TANZANIA CHIMPANZEE TREKKING: UNFORGETTABLE CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN TANZANIA
Discover all the details you need to know about the unforgettable chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania worth enjoying during African safaris. Unlike the traditional wildlife and game viewing activities done in Tanzania during wildlife safaris, great migration tours in Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, etc., where tourists see the Big Five, Tanzania chimpanzee trekking offers sightings of the closest living relative of humans, sharing 98% DNA—the eastern chimpanzees.
Tanzania is home to over 1000-2000 eastern chimpanzees in the world, especially in the western regions, seen during chimpanzee trekking.
The chimpanzee trekking experience to see the eastern chimpanzees is done in major locations like Mahale Mountains, Gombe Stream, and Rubondo Island National Parks in Tanzania.
The activity involves trekking through dense forests for about 2-5 hours to search for a habituated chimpanzee group and, upon finding it, spending time of about 1 hr looking at these apes play, forage, and feed at a distance of about 7-8 meters.
Chimpanzee trekking is best done in the dry season, when the weather conditions are most favorable.
We help all our clients interested in chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania to book and plan the best chimpanzee safaris to any of the locations where these apes are found.
Essential Insights About Tanzania Chimpanzee Trekking
- Tanzania chimpanzee trekking is a major tourist activity done in the country to get up close and personal with the eastern chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
- The major locations where chimpanzee trekking is done in Tanzania include Mahale Mountains NP, Gombe Stream NP, and Rubondo Island NP.
- Chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania involves treks of about 2-5 hrs in the dense forests to search for the habituated chimpanzee group, and upon locating it, spend one hour observing its individuals forage, play, and feed.
- Additional information to consider when planning chimpanzee trekking tours in Tanzania, e.g., best time to visit, access, packing list, etc.
Sample Tanzania Tours & Vacations (Popular Tanzania Itineraries & Packages)
Popular Combined Tanzania Tours
Here are some of the details you need to know about chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania.
Chimpanzee Trekking Experience | What Is Chimpanzee Trekking?
The chimpanzee trekking experience in Tanzania is a safari activity done by tourists that involves tracking huge chimps in the specific chimpanzee habitats i.e. Mahale Mountains NP, Gombe Stream NP, and Rubondo Island NP.
The chimpanzee trek is often done by physically fit individuals since it requires trekking through dense forests for about 2-5 hrs to find the habituated chimpanzee groups.
The activity normally starts around 8:00 am with a briefing on the rules and regulations to abide by while tracking chimps at the park offices.
Once the briefing is done, groups of about 6-8 people led by an armed ranger and guides are led through the dense forests along designated trails in search of these apes.
The rangers often locate these chimps by following key clues like chimp dung, previous night nests, and leftover food, until they are found.
Tourists on the chimp trek can then see the giant chimps swinging on trees, feeding, foraging, nurturing, and grooming in their natural habitat in the one hour permitted by the chimpanzee permit.
It is worth noting that besides the giant chimps, tourists can also see other wildlife species like the monkeys, antelope species, bush pigs, warthogs, birds, baboons, etc.
Chimpanzees In Tanzania -The Key Attraction
The chimps are the star highlights of the chimp-trekking safari activity in Tanzania seen by adventurous travelers.
These chimps call Tanzania home and are about 2000-3000 individuals found mainly in the western parts of the country.
These eastern chimpanzees are known to share at least 98% of DNA with humans with similar features such as facial expressions, which makes them susceptible to illnesses, hence evoking the need to keep them safe.
It is worth noting that beyond these chimps, most visitors or lucky travellers can see other fauna species, including primates like baboons, birds, elephants, giraffes, unique flora (fig trees and silk trees), etc., in the Mahale Mountains, Rubondo Island and Gombe Stream NP in East Africa.
Key Locations in Tanzania Where Chimpanzee Trekking Is Held
There are mainly 3 Tanzania national parks in East Africa where you can partake in chimpanzee trekking and see the eastern chimpanzees. These include.
Mahale Mountains National Park (In the Far West Close to Lake Tanganyika)
Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the locations where chimpanzee tracking is done in Tanzania, Africa.
Tanzania’s Mahale Mountains National Park is situated along Lake Tanganyika eastern shores, and it has one of the largest populations of chimpanzees (800-1,000) in Tanzania under the Mimikire ‘M’ habituated group (50-70 individuals) and other troops, which was studied by the Japanese researchers for decades. READ MORE!
Gombe Stream National Park
Gombe Stream National Park is another of the best locations where chimpanzee trekking is done in Tanzania by travellers on Africa tours.
Gombe Streams NP, one of Africa’s smallest national parks, is popularly known for being the park where renowned conservationist Jane Goodall began her pioneering research in 1960, and it has about 100 chimpanzees. READ MORE!
Rubondo Island National Park
Rubondo Island National Park is one of the locations where chimpanzee tracking is done in Tanzania East Africa.
The Tanzania National Park Rubondo is situated on Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria, home to some of the original chimpanzees that were reintroduced from European zoos in the 1960s. READ MORE!
Journey to any of these locations to have the best Tanzania chimp trekking tour!
Other Countries With Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris and Destinations
| UGANDA | RWANDA | DR CONGO |
|---|---|---|
| Kibale National Park | Chimpanzee encounters in Rwanda at Nyungwe National Park | Virunga National Park |
| Queen Elizabeth National Park | Rwanda Wildlife Safaris | Lwiro Chimpanzee Sanctuary (offers chimp walks) |
| Budongo Forest | Rwanda Gorilla Families |
Tanzania Chimpanzee Trekking Rules and Regulations
For you to be allowed to track chimpanzees or partake in a chimp trek in Tanzania, you are encouraged to follow the following guidelines.
- You must be 15 years of age or above
- Spend only one hour with the habituated chimpanzee group
- The chimp tracking group is limited to 6-8 people only per troop
- No flash photography allowed
- Follow the ‘No littering’ policy
- No smoking, eating, or drinking near the chimpanzees
- Do not track chimpanzees when ill with human illnesses like colds, flu, etc.
- Maintain a 7-10 meters distance from the wild chimpanzees
- Keep voices low when tracking chimps
Best Time to Go Chimpanzee Tracking in Tanzania
Tanzania chimp trekking is a year-round activity, but the most optimal time to visit Tanzania and enjoy this safari activity is during the dry seasons from June to August or early October and December to February.
This drier period has suitable conditions for tracking chimpanzees, including clear blue skies, drier trails, chimps climb down to lower slopes to find food, and good sunny weather, which all make it easier to spot them.
Why Choose a Tanzania Chimp Trek
Most tourists visiting Tanzania for safaris often choose to track chimpanzees in this country because of the following reasons
1) Untamed Habitats: The locations in Tanzania where chimpanzees are found are untamed, hence giving off an off-the-beaten-path feel to travelers seeking to track in the pristine wilderness.
2) Fewer Crowds: The chimpanzee habitats in Tanzania receive very small numbers of visitors, which is the perfect experience for tourists looking for exclusivity.
3) Unique Biodiversity: The chimpanzee habitats in Tanzania have unique wildlife species and ecosystems that can be seen during the chimp trek, which makes the trip more fun, such as elephants, among others.
4) Adventurous Logistics: Getting to the chimpanzee habitats in Tanzania is quite adventurous, as you have to use boats and flights to get to the parks.
Tanzania Chimpanzee Trekking Costs
Tourists on a chimp trek in Tanzania often spend about USD 100- 300 per day per person, depending on the chimpanzee permit cost, which differs per location, season, entrance fees, accommodation (Greystoke Mahale), travel style, and other factors.
World-Class Tanzania Accommodation Options to Stay on a Chimp Trek (e.g., Greystoke Mahale)
To enjoy the best of the Tanzania chimp treks, tourists have several accommodations to stay at in various forms like eco-lodges, hotels, camps, etc., in different tiers, i.e., budget, midrange, and luxury.
Some of the good lodging facilities include Rubondo Island Camp (Rubondo Island Camp), Greystoke Mahale Camp (Mahale Mountains NP), and Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (Gombe Streams NP). Etc.
Access to Tanzania, Africa, from Dar es Salaam
Getting to Tanzania for a chimp trek is quite easy. You will board a flight from your homeland to Kilimanjaro or Julius Nyerere International Airport or other Airports in the country, and on arrival, use a domestic flight, 4×4 road, or boat transfers to your desired destination.
- Gombe Stream NP is 1-2 hrs away using boat transfers from Kigoma to the L. Tanganyika shores.
- Mahale Mountains National Park is 4-6 hrs away using boat transfers from Kigoma, or via scheduled flights.
- Rubondo Island NP is 1-1.5 hours away using boat transfers from Lake Victoria jetties after a road transfer from Kasenda or Nkome.
Packing List for A Tanzania Chimp Trekking Safari Excursion
We strongly recommend carrying essential items and appropriate clothing for a chimp trek in Tanzania, and some of these include a chimp trekking permit, sturdy hiking boots, a rain jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen, and a good camera with no flash, among others. READ MORE!
Best Tanzania Tour Agencies Offering the Best Chimpanzee Safaris
If you are ready to start planning your Tanzania chimp trekking excursion, it is quite important that you use reputable Tanzania tour companies like those below.
- Prime Safaris and Tours Ltd
- Tanzania Safaris and Tours
- Wild Gorilla Safaris
- Africa Safaris Tours
- Kenya safari Tours
Other Activities to Combine with Tanzania Chimp Tracking
For an immersive experience in Tanzania during your African safari, you can pair chimp trekking in Mahale Mountains NP, Gombe Stream NP, and Rubondo Island NP with activities to combine like
- Game drives
- Guided nature walks in the forest
- Fishing
- Boat rides on Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria
- Birdwatching
- Kayaking
- Snorkeling and diving
- Cultural tours and community walks
Liaise with us, and we will combine any of these activities with your chimp trek in Tanzania!
Other Destinations to Visit Alongside Tanzania Chimp Trekking Destinations (e.g., Ngorongoro Crater)
Visit any of these Tanzanian destinations together with Mahale Mountains NP, Gombe Streams or Rubondo Island for ultimate fun.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Tanzania FAQS
1. Was Jane Goodall Ever Attacked by Chimps?
Yes, Jane Goodall was sometimes attacked by the wild chimpanzees, though not frequently; for example, in 1989 when Frodo attacked.
2. Has A Human Ever Mated with A Primate?
There is no scientific evidence to prove that a human has ever mated with a primate.
3. Which Animal Is 99% Human?
The chimpanzees and bonobos are some of the animals said to share at least close to 98.7% to 99.6% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest relatives.
4. Is Chimpanzee Trekking Worth It?
Yes, chimp trekking is considered worth it because it offers a more affordable option compared to gorilla trekking and a life-changing experience or rare opportunity for tourists seeking to see some of our closest living relatives.
5. Where Can I See Chimpanzees in Tanzania?
Chimpanzees in Tanzania can only be seen in western Tanzania near Lake Tanganyika in parks Mahale Mountains National Park, Gombe Streams NP, and on the Lake Victoria-based park, Rubondo Island NP.
It is, however, worth noting that chimpanzees can be seen in other East African countries too, in parks like Nyungwe Forest National Park (Rwanda), Kibale National Park (Uganda), and Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda) among other idyllic locations.
A combined Rwanda and Tanzania safari can bring Rwanda’s primate encounters and Tanzania’s traditional wildlife destinations into one itinerary.
Inquire from us today, and we will plan the best Tanzania chimpanzee safari for you to see the huge chimps!