This 7-day Chimpanzee Trekking Tour takes you to two of Tanzania’s best primate destinations — Gombe National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park. Both parks are located in the western part of Tanzania along the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Gombe & Mahale 7-Day Chimpanzee Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arusha / Dar es Salaam to Gombe National Park
- Day 2–3: Chimpanzee trekking, hiking, and waterfalls
- Day 4: Transfer to Mahale Mountains National Park
- Day 5–6: Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park
- Day 7: End of chimpanzee trekking tour
Detailed Gombe & Mahale 7-Day Chimpanzee Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha / Dar es Salaam to Gombe National Park
Take a scheduled domestic flight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam to Kigoma. On arrival, your driver will meet you and transfer you to Kibirizi Port, where you will take a boat ride across Lake Tanganyika to Gombe National Park. The journey takes about two hours.
When you arrive, enjoy lunch at your lodge or banda, then head into the forest for an afternoon trek through the valleys and hills in search of chimpanzees.
Day 2–3: Chimpanzee Trekking, Hiking, and Waterfalls
Spend the next two days trekking in Gombe Stream National Park. You will track the Mimikere community, a habituated group of chimpanzees, and you may also see other wildlife such as colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, hippos, and a variety of birds.
During your stay, visit the park’s waterfalls and hike to Jane’s Peak for wide views of the forest and lake. After your trek, relax by the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.
Later, take a boat back to Kigoma and check into your hotel for the night.
Day 4: Transfer to Mahale Mountains National Park
After breakfast, continue your journey south from Kigoma to Mahale Mountains National Park, another beautiful home of chimpanzees in western Tanzania.
Day 5–6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park
Put on your hiking shoes and set out into the forest to track chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park. Watching these great apes in their natural habitat is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in Africa.
Enjoy the forest walks as you observe the chimpanzees moving, playing, and feeding. On rare occasions, you may also see elephants, buffalos, zebras, or hippos.
On day six, you will return to Kigoma town for an overnight stay.
Day 7: End of Chimpanzee Trekking Tour
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kigoma Airfield for your flight back to Arusha or Dar es Salaam. From there, you can continue to your next destination or take your flight home.
