In search of Chimpanzees.
Safari highlight:
- 4 nights Western Tanzania.
- 100 resident Chimpanzees.
- Perfect extension for most of our safaris.
- Luxury 4WD safari vehicles.
- Gombe Stream National Park.
- Lake Tanganyika: Swimming, fishing and snorkelling.
- No kids under 7 years.
- Remote wilderness setting.
- Shared charter flights.
- Eco-tourism and cultural excursion available.
 

Let us take you to a remote western Tanzania in search of Chimpanzees: observing these not so distant cousins is one of the natural world's greatest experience.

The most famous and in our opinion ideal location to view wild roaming Chimps is a small forest, huddled on the Eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika north of Ujiji - where journalist Henry Morton Stanely finally found the ailing Dr. David Livingstone and greeted him with the immortal words "Dr. Livingstone I presume".

Chimps are the most entracing viewing but are amongst the most strenuous primates to follow. Very different to Gorillas - Chimps are more aggressive towards each other, more vocal, more agile and considerably more mobile. A Chimp extension is the perfect compliment to any Gorilla safari.

Day 1: Kigoma. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kigoma. You will be met and transferred to Kigoma Hill Top Hotel.

After lunch spend the afternoon with a visit to Livingstone Museum and doing sight seeing tour at Kigoma Town and Ujiji village. Kigoma town is situated on the shores of the world’s longest and second deepest lake, Lake Tanganyika. Only 10 km from the famous Ujiji where journalist Henry Morton Stanley found the ailing Dr. David Livingstone and greeted him with the immortal words “Dr. Livingstone I Presume “. Dinner and overnight at Kigoma Hill Top Hotel.

Day 2: Kigoma – Gombe Stream National Park. After breakfast you will be transferred by road and boat to Gombe Stream National Park. Overnight at Gombe Forest Lodge. Note: Accommodation at Gombe Forest Lodge includes soft drinks, beverages and laundry but excludes alcoholic drinks. Dinner and overnight at Gombe Forest Lodge.

Day 3 & 4: Gombe Stream National Park. Gombe is the smallest of Tanzania's national parks: a fragile strip of chimpanzee habitat straddling the steep slopes and river valleys that hem in the sandy northern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Its chimpanzees – habituated to human visitors – were made famous by the pioneering work of Jane Goodall, who in 1960 founded a behavioral research program that now stands as the longest-running study of its kind in the world. The matriarch Fifi, the last surviving member of the original community, only three-years old when Goodall first set foot in Gombe, is still regularly seen by visitors.

Chimpanzees share about 98% of their genes with humans, and no scientific expertise is required to distinguish between the individual repertoires of pants, hoots and screams that define the celebrities, the powerbrokers, and the supporting characters. Perhaps you will see a flicker of understanding when you look into a chimp's eyes, assessing you in return - a look of apparent recognition across the narrowest of species barriers.

The most visible of Gombe’s other mammals are also primates. A troop of beachcomber olive baboons, under study since the 1960s, is exceptionally habituated, while red-tailed and red colobus monkeys - the latter regularly hunted by chimps – stick to the forest canopy.

After dusk, a dazzling night sky is complemented by the lanterns of hundreds of small wooden boats, bobbing on the lake like a sprawling city. Overnight at Gombe Forest Lodge. Note: Accommodation at Gombe Forest Lodge includes soft drinks, beverages and laundry but excludes alcoholic drinks. Dinner and overnight at Gombe Forest Lodge.

Day 5: Transfer to Kigoma then to Arusha. After breakfast you will be transferred by boat back to Kigoma. Lunch at Kigoma Hill top hotel and then transfer to airstrip for a shared charter flight by Zantas Air back to Arusha departing 1315 hours arriving Arusha 1730 hours. Upon arrival at Arusha you will be met by Mbango Safaris representative and be transferred to Arusha International Airport for your outbound flight back home.

Weather. The day time temperatures will average around 15°-25°C and can be cool at night. Tanzania enjoys a pleasant climate all year round thanks to it's altitude, except the coastal regions which can be humid.

Vehicles. We will be using modified 4WD safari vehicles.

Extra expenses. The following expenses are not included in the tour cost: drinks, tips, anything of personal use and souvenirs. Dinner on the first day is also excluded and should be budgeted for. Other optional excursions. Please ask for information while booking.

Entry requirements. Most of Europe nationalities passport holders and most other nationalities require a visa for Tanzania which can be obtained in advance from the nearest embassy. You will also need to have various vaccinations and take malaria prophylactic. Please contact us or consult the nearest embassy about your requirements as soon as possible before traveling. 

Tour price, tour reports, detailed tour plan and how to book your place. For the tour price, tour reports and a detailed tour plan and in order to book a place on this holiday, please call us now on 00 254 20 600 14 54. Alternatively, fill our online booking form or email us at: safaris@mbangosafaris.com giving us your contacts. Once we have received your request / booking we will confirm your booking and send you all the further details necessary for you to prepare for your holiday. At peak times our confirmation may take up to a day or two to reach you, normally we aim to do it within a day.

Tour participants comments: "A superb tour which fully lived up to expectations. Mammal sightings included Chimpanzees, Olive Babboons, Red-tailed and Red-colobus monkeys. Timing of the tour was perfect. The guides were really excellent." D.Mike, New Hampshire.

Chimp viewing is limited to a maximum of 6 people per group for 1 hour at a time, and all clients must wear a mask (it is advisable to bring your own mask) and must be a minimum of 10 meters away from the Chimps. Clients showing any symptoms of contagious diseases (viral or bacterial) will not be allowed in the forest.

Explore beyond.

Kenya or Tanzania Safari: Visit Kenya's and Tanzania's national parks, world renowned for its wildlife.
Kenya coast: Wrap up the Chimpanzee safari by visiting Kenya's coast, world renowned for its white sand beaches.
Rwanda: Travel to Rwanda to walk in the footsteps of Dian Fossey and meet the gentle "gorillas in the mist".
Zanzibar or Lamu:  Combining beach and bush adventure - end the wildlife safari with pampering stay on nearby Lamu or Zanzibar Island.