In the air
Serengeti Hot-Air Balloon Safari
Drift over the Serengeti at first light as the plains wake beneath you, then land for a champagne breakfast in the bush.
Primates
Chimpanzee Trekking in Mahale & Gombe
Forested mountains drop straight into a clear, deep lake, and somewhere on the slopes above you a chimpanzee community is calling, drumming and moving through the trees.
SeasonPossible year-round; the dry season, roughly July–October, is often best, when chimps may range lower on the slopes and trails are drier.
DurationHalf a day or more per trek, including about an hour with the chimpanzees
WhereMahale Mountains National Park · Gombe Stream National Park
Best forPrimate lovers and seasoned safari-goers · Fit, adventurous travelers · Extending a Serengeti or southern safari · Anyone inspired by Jane Goodall’s work
Far from the northern circuit, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, two parks offer some of Africa’s most intimate encounters with wild chimpanzees. Gombe, Tanzania’s smallest national park, is where Jane Goodall began her research in 1960. Mahale, larger and far more remote, has hosted long-term chimpanzee research since the 1960s and is reached by light aircraft and boat, with only a few places to stay.
Treks are genuine hikes. Trails climb steep, humid slopes, and reaching the chimps can take anything from under an hour to several hours. Once you find them, time is usually limited to about an hour, at a set distance and often with masks, to protect them from human illness. Unlike gorilla families, chimpanzees split into shifting parties and travel fast, so sightings are very likely in the better months but never certain.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Mahale & Gombe
How It Works
We plan the route, flying in by light aircraft for Mahale or via Kigoma for Gombe.
Trackers set out early to locate the chimps and keep in touch with your guide.
You hike forest trails with your guide until the chimps are found.
You spend about an hour with them, keeping to the park’s distance and mask rules.
Afternoons are usually free for the lake: a boat trip along the shore or simply the view from camp.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Mahale & Gombe
Where You Can Do It
- Mahale Mountains National Park
- Remote forested mountains rising from the lake, reached by light aircraft and then boat — a place for several nights.
- Gombe Stream National Park
- Small and steep, reached by boat from Kigoma, and home to one of the longest-running wild chimpanzee studies.
Good to know
- Minimum ages are set by the park authorities and are often around 15; check current rules before booking.
- Anyone with a cold, flu or other infectious illness may be asked not to trek, as chimps catch human diseases.
- Wear long trousers and sturdy boots, and consider gloves for grabbing vines; trekking poles help on steep sections.
- Flights to Mahale run on limited days, so the trek shapes the rest of your itinerary — plan it early.
- Flash photography is not permitted; a fast lens helps in low forest light.
Parks
Parks
Mahale Mountains National Park
Wild chimpanzees, forest-clad mountains and white-sand beaches on Lake Tanganyika, reached only by plane and boat.
Explore
Gombe Stream National Park
The small, steep lakeside forest where Jane Goodall began studying wild chimpanzees in 1960, reached by boat from Kigoma.
ExploreGood to know
Frequently asked questions
Mahale or Gombe — which is better?
Mahale is wilder and more remote, with a larger park and a longer stay usually recommended. Gombe is smaller, easier to reach via Kigoma and steeped in the history of Jane Goodall’s research.
How long do you spend with the chimpanzees?
Usually about an hour once they are found, a limit set to reduce stress and disease risk. The trek to reach them can take far longer, depending on where the community is that day.
How fit do I need to be?
Reasonably fit. Trails are steep, humid and sometimes slippery, and you may hike for several hours; guides adjust the pace, but it is a genuine forest trek.
How is chimpanzee trekking different from gorilla trekking?
Gorillas move in cohesive family groups and are relatively easy to follow once located. Chimpanzees are faster, louder and split into shifting parties, which makes each encounter more dynamic and less predictable.
Experiences
Related experiences
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