For most people, going to Africa is the very definition of "off the beaten track". What then are we talking about? Are we out of our minds?

Of course, Masai Mara and Ngorongoro, deserve their reputations. There is a good reason why 300,000 people visit Serengeti each year. But as you imagine, such fame comes at a cost. At the peak of the tourist season, you may be contending with 80 other vehicles, surrounding a single cheetah. At those moments, the whole experience may seem like a bit of a zoo.

Compare this to a visit to Katavi National Park in Western Tanzania. In a whole year, the park may get a thousand visitors due to its remoteness - that's fewer people per year than per week in Ngorongoro. North of Katavi, you will find Mahale Mountains National Park. Forget about jeep traffic here - there are no roads in Mahale. You can only get here by boat (and sailing on a public Ferry, mvLiemba is an experience of its own) or plane. This park sees about 600 chimpanzee trekkers per year.

Of course, it's a trade-off. You can't find rhinos or cheetahs in Katavi, and typically, you need more time and more money to access the remote parks like these. But hiking in the mountains in Uganda and suddenly coming face-to-face with gorillas is worth it.

While Mahale and Serengeti may be two extremes, there are several parks in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda that see a fraction of the tourists of the more famous parks, but support comparable diversity and density of animals. These parks don't necessarily cost more or take much longer to get to.

Also, think about a five-day Masai-led walk through Ngorongoro Conservation area, with an optional hike up an active volcano or just relaxing by a lake of flamingos. Or, spend 3-4 days, hiking from village to village in the Usambara mountains with a local guide.

The possibilities are endless, so just let us know what your interests are!

(Here is a BootsnAll article about Mahale and Katavi from a group that visited the region through us.)