6-Day From Dar to Mahale – Chimpanzee Tracking Safari

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Kigoma

Arrival in Kigoma by flight from Dar es Salaam.
Meet and greet by your safari driver-guide.
Transfer to Lake Tanganyika Hotel for check-in and relaxation.
Dinner and overnight in Kigoma.
Evening storytelling session with your guide to introduce the journey ahead.

Main Destination:

Kigoma (Town)

Accommodation:

Lake Tanganyika Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Kigoma (Town)

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Kigoma – Road Transfer to Mahale Mountains

Breakfast and 08:00 AM departure by road (approx. 6 hours) to Bilenge, gateway to Mahale.
Cross by boat for 30 minutes across the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.
As you approach Kasiha, the forest-clad mountains rise dramatically from the lake, your first breathtaking view of Mahale.
Check-in at Tanapa bandas, set right on the lake’s edge.
Dinner and overnight at Tanapa Bandas – Kasiha.
Storytelling session on Mahale’s history, culture, and conservation.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Best Time To Visit August to October (Chimp trekking is easiest)

High Season August to October (Mahale is never crowded)

Best Weather June to October (Almost no rainfall)

Wildlife in Mahale Mountains NP

ChimpanzeeCommon

HippoOccasional

ElephantRare

GiraffeRare

LeopardRare

ZebraRare

Show more

LionVery Rare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Accommodation:

TANAPA Mahale Rest House

• Budget guest house located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpanzee Tracking in Mahale

Early breakfast before your first guided chimpanzee trek with Tanapa rangers.
Track the famous Mimikire group, one of Africa’s best-habituated chimpanzee communities.

Treks can last 1–4 hours, depending on the chimps’ movement, but the reward is unforgettable: watching them play, feed, and groom in their natural rainforest home.
Afternoon at leisure to explore waterfalls or swim in the lake.
Overnight at Tanapa Bandas – Kasiha.
Evening storytelling session after dinner.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

TANAPA Mahale Rest House

• Budget guest house located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpanzee Tracking & Evening Boat Safari

Breakfast followed by another chimpanzee trek in the forest.
Lunch at the lodge and afternoon rest by the lake.
Before sunset, enjoy a boat safari on Lake Tanganyika: watch hippos, birds, and perhaps crocodiles, as the golden light reflects off the mountains.
Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake, is also home to fishing canoes that add a cultural touch to the wilderness.
Overnight at Tanapa Bandas – Kasiha.
Storytelling session under the stars.

Main Destination:

Mahale Mountains National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

TANAPA Mahale Rest House

• Budget guest house located inside Mahale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mahale – Return to Kigoma – Evening City Tour

Breakfast, then take the boat back to Bilenge.
Begin the long road transfer back to Kigoma with lunch en route.
Arrive in Kigoma mid-afternoon.
If time allows, enjoy an evening city tour: visit Ujiji Market or the Livingstone Museum, and see the lakeshore where history and culture meet.
Overnight at Lake Tanganyika Hotel.
Final storytelling session, reflecting on the journey and memories.

Main Destination:

Kigoma (Town)

Accommodation:

Lake Tanganyika Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Kigoma (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kigoma – Flight to Dar es Salaam

Breakfast at the lodge.
Transfer to Kigoma airport for scheduled flight back to Dar es Salaam.

Main Destination:

Kigoma (Town)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.