Description
4 Days Mahale Mountain Chimpanzee Trekking
Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. Named after the Mahale Mountains range that is within its borders, the park has several unusual characteristics. First, it is one of only two protected areas for chimpanzees in the country. Another unusual feature of the park is that, it is one of the very few parks in Africa that must be experienced by foot.
The dry season (May -October) is the best period. During this period, chimpanzees are likely to be seen in big groups, the sunshine illuminates the fish in the Lake and the beach is an inviting place to relax. However, Mahale Mountains National Park is accessible all year round. A visit in the rainy season can also be a memorable experience.
Highlights
- Arrive at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport
- Explore Mahale National Park - Trekking Safari
- Discover & Fishing on the majestic Lake Tanganyika
Tour Itinerary
Start your safari to Mahale early in the morning. Upon arrival to Mahale Mountain National Park from either Arusha or Dar es Salaam, you will be picked up and transferred to the lodge by boat, where you will enjoy your hot lunch at the lodge. After getting your lunch, start a short chimpanzee tracking in the forest. Return to the lodge for dinner and bonfire and an overnight
Early in the morning, take your breakfast at the lodge. Start chimpanzee tracking in the forest followed by a hot lunch at the lodge. Chimpanzee tracking is the star attraction of Mahale and guided treks into the forest are taken daily. The length of the tracking depends on the movements of the chimpanzees but there is no limit on time spent observing the chimps. Other primates are often encountered and the forest is also home to leopards and bush pigs.
All safaris in the forest are on foot and require a general level of fitness. After spending the morning exploring the park, return to the camp for a hot lunch and some relaxation. After getting your lunch, start a boat safari for bird-watching and game viewing. Return to the lodge for dinner and a bonfire and later for an overnight.
Go for a final morning of chimpanzee tracking before lunch. After lunch, go fishing on Lake Tanganyika. Go back for dinner and bonfire at the lodge and then overnight at NKungwe Beach Lodge.
The morning after breakfast, with picnic lunch boxes, relax at the beach while waiting for a transfer boat at 12:00 noon, ready for transfer back to the airstrip for catching your charter flight back to Dar es Salaam or Arusha city at 5:30pm.
Itinerary Map
Price Information
This price is per person, based on 2 people sharing. While this price reflects the suggested itinerary (including accommodation and excursions), this private trip is 100% tailor-made, and after you make your inquiry, a specialist can help you select the options best suited to your tastes and budget.
Departure Information
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Includes
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Taxes & Entrance fees
- Charging spots in the safari jeep
- Airport Drop-off & Pick-up.
- Professional guidance
- Conservation Fee
- Accommodation After & Before Safari
- Accommodation while on safari
- Armed Walking Safari Guide/s
- Bottled water in safari vehicles
Excludes
- Flights (International)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips for safari guide
- Personal expenses in nature such as money for souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.
- Visa fees (100 USD for American and 50 USD for non-American)
- Immunization documents (yellow fever recommended for visa processing on arrivals)
- The government imposed an increase in taxes and /or park fees
Meet Our Safari Expert
Our team of Safari specialists are waiting to help you book your next adventure. Contact us today to start planning your tailor-made trip.
To More Inquiry
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See What Our Clients, Have to Say
We have been receiving reviews from our served clients and Nyamera Treks & Safaris is rated 5/5 by customers. This honor is given to us by customers because we always remain committed to all our customers to do whatever is needed by them to make their safari fully satisfied.
Posted on Nesta OAugust 10, 2025Verified Book with Nyamera! I am a teenager, so I am writing from a young perspective. Our experience in Tanzania was awesome, from the animal experiences to the tribal ones! But, what made it most special where our guides, George, the owner and founder of Nyamera, and Hussein our wildlife expert. Anything we asked to see, they would find for us! We spent 2 hours watching a lioness hunt. In the beginning of the trip I told Hussein that one of our guides earlier in the trip found a chameleon in the dark. So, on our very last day we pull over onto the side of the road and he comes back with a chameleon on his finger. We were all in shock, as I had said this as a joke, but if you really want to see something Nyamera will try their very hardest to find that for you. If you have any desire at all to go to Tanzania, then book with Nyamera!Posted on Vanessa KJuly 25, 2025Verified Older Couple – Slow Pace, Big Comfort We are both in our early 60s and were looking for a trip that didn’t feel too rushed. Nyamera Treks and Safaris helped organize a safari that suited our pace. The guide always made sure we had time to stretch, take photos, and never felt hurried. The lodges were comfortable and had everything we needed. Seeing the animals in the Serengeti was a dream come true, and we especially enjoyed watching the sunset over the savannah. It was calm, quiet, and truly special.Posted on Rachel LJuly 24, 2025Verified Luxury Fly-in Safari Nyamera Treks arranged a luxury fly-in safari for our anniversary, and it was exceptional. We flew into Serengeti straight from Arusha—saving time and traveling in comfort. The lodges were stunning, the wildlife was everywhere, and the whole trip felt personalized. Trust them to plan something really specialPosted on VetmccJuly 23, 2025Verified Great Introduction to Tanzania Felt Welcomed from Day One This was my first trip to Tanzania and my first safari ever. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was warmly welcomed and guided throughout. The driver picked me up on time, explained what the day would look like, and made sure I had enough water and snacks. The scenery was stunning – endless open landscapes, acacia trees, and animals I’ve only seen in books. The guide didn’t just show us the animals; he told stories and gave context, which made it more meaningful. I left with a real appreciation for the country.Posted on Gregory OJuly 21, 2025Verified Personal seven day Safari and tribal experience George and the crew at Nyamera are the best! The personalized care that they gave myself in my family was unmatched. The personalized touch we were able to put on the trip, as well as their personalized touch made it an unforgettable trip. They really took the time to make sure that every little detail was taken care of. George, Hussein, and the rest of the crew have become family.Posted on Nancy SJune 11, 2025Verified Nyamera is the BEST! When I first reached out to Nyamera, I was concerned our Tanzanian trip was in jeopardy because based on conversations I had with other operators, we couldn’t afford to do all the things we wanted to experience. I was immediately put at ease by the owner’s amazing communication skills and his abilities to get everything we wanted on the itinerary within our budget. His follow up and organization was always very clear and we landed at Kiliminjaro Airport ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Our trip could not have been organized any better. Our guide was incredibly experienced and knowledgeable and showed genuine concern for our happiness.All the lodging was unique and comfortable and the meals exceeded our expectations. Our guide went out of his way to make sure we experienced all the wildlife sightings we desired. Lions in trees and posing on rocks, cheetahs with babies and carrying a fresh kill. We watched a lioness stalk a herd of wildebeest for 2 hours. We chased the migration and saw huge herds of wildebeest and zebras. Our minds were blown every day!We also had interactions with the Masai, Hadzabe and Dagota tribes which we highly recommend. And, don’t miss the forest walk at Lake Maynara, it was epic!We sang songs together in the Land Cruiser and learned about each other’s families. We arrived as clients, but we left as friends. This trip changed us. It bonded our family and it was worth EVERY penny. Do not hesitate to book with Nyamera! We will always arrange our Africa travel with them and recommend to all our friends and family as well!Posted on LiamMay 28, 2025Verified Organized and Reliable – Everything Ran Smoothly From the very beginning, everything about this trip was well arranged. I had lots of questions before booking, and I always got clear answers by email. When we arrived, someone was already waiting for us at the airport, which was reassuring after a long flight. The same care was shown throughout the safari – clean vehicle, plenty of bottled water, and a guide who clearly cared about both safety and making sure we had a good experience. I never felt lost or confused about the schedule. It all worked out better than I expected.Posted on Tim K.May 28, 2025Verified Relaxing End in Zanzibar – Just What We Needed After a week on the road, we were pretty tired. Spending the last part of our trip in Zanzibar was a perfect way to unwind. The beaches were peaceful and clean, and the water was so warm we ended up swimming every day. The trip was arranged in a way that everything flowed naturally. We had enough time to rest, but we also visited Stone Town, which gave us a taste of Zanzibar’s culture. It wasn’t rushed, and we appreciated that. We didn’t need to worry about anything – our airport pickup, ferry, and hotel were all sorted.Posted on AmeliaMay 27, 2025Verified Solo Traveler – Felt Safe and Cared For the Whole Time I was traveling alone and was a bit nervous, but from the first day I felt completely looked after. I was picked up on time at the airport and everything was explained clearly. During the safari, my guide made sure I was comfortable and included. Even though I was alone, I never felt awkward. The days were full of amazing sights — we saw elephants walking right beside our vehicle, and even spotted a rhino, which I didn’t expect. Evenings were peaceful, and I had time to read and rest. It felt like the right mix of adventure and personal space.Posted on Yusuph RamadhanMay 20, 2025Verified From Safari to Sea – A Well-Balanced Itinerary Our trip combined a few days in Serengeti with a Zanzibar beach stay, and I think the balance was perfect. The first part was full of action – early game drives, watching lions and hyenas, seeing a leopard in a tree. Then we flew to Zanzibar, where everything slowed down. Long walks on the beach, quiet dinners, and time to reflect. I liked that both parts of the trip had a completely different mood. It gave us time to experience the wild and then relax before heading back home.Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 24 reviews
Best Time to Travel
Best time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Tanzania
Chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania can be done throughout the year. But it is best enjoyed during the dry season between May to October. During this time, the terrain in the forests is accessible. the vegetation is short. The trekking trails are also less muddy and slippery. Also, chimps are closer to the lower slopes of the mountains, thus easier to find.
Accommodation Style
Travelers on chimpanzee trekking missions to either Gombe stream or Mahale mountains national parks can find high quality accommodation facilities from areas within the park or in the nearby towns. These accommodation facilities offer luxury, mid-range and budget services. The accommodation facilities to consider for chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania include Mbali, Lake Tanganyika hotel, Kigoma hill top hotel, Gombe lodge, Mahale camp and Mikumi adventure lodge just to mention a few.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Tanzania Safari holidays are good all-year-round. Because of such close proximity to the equator, Tanzania undergoes two distinct dry and wet seasons. But the best-best time depends on the type of Tanzania safari activity you choose. However, the dry season of June to October is considered to be the best time to go on the Tanzania safari.
From December to March, the Serengeti Migration congregates in large herds around Lake Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania Safari. So, the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti is usually during June and July and January to February is the perfect time to see the wildebeest calving.
Ideally, there is no fixed price range for Tanzania safari. There are several factors such as time, numbers of days, and accommodations types that influence the Tanzania safari cost. However, the average cost of Tanzania Safari per day can come down to $400 (dollars) per head for a lodge safari and around $200 (dollars) per day for camping.
Yes, Tanzania is a fairly safe country. Every year millions of tourists visit this beautiful country in the hopes of a thrilling Tanzania travel experience. And, the statistics say that maximum tourists leave the country with their heart bubbling with joy and a secret promise to visit again.
Tanzania offers a great range of lodges and tented camps. However, your Tanzania accommodations depend on the type of packages you have purchased like budget safaris, standard or luxury Tanzania safari.
The duration of an ideal Tanzania safari can take between 5 to 10 days, to ensure you hit all the top spots on your safari. The length though can depend on how long you’d like to stay and enjoy a specific place, hotel, park on your itinerary.
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