Direct operator since 1978
★ 4.8/5 TripAdvisor · 149 reviews
Trusted by 4,000+ travelers since 1978
Private safaris from $1,400/person
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★★★★★4.8/5•149 TripAdvisor Reviews•Family-Owned Since 1978•No Brokers
6 days · Moderate
Gombe & Mahale Chimpanzee Trek
Two chimpanzee communities, two forest parks, one extraordinary lake. Gombe Stream (Jane Goodall's site) and Mahale Mountains on Lake Tanganyika. The most intimate wildlife encounter Tanzania offers — time in the forest with our closest relatives.
Trip Highlights
“Nothing in our safari career prepared us for the chimpanzees. In Gombe we spent four hours watching an extended family — the intimacy of it, the way they looked at us, the infants playing. Mahale on top of that was the mountains rising from the lake. Two completely different experiences in one trip.”
Your journey
Day by Day
Dar es Salaam to Kigoma
Fly from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma (approximately 2 hours, via Dar es Salaam connection). Kigoma sits on the shores of Lake Tanganyika — the second deepest lake in the world and one of the most ecologically rich bodies of water in Africa. Transfer by boat to your lakeside camp near Gombe Stream National Park. The lake approach to Gombe is spectacular: steep forested hills rising from turquoise water, baboons on the shoreline, fish eagles calling.
Gombe Stream — First Chimpanzee Tracking
Gombe Stream National Park is 52 km squared of forest along the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is the site where Jane Goodall began her landmark research in 1960 — and where the habituated Kombokazi community of chimpanzees has been studied continuously for over 60 years. Your morning starts with a forest guide who knows the chimp communities intimately. Tracking takes 2-4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees spent the night.
Gombe Stream — Full Day With the Chimps
A full day following the chimpanzee community. The habituated groups allow close observation — you will hear pant-hooting before you see them, and then the forest comes alive with movement. The Kombokazi group has approximately 90 individuals. Watch mothers with infants, adolescent males play-wrestling, and dominant males holding the group together. Between chimp sessions, explore the forest trails for colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and over 200 bird species.
Transfer to Mahale Mountains National Park
Boat transfer south along Lake Tanganyika to Mahale Mountains National Park (approximately 3-4 hours along the lake shore). Mahale is 1,600 km squared of mountainous forest rising directly from the lake — no roads, no vehicles, no other tourists in the park. The park is home to the Mbunda chimpanzee community, also habituated, with approximately 60 individuals. Arriving by boat to Mahale's sandy coves and forested peaks is one of the most dramatic arrivals in African wildlife tourism.
Mahale — Chimpanzee Trekking and Lake Tanganyika
Morning chimpanzee trek in the Mahale Mountains — the forest here is steeper and more dramatic than Gombe, with hills rising to 2,000 metres. The Mbunda chimpanzees are spectacularly habituated and the setting is arguably more beautiful than anywhere else in Africa for a forest trek. Afternoon at leisure on the lake shore — kayaking, swimming, or a dhow cruise. Lake Tanganyika's clear water is remarkable after the dusty savanna parks.
Mahale to Dar es Salaam
Final morning in Mahale — a last forest walk or boat excursion before the boat transfer to the nearest airstrip. Fly from Mahale to Dar es Salaam (via Kigoma or direct charter). Connections to international flights. Alternatively, extend to Zanzibar for beach time — the contrast from forest to ocean makes for a complete Tanzania experience.
Ready to Secure Your Spot?
Peak season safaris fill 6–8 weeks ahead. Send your dates and we'll confirm availability within 2 hours.
Chat With Kassim NowTransparent pricing
Seasonal Rates
Green Season
Nov – May
Fewer crowds, lush landscapes, lower prices. Occasional rain.
Shoulder Season
Jan – Mar, Nov
Great value. Good weather. Moderate visitor numbers.
Peak Season
Jun – Oct
Dry season. Best wildlife viewing. Great Migration months.
Accommodation Tiers
Choose Your Safari Style
Budget
Camping & basic camps
- Camping or budget bandas
- Shared facilities
- All meals included
- Park fees included
Standard
Quality tented camps
- Quality tented camps
- Private en-suite facilities
- All meals included
- Park fees included
- Experienced guide
Luxury
Premium lodges & camps
- Luxury lodges or fly camps
- En-suite, hot water
- Gourmet meals
- Park fees & private concessions
- Private vehicle available
Every safari is tailor-made. Get a custom quote based on your dates, group size, and accommodation preferences.
Request a Custom QuotePark Fees — All Included in Your Price
All fees above are included in the Gombe & Mahale Chimpanzee Trek price. No additional payments at park gates.
Everything covered
What Is Included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking guide
- All national park entry fees
- Full-board accommodation as per itinerary
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Airport transfers both ways
- Unlimited bottled water in vehicle
- Flying Doctors emergency air cover
- Ngorongoro Crater service fee (if applicable)
Budget for these
Not Included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa ($50 on arrival)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips and gratuities ($15-25/day guideline)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Alcoholic beverages
- Optional activities (balloon safari $560)
Accommodation Notes
Simple but comfortable tented camps on the lake shore at Kigoma and in the forest at Mahale. Both locations are remote — this is part of the appeal. Accommodation is clean, meals are good, and the setting is extraordinary. Upgrade options are limited due to the remote nature of both parks.
Questions about this safari
Frequently Asked Questions
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+255 749 087 101 · 7 days a week from Arusha · Direct operator — no brokers
See our Chimpanzee Trek Tanzania guide for a standalone overview of chimpanzee tracking across Tanzania.