6 Days Gombe and Mahale Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Experience : Highlights of this Chimpanzee safari include hiking through the lush woodlands of Mahale National Park and tracking the local chimpanzee population. Although viewing chimpanzees is the clear highlight of this excursion, Lake Tanganyika is a one-of-a-kind destination where you can snorkel and fish alongside the natives.
6 DAYS MAHALE AND GOMBE ITINERARY:
DAY 1: FLY TO KIGOMA AND TRANSFER TO GOMBE
The flight from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma departs at 09:30 a.m. and arrives at Kibirizi port for your boat to Gombe (2 hours by private boat). Pick-up upon arrival and transfer to the camp; afternoon relaxation on the beach.
The major attraction at Gombe Stream is undoubtedly the chimpanzee families who live within the park’s boundaries. Visitors take long hikes through the forest to view and sit with the remarkable primates for the entire morning. Aside from chimpanzee watching, the tropical woodlands of Gombe Stream are home to a diverse range of primates. The dense forest is home to Val Verde and colobus monkeys, baboons, forest pigs, and dik dik, as well as a diverse population of tropical birds.
- Accommodation: Kasekela Luxury Tented Camp.
DAY 2: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING
On 8:30, begin chimpanzee tracking in the jungle. Gombe became well-known for the conservation effort initiated by Jane Goodall, who first arrived in Gombe in 1960. Aside from chimp viewing, several other species of primates reside in the Gombe Stream’s tropical forests, such as velvet, Colobus monkeys, and baboons. Climb Jane’s Peak and, if time permits, visit the Kakombe Falls.
- Accommodation: Kasekela Luxury Tented Camp.
Chimpanzee
DAY 3: TRANSFER TO MAHALE
After breakfast, move by boat to Kibirizi port (2 hours), then by vehicle to Lukoma settlement, followed by a 45-minute boat ride to Mahale National Park. Relax in the afternoon and overnight. The Park, like its northern neighbor Gombe, is home to some of Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees, a population of approximately 900, which have been habituated to human visits by a Japanese research effort established in the 1960s. Tracking Mahale’s chimps is a fantastic experience. Mahale is located in Western Tanzania, to the south of Kigoma town, and borders Lake Tanganyika, the world’s longest, second deepest, and least polluted freshwater lake, which is home to an estimated 1,000 fish species.
- Accommodation: Mahale Bandas.
DAY 4: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING
You will spend a full day tracking chimpanzee in Mahale. Chimpanzees typically travel in quest of food and nest where there is a plentiful food source, such as their favorite fruit. Snorkeling is an alternative to cooling off in the water and exploring what is beneath the surface.
DAY 5: TRANSFER BACK TO KIGOMA
After breakfast, transport by boat to Lukoma village, then by car to Kigoma town. Check in at Kigoma Hilltop Lodge. Later, transfer to Ujiji Town, visit Dr. Livingstone Memorial Center, and return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 6: FLY BACK TO DAR ES SALAAM
After breakfast, our representative will drive you to the airport for your return trip to Dar es Salaam. When you arrive in Dar es Salaam, our representative personnel will transfer you to a hotel for supper and overnight, or you can connect with your flight home.
TOUR INCLUDE
- All accommodations and meals as per itinerary
- Pickup from the airport or hotel in Kigoma
- Professional Safari Guide
- All ground transportation is in customized safari vehicles with a pop-up roof.
- Park entrance fees
- Vehicle fees
- Meals as per itinerary
- 5 liters of drinking mineral water per person per day
- Government Taxes
PRICE EXCLUDES
- Tip for the Guide
- Flights costs/fares
- Travel insurance
- Accommodation and meals after and before the safari
- Extra personal items
- Soda and alcoholic beverages
- Extra activities
- Personal expenses (drinks, internet, visa, etc.)
