Marc Baker Safaris

• 1: Home
• 2: Safaris
  • 2.1: Northern Tanzania
  • 2.2: Southern Tanzania
  • 2.3: Western Tanzania
  • 2.4: Expeditions
  • 2.5: Bird watching
• 3: Under Canvas
  • 3.1: Permanent camps
  • 3.2: Mobile Camps
  • 3.3: Walking Safaris
  • 3.4: Classic Safaris
• 4: Safari Planning
  • 4.1: What to bring
• 5: Ethical Operations
• 6: Contact Marc
• 7: Environmental Consultant
  • 7.1: Publications
  • 7.2: Baker 2008
  • 7.3: Baker 2007
  • 7.4: Baker 2005-1
  • 7.5: Baker 2005-2
  • 7.6: Baker 2004
  • 7.7: Baker 2002-1
  • 7.8: Baker 2002-2
  • 7.9: Baker 2001-1
  • 7.10: Baker 2001-2
  • 7.11: Baker 2000

Western Tanzania

Hippopotamus and Chimpanzees

‘Out west’, as we often call it, is really defined by two areas, Katavi and Mahale National Parks. Whilst totally different in aspect, habitat and geology, they complement each other in many ways. Katavi National Park is flat Miombo woodland (Miombo derives from the Kiyamwesi word muyombo and is used to describe the commonest tree Brachystigia boehmii) with river systems which dry up to form pools in the dry season (June to September). The area is great for walking safaris and large mammals such as Lion and Elephant, with some of those Miombo specialities such as Roan and Sable.

Mahale National Park is situated on Lake Tanganyika, a forested mountain (the Makari range) which holds one of the last habituated populations of Chimpanzee in the world. The lake is fresh water, clear and excellent for fishing and snorkelling. The forest is steep and a day spent tracking ‘chimps’ is a rewarding experience. It is really difficult to describe sitting with Chimps but this is how it always feels to me; As humans, when watching wildlife, we are the ones doing watching and studying and yet with chimps you often get the feeling it’s the other way around.