Chimpanzee Safari

Have you ever considered embarking on a chimpanzee safari in Tanzania? If not, it’s time to gear up for an extraordinary adventure. While planning your Tanzania safari, you’ll encounter numerous hidden marvels that are often overlooked. Among them is the remarkable opportunity for chimpanzee trekking.

While chimpanzee safari Tanzania might not be as widely known as other iconic experiences like the Serengeti wildebeest migration or scaling Mt Kilimanjaro, it offers an equally unforgettable journey. To delve into this unique experience, your Tanzania expedition will lead you towards the Mahale Mountains. Along the way, you’ll likely include a visit to Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second deepest lake, offering a chance to explore its mesmerizing underwater world. Nestled on the eastern shore of this vast lake lies Gombe, and about a hundred miles further south await the spellbinding Mahale Mountains, home to several hundred wild chimpanzees.

The chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains live in a world of their own, seemingly unperturbed by human presence. They go about their daily lives, engaging in a variety of behaviors from playful antics to occasional disputes, providing an authentic glimpse into their natural habitat. Witnessing these unscripted moments makes chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania an extraordinary experience.

Chimpanzee trekking demands patience and endurance as you traverse diverse terrains in search of these elusive creatures. With the guidance of experienced trackers, you’re likely to encounter dozens of chimps, whether swinging through the treetops, foraging on mountain slopes, or relaxing by the lakeshore.

Typically, a two to three-day excursion is recommended for chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania, ensuring ample time to immerse yourself in this unique adventure. If you intend to capture these memorable moments on camera, be sure to use equipment that operates without flash, as flash photography is strictly prohibited to avoid disturbing the chimps.

Chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, share 98% of our genetic makeup. Despite being habituated to human presence over decades of research, they remain wild animals deserving of respect and caution. It’s essential to approach these encounters with reverence, minimizing any actions that could be perceived as threatening or intrusive to ensure a harmonious coexistence.

NATIONAL PARK VIEWING RULES

• Maintain a distance of at least 10m from the chimps at all times. This minimizes the risk of you transmitting bacteria and viruses to them.
• Always wear a mask (provided by your guide) over your nose and mouth when you are close (<50m) to chimps.
• DO NOT eat or drink while you are near the chimps – move at least 250m away first.
• DO NOT leave personal belongings on the ground or where they are accessible to the chimps. They are curious animals and your belongings can transmit disease. If you need help carrying bags, your guide will be happy to assist you.
• DO NOT leave any rubbish behind. It can be harmful to all kinds of wildlife and it can transmit diseases to the chimps.
• If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the chimps, please cover your nose and mouth to reduce the distribution of germs.
• Try not to go to the toilet in the forest. If it is unavoidable, move at least 250m from the chimps and ask your guide to dig a deep hole.
• It is not permitted to visit the chimps if you are sick or have infectious disease. Please be responsible and tell your camp managers if you feel unwell. They will decide whether you would be risking the chimps’ health by visiting them.
• No person under the age of 12 is permitted to visit the chimps. This is for their own safety and because young people are more likely to transmit infectious disease.
• No more than 6 visitors (plus one guide) are permitted close to the chimps at any one time. If another group is with the chimps when you arrive, please wait at a spot chosen by your guide, at least 250m away from the animals.
• Maximum viewing time is one hour. If the chimps are moving and viewing is interrupted, your time will be paused until they have been relocated, but tracking is not permitted for longer than 3hours after the initial chimp sighting, even if the one hour total has not been reached. This is to minimize disturbance to the animals and to the forest.