Chimp Trekking in Tanzania

Day 1 - Arrive Arusha / Mahale National Park
On arrival in Arusha take a shared charter flight to Mahale. Famous for containing some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees in Africa, the Mahale Mountains National Park was covers an area of 1,613 square kilometres and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Japanese primate researchers began exploring along the shore of Lake Tanganyika, south of Kigoma as early as 1961. The terrain is mostly rugged and hilly, and is dominated by the Mahale Mountain chain that runs from the north-west to the south-east across the park. Your home is one of six exotic open-fronted wooden banda in the tiny sanctuary of Greystoke Mahale on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Relax on your own upstairs chill-out deck, spending lazy hours looking out over the lake across the wide soft sands.

Days 2 and 3 - Chimpanzee Trekking
The highlight of any stay at Mahale is chimpanzee tracking and the privilege of sharing a few moments with these apes. The treks can take anything from an hour to two and sometimes more. Once you have found the chimps you spend the next hour watching in amazement the daily lives of the chimpanzee. You will become aware of the subtleties of different relationships through gesture, sound and expression. One is dictating the pace, another courting favour, yet another perhaps plotting a coup. There is humour too as the young chimps fall about the floor and play remarkably human games. All to soon your hour is up and you need to make you way back to camp to enjoy the facilities in and around the lodge. An early evening sundowner at the bar or on the dhow is the ideal moment to share your encounters, before a beach dinner under the stars.

Day 4 - Mahale National Park
Today you can enjoy the facilities in and around the lodge. Start with the sunrise over the spectacular mountains with your morning coffee. Activities include anything from forest hikes to butterfly spotting, enjoying a swim in an ice-cold pool in the mountains or kayaking out on the lake.

Day 5 - Depart Arusha
Today fly from Mahale Airstrip to Arusha Airport.

Pricing
At A&K all of our journeys are individually tailored to suit your needs and timescale. However, as a guide, this 5 day Chimp Trekking itinerary will cost from £3,995 per person. Includes 4 Nights at Greystoke Mahale, 2 Chimp treks and return transfers from Arusha. Excludes international flights.