It’s a deeply respected tradition at Chada to escape from main camp and sleep out in the real middle of nowhere. It’s what we LOVE doing. There is no place in the world that feels like Katavi, and nothing gets you quite as close to that feeling than fly-camping.
The trick is to leave as much as possible behind: stuff, other people, current affairs. This is your chance to see Katavi like we did before we had a “proper” camp. (Some may argue this is the "proper" camp.)
There’s a million wild acres of Katavi to head into, where humans hardly ever venture. Part of our skill is keeping you safe in such a wild place, the other is picking the perfect campsite, beside open floodplains, under the shadiest trees, for the widest stretch of night-sky.
Just somewhere hidden, deep in the park; the more out there, the better. We’ll choose our site for beauty, water, shade, and space. We’ll find somewhere we can look out from, across the many miles of wilderness; somewhere to see – and not be seen; somewhere to observe life from another angle.
A string of camps in some of the wildest places on the planet. A front row seat to the best wildlife in Africa. Backstage is the engine room for opportunity.
Fly-camps are so-called after the fly sheet, from when explorers camped with no tents, just under a single tarpaulin for shade cover. They are the essence of safari, because as we strip away all but the essentials from camp, we free ourselves from other distractions, and retreat into Nature.
We’ve been fly-camping since the very beginning, and we’ve turned it into a fine art. Just enough - but not too much - camp to be safe and comfortable: mosi-net shelters and comfy bedrolls, bucket showers hung in a makeshift canvas bathroom, a few chairs and little fold-up table. Job done.
But it’s not about the kit. Fly-camps are like getting VIP passes to the wildlife, giving you total access as you walk and sleep in the open air. Chada is brimming with animal life: these days will just be you and your guides, in amongst elephants, herds of buffalo, hippopotami, lion and much more.
Always take a good pair of binoculars. And slow down. Take time to enjoy and area or the safari camps. There is sometimes nothing more special than spending the afternoon or early morning on your veranda and letting the wildlife come to you.
Quiet, wild and wonderfully different. Enjoy your festive dinners under the stars with lion calls in the distance - what a gift for the family.
Tanzania is a year round destination, especially in Northern Tanzania. So your visit often depends on family schedules or particular wildlife experiences on the bucket list. We love January to March in Ngorongoro and southern Serengeti Plains when the air is clear, nice temperatures and the migration arrives in town for calving season. This is an extraordinary time to be there.
A safari with your family is a magical way to spend quality time with your children, immersed in the wilderness and surrounded by wildlife. Time on safari with your family allows all to disconnect from your busy daily lives. Tailor your family safari with a private guide and vehicle plus make sure you look at family specific properties such as Mkombe's House. When inside the national parks, most camps have age restrictions with 8+ being a general guide.
Much depends on the age of your children, if on the young side then we'd advise not trying to cram too much in to your days but plan your safari in bitesize chunks bringing new excitement around every corner.
Yes. You can combine time under canvas with a stay in one of our lodges or private properties. Your route and travel dates will help determine which camps work well together. For example, you could spend a few nights under canvas at one of our Charlie expeditionary camps before finishing your safari at a lodge.
Firstly, you should only tip of you genuinely feel that the service you have received warrants it. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. Tipping amounts very much depends on your experience but we tend to work with a range of 10-15 US dollars per guest per day. Equally, it's not unusual for a family or group to pitch in slightly below this as a group tip.
Yes absolutely, Tanzania has superb transport links from the mainland to Zanzibar as well as neighbouring islands too. Many travellers choose to spend some time in the wild on safari before heading to the coast for some R&R.
Our lodges offer a more solid retreat, while our tented camps have canvas walls that let the sounds of the bush filter through. Both can offer comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms. The choice comes down to personal preference. If sleeping under canvas appeals, a tented camp could be for you. For a simpler experience of safari as it once was, our Charlie expeditionary camps take you into remote wilderness, away from the busier safari routes.
