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Tanzania Chimpanzee Trekking Tours
Chimp trekking is a great addition to any safari in Tanzania. Although chimpanzees are our closest relatives, chimp trekking isn’t publicized to the same extent as gorilla trekking. In essence, the experience is quite similar though. Chimps are highly intelligent social creatures, and observing them at close quarters is endlessly fascinating, especially since a lot of their behavior is so recognizable to us. Chimps have very strong personalities and being able to read their facial expressions makes any encounter very emotional. When tracking chimpanzees, the guide will often stop and listen for their calls. Hearing their distinctive pant-hooting close by is a spine-tingling experience you’ll never forget.
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Luxury Western Tanzania Chimp Trekking and Safari
$8,370 to $11,184 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Katavi NP, Mahale Mountains NP, Arusha (End)
Wayfairer Travel
5.0/5 – 130 Reviews
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4-Day Mahale Mountains Budget Chimpanzee Trekking Safari
$1,870 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetBanda
You Visit: Kigoma (Start), Mahale Mountains NP, Kigoma (End)
Selous Ngalawa Camp
4.6/5 – 58 Reviews
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Best Seller
4-Day Explore Chimpanzee in Gombe National Park
$1,050 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Kigoma (Start), Gombe NP, Kigoma (End)
Obag African Safaris
4.8/5 – 27 Reviews
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4-Day Trekking Home of Chimpanzee
$1,750 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Gombe NP, Kigoma (Town), Arusha (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![19-Day Best Gombe-Katavi-Tanganyika-Ruaha-Beach & Nature]()
19-Day Best Gombe-Katavi-Tanganyika-Ruaha-Beach & Nature
$6,302 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Dar es Salaam (Start), Kigoma (Town), Gombe NP, Katavi NP, Lake Tanganyika, Mbeya (City), Kitulo NP, Ruaha NP, Mikumi NP, Dar es Salaam Airport (End)
Gogiraffe Safaris
5.0/5 – 5 Reviews
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![13-Day Best of Uganda with Primates & Tanzania Safari]()
13-Day Best of Uganda with Primates & Tanzania Safari
$7,590 pp (USD)
Rwanda, Tanzania & Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kampala (City), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Lake Mutanda, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Kigali, Arusha (City), Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro Airport, Moshi (End)
Yaneta Safaris
4.9/5 – 28 Reviews
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![12-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees]()
12-Day Wildlife, Gorillas and Chimpanzees
$4,920 pp (USD)
Tanzania & Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Entebbe (City), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe (End)
Mega Wild Safaris
4.8/5 – 44 Reviews
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Best Seller
![3-Day Dar Es Salaam to Kigoma Transfer to Gombe Stream]()
3-Day Dar Es Salaam to Kigoma Transfer to Gombe Stream
$880 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Gombe NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Selous Ngalawa Camp
4.6/5 – 58 Reviews
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![7-Day Fly-in Serengeti Migration & Chimpanzee Trekking]()
7-Day Fly-in Serengeti Migration & Chimpanzee Trekking
$3,500 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented Camp & HotelYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Central Serengeti, Northern Serengeti, Serengeti NP, Gombe NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Tour & Uganda Primate Safari]()
12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Tour & Uganda Primate Safari
$4,955 to $7,955 pp (USD)
Tanzania & Uganda: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Entebbe (City), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe (End)
Yaneta Safaris
4.9/5 – 28 Reviews
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![7-Day Gombe & Mahale Chimpanzee Trekking]()
7-Day Gombe & Mahale Chimpanzee Trekking
$3,659 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Gombe NP, Mahale Mountains NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![4-Day The Hidden Treasures Mahale National Park]()
4-Day The Hidden Treasures Mahale National Park
$1,448 pp (USD)
Rwanda, Tanzania & Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Banda
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Mahale Mountains NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![11-Day Serengeti, Kilimanjaro Hike & Chimpanzee Trek]()
11-Day Serengeti, Kilimanjaro Hike & Chimpanzee Trek
$3,907 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt Kilimanjaro, Mahale Mountains NP, Kigoma (Town), Dar Es Salaam (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![9-Day Kilimanjaro Climbing & Chimp Trekking]()
9-Day Kilimanjaro Climbing & Chimp Trekking
$3,380 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Marangu Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro), Gombe NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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![3-Day Rubondo Island NP & Lake Victoria Excursion]()
3-Day Rubondo Island NP & Lake Victoria Excursion
$1,420 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetBanda
You Visit: Mwanza (Start), Lake Victoria, Mwanza (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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Tour Operators Offering Custom Tours
Didn't find the tour you were looking for? Get a free quote for a custom tour from the tour operators below. They can arrange private tours to any destination in Tanzania.
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6 Questions About Tanzania Chimp Trekking Tours
Answered by
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Tanzania. She first visited Tanzania 25 years ago. She has been privileged to track chimps in Tanzania many times.
6 Questions About Tanzania Chimp Trekking Tours
Ariadne van Zandbergen
How does chimp trekking in Tanzania compare to other countries?
“Tanzania arguably offers the best chimp trekking in Africa. Two parks in Tanzania offer this incredible experience: Gombe and Mahale Mountains National Parks. Both parks have an idyllic location on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in the Rift Valley. Mornings are spent tracking chimps and afternoons are best for relaxing on the lake shore, sailing or fishing. While you couldn’t invent a better set-up, getting here is time-consuming or very expensive. For these reasons alone, chimp trekking in Tanzania is very exclusive, mostly enjoyed on high-end luxury tours. Chimp trekking in Uganda is overall more accessible and affordable, and therefore more popular. As there are several places in Uganda offering chimp trekking, this experience is easily slotted into any Uganda tour. Chimp trekking in Kibale National Park is very reliable, but visitor numbers can get high. In Rwanda, you can go chimp tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is a very worthwhile destination as it is home to 13 primate species with lovely forest trails and a canopy walk, but chimp sightings are less predictable than in Uganda and Tanzania. You can also track chimps in Virunga Mountains National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is usually visited as an add-on from Rwanda.”
1Can I add a chimp trek in Tanzania to a safari?
“Most visitors to Tanzania won’t come to the country for chimp trekking alone, so it makes total sense to add a chimp trek to a classic safari. Chimp trekking in Mahale Mountains is often combined with a stay in Katavi, a remote national park offering superb wildlife viewing with huge numbers of lion, buffalo and elephant, and rivers packed with hippos. This Western safari circuit combo is mostly done as a fly-in safari, and regular flights between the two parks make it an attractive option. While this is a winning combination, there is nothing stopping you from adding your chimp trek to a safari in the Serengeti either, especially if you’re aiming to see the wildebeest migration. Chimp trekking in Gombe is just as good, but getting here is even more tricky, especially as an add-on to a safari. A charter flight is your best bet, but it is also possible to take a motor boat from Kigoma.”
2What fitness is required for chimp trekking in Tanzania?
“You need to be reasonably fit to go chimp trekking in Tanzania. The terrain in both chimp trekking parks (Gombe and Mahale Mountains) is very hilly, so expect to do some climbing. However, every trek is different and the chimps might be far away or very close by. If you’re lucky, they might even walk through camp. When you find the chimps, you get to spend an hour with them. No two sightings are the same. They might be feeding up in the trees or they might be on the ground, resting and grooming each other. Occasionally they are on the move, and following these fast creatures is always strenuous. Whether you’re fit or not, you should always come prepared. Wear good hiking boots, long trousers and a rainproof jacket. You’ll be offered a wooden walking stick, which can be very useful on slippery slopes. Also consider hiring a porter to help you carry your daypack. Not only will that make the experience more enjoyable for you, but it also creates much-needed job opportunities for local people.”
3Is chimp trekking in Tanzania safe?
“Chimp trekking in Tanzania can be considered very safe. You’ll visit a habituated chimp community and incidents are extremely rare. The chimps are used to humans and they know we are no threat to them. As long as you maintain a safe distance from the chimps (as instructed by your guide), you have nothing to worry about. You’ll also get a safety briefing before your trek. In our opinion, Tanzania as a country is a very safe destination. Crime in any of the parks or reserves is very rare. As is the case all over the world, there is some crime in the cities, but as long as you book with a reputable operator, you’ll be shielded from any potential problems. ”
› More about Tanzania Safety & Security 4What do Tanzania chimp trekking packages cost?
“The chimp trekking fee in Mahale Mountains and Gombe consists of a park entrance fee of US$100 per person per day and US$20 per person for the guided walk. This doesn’t include your accommodation or other costs. When booking an organized tour, the park fees are included in the overall price. Due to the remote location of the parks, most people stay at least a couple of days. A 4-day budget package to Gombe costs about US$1,100 per person and to Mahale about US$2,600. Most people will include a stay at Mahale or Gombe in a larger tour. An 8-day luxury fly-in tour combining Mahale with the Serengeti or Katavi starts at around US$7,000 per person.”
5Are chimp sightings guaranteed on a Tanzania chimp trek?
“Chimp sightings in Gombe and Mahale Mountains are almost guaranteed. They can’t ever be completely guaranteed though. The chimps are wild and they live in huge territories. These nimble primates move big distances in search for food, and at the end of the day they make a nest for the night. So their whereabouts are always unpredictable. The trackers work hard to find them daily for the guests. They leave early in the morning, and by the time you leave for your trek, your guide might already have been notified of the chimps’ location. If the chimps are on the move, it can be more challenging as their location keeps changing and in that case it might be up to your fitness level and ability whether you can catch up with them. However, most packages to Mahale and Gombe include chimp treks on several days, which hugely increase your chances of excellent chimp watching.”
6Tanzania Reviews
Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.
Much More than a Migration Destination
For me, Tanzania is a country of two halves. Both hemispheres have been richly endowed with natural beauty and plentiful wildlife, but there are some big differences when it comes to the type of safari experience you’re looking for. The...
Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.
The perfect safari destination
With almost a quarter of this vast country dedicated to wildlife reserves and national parks, Tanzania is justifiably regarded as Africa’s premier safari destination. It’s one of my favourite countries, not just for the bush, beaches...
IS
Fantastic experience and unforgettable!
Went with Colours of Africa on a special private trip which started in Arusha. From there we went to the Serengeti and camped there for one night and saw two of the big one. It was a bit airy to know that the eyes we saw in the night at...
HU
First Safari in my life was very good
We were in Tarangire, Ngorongoro crater and Lake Manyara. We enjoyed all. Our tour guider and the driver were really skilfull, friendly and helpful. They did a professional work for us! The foods were very good, healthy and taste, and in...
LT
Green scenery, colorful wildlife. Great experience to remember!
We have visited two different spots for safari (Ngorongoro and Tarangire) and we loved them both. The Ngorongoro crater was very different experience than any other safari. The wildlife, atmosphere and calmness is magic. We have used...
IN
Big Five High Five
First off all excellent experience with safaribookings site for entire tour booking. I traveled SOLO from Mumbai to Arusha. Before reaching Aursha I spent few hours in Dar Es Salam to visit city. I took airport registered taxi to visit...