Boat safaris

Mahale Mountains National Park

Being right on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, boats are used to great effect in Mahale. Here there is a 41 ft hardwood dhow that collects you from the airstrip and also takes you for tranquil sails on the lake in the evenings. There's one place here where a small group of hippos are resident and can be seen in the crystal clear water, walking on the lakebed, as you sail over the top of them - a very rare insight into the private submarine life of hippos.

You can be lucky enough to see the chimps from the boat as we've done a few times, but it's really more of an opportunity to chill out after a hard walk up the mountains. It's well worth putting on a mask and snorkel and having a closer look at Lake Tanganyika's extraordinary cyclid fish.

Best place to stay Greystoke Camp
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Selous Game Reserve

The Selous Game Reserve is probably the best place in Tanzania to see game by boat. Drifting down the Rufiji River from Stigler's gorge with the engine of your boat turned off can get you very close to game drinking at the waters edge. It also gives you an entirely different perspective on hippos and crocodiles.

You don't always see huge numbers of mammal species in this way, but there's plenty to see and you stand a good chance of catching some unusual sightings, like elephants crossing the river, snorkeling with just the tips of their trunks visible in the deepest places. Bird life is always stunning, including lots of close ups of some very large species like fish eagles and goliath herons.

The river also makes a first class place for fly camping; sleeping out under the stars on an island in mid stream - 3 course dinner beneath the night sky. It's pretty special and not something you're likely to forget in a hurry. You can even throw a line in the water and see if you can catch some of the Rufiji's numerous tiger fish, which are one of the most sporting freshwater fish around.

Best place to stay Sand Rivers or Selous Safari Camp
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