the sun rises to make the best use of the early morning light for photography & enjoy the cooler morning. Taking a packed breakfast we will stop in the bush for a picnic, before continuing our drive and eventually heading back to the Lodge in time for lunch.

There will then be time for a siesta, a swim or a chance to download & edit images, Fiona & Raj will be on hand if you need help or to provide photographic or editing tutorials.

In the afternoon we head out as the day cools to enjoy the golden light of the late afternoon & see what magic encounters await us. Sundowners out in the reserve and then back to the lodge for our dinner & reminiscing on the day over drinks. 

Day 5 – Katavi National Park – Overnight Chada Camp,

This is our last morning in Ruaha, depending on our flight time we will either have a short morning drive or a relaxed morning at the lodge. We will then pack up our bags, say our goodbyes to our new friends at the camp & head to the airstrip to catch our charter flight west to Katavi National Park.

On arrival at Katavi Airstrip we will be met by our guides from Chada Camp and transferred to the Lodge. This is about a 20 minute drive depending on if we see anything exciting.

We will have lunch, get settled and keep an eye out for animals around the camp before we head out on our game drive to explore in the late afternoon. As has become customary we will find a beautiful spot to stop for sundowners, a chance to savour the beauty of the day before we head back to camp for dinner and bed.

Day 6 – 8 – Katavi National Park – Overnight Chada Camp,

We continue a similar routine as that established in Ruaha, rising early and enjoying drives out in the early morning to explore the park.

Returning to camp for lunch and a chance to relax, write up bird lists & journals or edit pictures. With Fiona & Raj on hand to discuss ideas and techniques or any questions about the wildlife we have seen.

Heading out again as the heat cools in the late afternoon to once more see what delights will surprise us. Before sundowners and dinner under the stars, and falling asleep to the sounds of the african savannah.

Day 9 – Mahale National Park – Overnight Zoe’s / Greystoke Camp,

After enjoying our last morning safari in Katavi, we will pack up, say goodbye to our guides & friends at the camp and head back to the airstrip where we will meet our shared charter flight to Mahale.

On arrival at Mahale airstrip we will be met by staff from the lodge and board our boat to reach the lodge. A 90 minute trip on the up Lake Tanganyika, past delightful fishing villages, and white sandy coves lined with palm trees, until we arrive at our camp. This will be nothing short of feeling like you have reached an almost deserted paradise island.

Arriving in time for lunch we will have the afternoon to relax and get settled, either exploring the forest, the lake, or both.

We will gather for sundowners and dinner & sit under the vast skies studded with stars on the shores of the lake feeling like we are a million miles from civilization & lost in heaven.

Day 10 – 11 – Mahale National Park – Overnight Zoe’s /Greystoke Camp,

During our full days here on the lake we will have two adventure-filled mornings searching the forested slopes of the Mahale Mountain National Park, in search of the elusive chimpanzees.

Whilst sightings are never guaranteed, our chances of viewing this charismatic animals is increased with daily walking treks & the time of year. The treks will be led by knowledgeable and experienced guides and there will be a max of 6 of us in a group. After tracking them, for an hour or two (maybe more), only aware of the sounds they are making ahead of us, we find them; suddenly they are everywhere. We sit quietly on the forest floor and take a deep breath, this is what it’s all about. We will have an hour to witness the chimpanzees’ playful antics and how they interact with one another before we head back to the lodge. 

In the afternoon if you are tempted a gentle hike in the forest up to one of the many waterfalls. Or we will savour lazy afternoons out on the waters, glide into the deep and take a dhow boat out and dive into the crystal clear waters of the world’s longest and largest fresh water lake. Head south with a cool box and sundowners on board. If you moor near the shoreline you can often see hippos swimming underwater close to the boat.

At the end of each day we gather round the fire on the sandy shore for dinner under the stars, before heading to bed.

Day 12 – Adventure Ends – Depart from Dar Es Salaam

Our last morning in paradise, if you’re feeling energetic you can take a kayak out for a dawn paddle and enjoy the sunrise coming up over the mountains with a coffee in hand. Or simply just relax.

After enjoying our last breakfast on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, we will pack up, say goodbye to our new friends at the camp, climb back aboard the boat and set sail back to the airstrip where we will meet our flight back to Dar Es Salaam. This is quite a long flight and will take most of the day.

Our adventure ends in Dar Es Salaam as we all bid farewell and head home on our respective flights, hearts overflowing with memories to last us a lifetime.

Ruaha National Park

Whilst Ruaha is Tanzania’s largest National Park, its inaccessible location has meant it has remained one of the least explored. Arriving in Ruaha you would be forgiven for feeling like you’ve stepped back in time and discovered a world far removed from modern civilisation and the stress and strains of our busy western lifestyle. It is a real favourite amongst safari professionals, where some of the very best guides have migrated, and ultimately choose to live and work. Visitors are attracted by the dramatic landscapes and abundance of wildlife, coupled with very low visitor numbers.

In early 2008 the park was extended to its much larger current size of 20,226 sq km, making it the largest National Park in Tanzania (the second largest park in Africa). It forms the core of a much larger ecosystem of 150,000 sq km, named the western corridor.

Ruaha is known not only for its rugged, magnificent landscapes, dotted with the iconic silhouettes of vast african baobabs, its remoteness and wild immensity but also its spectacular concentrations of game. It forms an intersection where the Eastern and Southern African Eco-regions converge, resulting in a plethora of rare and diverse species, in all some 1,650 plant species can be found here, alongside an impressive bird count of approximately 526 species, making it a bird watchers paradise. It is one of just a few places where both greater and lesser kudu can be seen, as well as rare antelopes such as sable and roan, grant’s gazelle, eland, oribi, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, impala and vast herds of buffalo to name but a few. Ruaha is also an important habitat for elephants and today it still boasts a healthy population numbering over 10,000.

It supports an incredible and globally important predator population. Containing the second largest lion population left in the world, supporting almost 10% of Africa’s remaining lions. It is also a hotspot for Africa’s most elegant felines with a population of over 200 cheetah. In addition there is an abundance of leopards, both striped and spotted hyena and a good chance to see endangered African wild dogs.

Katavi National Park

If possible this park is even more wild and remote then Ruaha with few camps and very few visitors.  Katavi is one of the few places left in Africa today where you genuinely feel that you could have slipped back a thousand years. Filling the floor of the Rukwa Valley – a minor fault of the western rift – Katavi National Park spans over a million acres.

Home to the huge herds of buffalo and vast lion prides that dual daily. Katavi National Park is a relatively untouched wilderness paradise, situated in the western area of Tanzania. The park boasts a wonderful array of habitats, which range from flood plains of thick reeds and dense waterways that teem with hippo and crocodile, to woodlands, open grasslands, forests and pristine seasonal lakes.

Game viewing in Katavi is prolific, as the reserve is inhabited by a multitude of antelope species, zebra, giraffe and predators such as lion, leopards and hyena, elephant and over 400 different bird species, including an abundance of waterfowl. It is the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.

During the dry season, water rapidly becomes a limited resource in Katavi so animals of all kinds are drawn to the Katuma, Kavu and Kapapa Rivers. Hippo in their thousands cram the remaining pools, crocodiles retire to caves in the mud walls of the river banks – a phenomenon seen nowhere else in the world, buffalo and elephant are drawn to the rivers to drink. The lion, hyenas and other predators know this. In the late dry season, there are few places that offer such a raw and wild experience as Katavi.

Mahale National Park

Set among the spectacular, forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains, the Mahale National Park was originally created to protect the thousands of chimpanzees that inhabit the region. It is renowned for its fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, which makes it an essential stop for keen photographers and safari enthusiasts. The park’s breathtaking array of habitats include rainforest, grasslands, alpine bamboo and woodlands; where some 50 species of animals have been recorded, predominant among these being representatives from various monkey, including red colobus and ape families, and over 90 unique species of fish swim in the clear waters of the lake.

The National Park is famous for the chimpanzees that can be visited in the mountains; clients are allowed to spend 1 hour a day with the chimps.  Depending on the season the chimps feed at different altitudes on the mountains, so at certain times of year the days can be quite long to reach the chimps.. People come here to visit the chimpanzees, but by all means this is not the only activity you can do, the beautiful lake is great for exploring by Kayak, or following streams up into the hills to hidden waterfalls. As well as the chimps, the forest is home to many other animals, including bushbucks, bushpigs and an incredible array of birds and butterflies. It’s also inhabited by nine species of primate so its well worth taking a walk with a guide through the network of jungle tracks. The lake is incredible for swimming as well as snorkelling. As safari holidays go, this is about as off the beaten track and special as they come.

Ikuka Safari Camp, Ruaha

We’ve chosen the exquisitely beautiful owner-run Ikuka as our first home on this adventure. It is the epitome of sophisticated safari luxury, somewhere Fiona and Raj love very much. Perfectly positioned on the Mwagusi escarpment overlooking the park’s most productive game viewing areas, it offers peace and tranquility in a wild and secluded location, with views to die for.

Each of the spacious open tents under thatch look out over the vast plains and have been cleverly incorporated onto the escarpment. The interiors comprise of white quartz from the escarpment itself along with other locally and sustainable sourced materials. The rooms have 24 hour electricity, so you are able to easily charge batteries. Large super-king beds, that are made into a luxury sleeping chamber at night, spacious en suite bathrooms with hot running water and a lounge complete with comfortable leather seating, leading out onto your own large private balcony. The main lodge has an incredible infinity pool, a lovely lounge and bar as well as a sky room to relax in.

Chada, Katavi

Offering breathtaking panoramic views and nestled under the mottled shade of a canopy of acacia and tamarind trees, on the edge of a peninsula overlooking the scenic Chada floodplain is the beautiful Chada Katavi. A secluded, classic safari-styled camp, remotely situated to offer its guests unrivalled game viewing in pristine wilderness.

Six beautifully furnished open fronted safari tents boast fine wooden furniture and comfy beds. A lovely bush bathroom is set behind the tent with eco-flush loos and traditional safari style bucket showers. Water is a valuable resource here, especially during the dryer months, and we share it with a great many other animals – we take this very seriously here and “bucket showers” help us to conserve and reduce the amount used.

In a clearing you’ll find the dining tent and a library, both are comfortable little spaces to while away the hours when you’re not out in the midst of a safari adventure.  An evening drink around the campfire is the essence of safari, helping to round off a day of excitement out in the wild.

Zoe’s Camp/Greystoke, Mahale

About as far from the beaten track as it is possible to get, only accessible by air and then a 90 minute dhow trip up the lake brings you to a slice of paradise and the perfect end to our adventure through the undiscovered gems of Tanzania’s southern circuit.

Situated on the remote eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika and not far south from where Stanley met Livingstone and uttered the understatement of the century and those famous words: “Dr Livingstone, I presume”.

The main lodge, casually named ‘The Mess’, is loosely modelled on traditional Tongwe architecture – a huge thatched canopy framed in the middle of the beach with a backdrop of lush rain forest. It consists of a bar, dining area, library and small raised platforms that have been converted into cosy sitting areas and boast superb views of the Lake. Most meals are taken in the main building or outside on the beach.  There is also a charming sunset bar on the edge of the beach constructed of an old fishing boat.

With its charismatic ‘Robinson Crusoe’ atmosphere, Greystoke Mahale radiates an undeniable air of adventure.  Six A-frame open-fronted wood and thatch bandas set on the edge of the forest line at the base of the mountains. Each one has an en-suite bathroom – accessible by a short boardwalk – with hot and cold running water, strong showers and flush toilets. Dressing room and upstairs chill-out deck.

Greystoke affects us in a way that no other place does; we think it’s because of it’s remoteness, and because of the mountains rising from the beach at our backs, the wide lake with its many different moods and the feeling that we are the only ones here.

What’s included –

• All internal shared charter connecting flights: Dar Es Salaam to Msembe airstrip, Ruaha. Msembe airstrip, Ruaha to Katavi airstrip. Katavi airstrip to Mahale airstrip. Mahale airstrip to Dar Es Salaam.
• Return Transfers to and from airstrips to all the lodges.
• 11 nights Full Board accommodation, including all meals and drinks (excludes champagne & premium brands), complimentary laundry service and all safari activities at all lodges.
• En-suite twin or double rooms, at each camp.
• Twice daily game drives everyday in Ruaha and Katavi.
• Private vehicles for exclusive use by the group, open sided safari vehicles with no view restrictions, everyone guaranteed a seat on the side of the vehicle to ensure clear views for photography.
• Two chimpanzee treks in Mahale National Park.
• Forest walks, boat trips and snorkeling at Mahale (if you can’t bare to relax on the beach)
• All of the National Park fees and conservation levies in Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale.
• Two Professional photographers who are seasoned experts in Africa as trip leaders (see Host profiles) with a maximum of 6 guests, you can be assured you will receive individual attention and assistance, during all activities & in the downtime.

Price – USD $14,393.00 (£11,010.00*) per person 

Excludes – International flights, travel insurance, discretionary gratuities, gifts/souvenirs.

* Exact GBP is dependent on the GBP/USD exchange rate at time of booking.

Maximum 6 Guests.

A 30% deposit will be required to confirm your booking & allow us to lock in and secure all the accommodation for the group. Balance is payable 90 days prior to your departure. All payments are made through a registered travel agency.

How to Join Us

Our groups are always kept deliberately small, so if this incredible safari is of interest to you, then now is the time to register, as we’d very much love to have you join us.

To register your interest, receive a detailed PDF brochure or ask us questions about the trip please get in touch with Fiona and Raj. We can be reached by phone +44(0) 7786 067271 or via email info@travelandphotography.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you and helping to make your safari dream a reality.

Raj Hunjan:

Raj is an award winning automotive photographer who works around the world supplying images to both magazines, organisations and individuals who commission his work. He is a passionate petrolhead with a background in the motoring press where he has experience as a writer, photographer and editor. Whilst his main focus is often on automotive photography where he regularly works trackside with race teams and supercar owners, his true passion is wildlife and he is just as at home on location spending hours in a hide photographing wildlife with Fiona. He has travelled and photographed wildlife throughout East and Southern Africa over the past decade and like Fiona has worked with various conservation charities including the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, supporting them in Uganda with their work with the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. His website can be viewed here.

Fiona MacKay:

Fiona has a deep and abiding love of the natural world and has spent many years traveling the world photographing wildlife and wild places. Her images captivate and inspire people to connect directly with the wild as it truly exists. For 5 years she managed a Safari Lodge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. During this time her passion and knowledge of the intricacies and rhythms of the african bush became deeply embedded in her soul. She has spent the last decade pursuing her love of wildlife photography, travel and writing. Over the years she has become an award winning wildlife photographer, who’s work has been exhibited internationally. She has been a shortlisted finalist in the British Wildlife Photography Awards, ZSL Animal Photography Prize and Nature’s Best Wineland Smith Rice Awards. Her images have been featured alongside her writing for Africa Geographic and Travel Africa Magazines. She has worked with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Conservation Foundation and supplies images for magazines and charities to raise funds and awareness for conservation. Her website can be viewed here.

Our Ethos:

Fiona’s photography is instinctive and creative which couples perfectly with Raj’s knowledgable technique driven approach.

We understand and celebrate that everyone’s eyes work differently and that people ‘compose’ the world through their eyes in very different ways. Seeing our groups different interpretations at the end of each day is one of the best parts of our job. We will offer our experience to help you translate the image you see to the image you achieve.

Be prepared as our enthusiasm for Africa, her animals and people can be quite infectious. We want you to leave us ignited by our passion for Africa, for nature and more importantly for life, inspired by what you have seen and done and with memories and friends to last a lifetime.

What Past Guests Say 

“Fiona & Raj are the most wonderful hosts, their passion for Africa is evident & infectious. We want to have them with us every time we travel! They have keen eyes, generous hearts and are caring and patient. Fiona has the most amazing tales from some incredible trips, that left us jealous and inspired in equal measure. We left knowing we have made friends for life, can’t wait to see you both again.” 

We Believe in Responsible Tourism

For many years Fiona lived and worked in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, which we still have close ties to now. She witnessed first hand and was often involved with working to tackle the challenges faced by the people tasked to protect the wildlife and the important habitats they depend upon. As a result we are closely involved with and continue to actively support conservation initiatives throughout Africa.

We derive a lot of pleasure from spending time with these animals and in these environments so we believe that as photographers and tourists we have a responsibility to do all we can to help and support the continuing conservation of these animals and places and inspire others to do the same.

With this in mind we will be making a donation on behalf of the group to a conservation charity operating in the regions in Tanzania we visit, who are actively involved with mitigating human wildlife conflicts and also supporting anti-poaching initiatives in the area.

We highly recommend ensuring you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

We will be staying in a Malaria area, so please seek professional medical advice to ensure you have taken the necessary precautions prior to travel.

Please be aware of the reduced luggage allowance on the small aircraft transfers. It is advisable to use soft holdall style bags, this reduces weight and makes them easier to transport.

Tipping advice – If you have enjoyed excellent service, you are more than welcome to reward staff with a tip, it is not compulsory. We suggest US$5 per person per night for camp staff and the same for guides as a good guideline but any gratuity will be greatly appreciated by the staff.

A comprehensive packing list will be provided on confirmation of your booking.