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Safari plan · 6 days · Western chimps · Midrange

Mahale Chimpanzees

The Mahale Mountains rise straight out of Lake Tanganyika, forest from the beach to the ridges, and chimpanzees live on their slopes — no roads reach it, so you fly west from Arusha and go the last stretch by boat.

ArushaMahale MountainsArusha
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Length6 days · 5 nights
ParkMahale Mountains
Starts & endsArusha / Kilimanjaro Airport
ComfortCamp on the lake shore
Best monthsJuly–October
OverviewThe routeDay by dayRatesWhere you sleepIncludedAdd-onsWhen to goFlights & extrasFAQEnquire
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IOverview

Forest mountains on a lake shore, and three days with the chimpanzees.

Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, in the far west of Tanzania. There are no roads into it: you arrive by light aircraft and boat. The forest on its slopes is home to chimpanzees that researchers have studied for decades, and the groups visitors see are used to people. Three days of trekking gives you three chances, because some days they are close and some days they are far up the mountain.

It is a fly-in plan, and the flight west is long, with stops, and runs on set days rather than every day — which is what fixes the shape of the week. At Mahale you trek with the park’s own guides and trackers. It does not include savannah game viewing; for that, see ‘Make it yours’.

Major attractions · 3
  1. 01Mahale Mountains National Park
  2. 02Chimpanzee trekking
  3. 03Lake Tanganyika
Trip detailsPrivate, fly-in
Tour length
6 days · 5 nights
Country
Tanzania
Start / end
Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha
Accommodation
Midrange where available
Tour type
Fly-in chimpanzee trekking
Group size
Maximum per trekking group
Meal plan
Full board at Mahale
Best period
Jul–Oct
Activity level
Demanding — steep forest trails, heat and humidity
Request a free quote →Questions? WhatsApp +255 762 914 714
IIThe route

A long flight west, a boat along the shore, and the same way back.

6 days, 5 nights, 2 places to sleep. The solid line is this plan; the dotted lines are the other roads through the region. Point at a day to see its leg.

Route map: Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha, by light aircraft west to the Mahale Mountains on Lake Tanganyika, and back Kilimanjaro NP Kibo Ngorongoro CA Tarangire NP Arusha NP Mahale NP Gombe NP L. Manyara L. Eyasi Lake Tanganyika N Arusha Mahale Kilimanjaro Airport
  1. 01Kilimanjaro Airport → Arusha~1 h road
  2. 02Arusha → MahaleThe long day~4 h flight
  3. 03The Mahale forest~3 h game
  4. 04The Mahale forest~3 h game
  5. 05The Mahale forest~3 h game
  6. 06Mahale → Arusha → Kilimanjaro AirportThe long day~4 h flight · ~1 h road
Overnight stopPassing throughSchematic, roughly to scale
IIIDay by day

Six days, one at a time.

Each day lands on top of the last as you scroll: honest road time, game time, meals and where you sleep. Times are door to door in a safari vehicle and move with the season and what you stop for.

A garden lodge on the edge of Arusha at dusk, Mount Meru behind — 1600×1200
ArushaADD IMAGE · A garden lodge on the edge of Arusha at dusk, Mount Meru behind
01/ 06

About an hour by road. Nothing else asked of you.

03°22′S 36°41′EDay 1 · Kilimanjaro Airport → Arusha

Arrive in Arusha

Travel
~1 h road
Game viewing
No game drive
Meals
Dinner
Sleep
Garden lodge
  1. On landing

    Met at arrivals and driven to Arusha, about an hour on tarmac.

  2. Evening

    Dinner and the briefing: the flight, the bag limit, and the rules of the forest. Repack into a soft bag tonight.

Arriving late?

That is what this night is for. The flight west is in the morning, so do not plan to land on the same day.

A wooden boat on the clear water of Lake Tanganyika below the forested Mahale Mountains — 1600×1200
MahaleADD IMAGE · A wooden boat on the clear water of Lake Tanganyika below the forested Mahale Mountains
The long day02/ 06

Most of the day in a light aircraft, with stops, then a boat along the shore.

06°07′S 29°44′EDay 2 · Arusha → Mahale

West to Lake Tanganyika

Travel
~4 h flight
Game viewing
No game drive
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Camp on the lake shore
  1. Morning

    A light aircraft from Arusha’s small airport, heading west across the country. It calls at other strips on the way, so allow the best part of the day; the figure above is a rough guide, stops included.

  2. Afternoon

    Land at the Mahale airstrip and go on by boat along the lake shore, with the mountains rising straight up from the water.

  3. Evening

    Settle in at camp on the beach. The briefing for tomorrow’s trek comes with dinner.

Why the long day

There is no road to Mahale. The flight and the boat are the only way in, and the flight runs on set days.

Chimpanzees grooming on the forest floor, Mahale Mountains National Park — 1600×1200
MahaleADD IMAGE · Chimpanzees grooming on the forest floor, Mahale Mountains National Park
03/ 06

Into the forest with a park guide; the chimpanzees decide how far.

06°07′S 29°44′EDay 3 · The Mahale forest

The first trek

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~3 h
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Same camp, second night
  1. Morning

    Out with a park guide once the trackers have radioed where the chimpanzees are. The walk can be short, or several hours on steep forest slopes.

  2. With the chimpanzees

    Time with them is limited on each visit, usually to about an hour. Masks are worn to protect them from human illness, and you keep your distance.

  3. Afternoon

    Back to camp, a swim from the beach where the camp says it is safe, and the lake at sunset.

Before you go

A minimum age applies to chimpanzee treks (Minimum age), and you should not trek with a cold or any infection — chimpanzees catch our illnesses.

A young chimpanzee climbing a vine in the Mahale forest — 1600×1200
MahaleADD IMAGE · A young chimpanzee climbing a vine in the Mahale forest
04/ 06

Another trek, often a different group or a different part of the forest.

06°07′S 29°44′EDay 4 · The Mahale forest

The second trek

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~3 h
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Same camp, third night
  1. Morning

    A second trek. With a first day behind you, you know the pace and what to watch for.

  2. Afternoon

    Time on the lake: a boat trip along the shore, or rest at camp.

Sunset over Lake Tanganyika from a beach below the Mahale Mountains — 1600×1200
MahaleADD IMAGE · Sunset over Lake Tanganyika from a beach below the Mahale Mountains
05/ 06

A third chance with the chimpanzees, or a day on the water.

06°07′S 29°44′EDay 5 · The Mahale forest

The third trek, or the lake

Travel
No transfer
Game viewing
~3 h
Meals
B · L · D
Sleep
Same camp, fourth night
  1. Morning

    A third trek, if you want it. If the first two days went well, some people spend this one on the lake instead.

  2. Afternoon

    A walk along the shore, a boat on the lake, or nothing at all.

Why three days

Some days the chimpanzees are far up the mountain and the trek is long, or you do not reach them at all. Three days is what makes a good encounter likely rather than lucky.

A light aircraft on the grass airstrip at Mahale, the lake behind — 1600×1200
ArushaADD IMAGE · A light aircraft on the grass airstrip at Mahale, the lake behind
The long day06/ 06

Boat to the airstrip, the long flight east, and on to Kilimanjaro Airport.

03°26′S 37°05′EDay 6 · Mahale → Arusha → Kilimanjaro Airport

Back to Arusha

Travel
~4 h flight + ~1 h road
Game viewing
No game drive
Meals
B · packed L
Sleep
Homeward
  1. Morning

    The boat back along the shore to the airstrip.

  2. Midday

    The light aircraft east, again with stops.

  3. Evening

    From Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport, about an hour, to connect with the evening departures — only where the flight schedule allows it. Ask us before you book your flight home.

Not flying home today?

A night in Arusha, or a flight on to Zanzibar, takes the pressure off this day.

IVRates

Priced by group size, because the vehicle is shared.

Park fees, accommodation, vehicle, guide and meals as listed — per person, no booking fees. Rates move with the month and lodge availability; your quote is fixed once you book.

Midrange · price per person, sharing
Group size1 person2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people
From yearraterateraterateraterate
Single supplementamount
Children

Child policy: ages, sharing discount, lodge minimum ages

What moves the price

What changes itHow much

  • The flights

    The light-aircraft flight west is the biggest single cost, and it is priced per person, so it does not fall as the group grows.

  • Where you sleep

    Mahale has very few places to stay, and they are costly because everything comes in by air and boat.

  • The month you travel

    The dry months are the busiest. Some camps close in the long rains.

  • A private charter

    Flying when you want rather than on set days adds considerably to the cost.

  • Park fees

    Fixed per person per day by the authorities, and the same whoever you book with. We show them as their own line.

Not sure which level suits you? Tell us your dates, group and budget and we will send an itemised quote with named properties.

Request a free quote →
On request
On request
VWhere you sleep

Two places in five nights, four of them on the lake.

Each night is described by type first, because the right camp depends on your month. The properties we normally use at each level are listed below; your quote confirms them against availability.

Night 11×

Arusha

Garden lodge or small hotel

One night to land, repack and be briefed before the flight west.

Midrange here means
En-suite room, hot water, mains power, Wi-Fi.
Step up
A coffee-estate lodge on the slopes of Meru.
Nights 2–54×

Mahale

Camp on the lake shore

Four nights, because the flights run on set days and because three treks are what make it worthwhile.

Midrange here means
The choice at Mahale is small, and most of it is at the upper end. We will tell you honestly what is open for your dates.
Step up
A tented camp on the beach, with its own guides and boat.

The properties we use

WhereMidrangeLuxury
Arushapropertyproperty
Mahale, on the lake shorepropertyproperty

What ‘midrange’ means on this trip

  • Few options. Mahale has only a handful of places to stay; the price reflects the remoteness more than the comfort.
  • Power. Solar, often limited. Bring a power bank and spare batteries.
  • Kit. Good walking shoes, long trousers, a light rain jacket, and a small daypack for the trek.
  • Food. Full board at Mahale. Supplies come in by air and boat, so tell us about diets early.
VIThe fine print

What is in the price, and what isn’t.

✓Included

  • Scheduled light-aircraft flightsArusha to Mahale and back, seats on shared flights
  • Boat transfers at MahaleBetween the airstrip and camp
  • Chimpanzee trekkingWith the park’s guides and trackers, as described above
  • All park and conservation feesItemised on your quote
  • Five nights’ accommodationAs described above
  • Meals as listed each dayFull board at Mahale
  • Airport transfersKilimanjaro Airport and Arusha

–Not included

  • International flights
  • Tanzanian visaApply online before you travel
  • Travel insuranceRequired. It must cover medical evacuation
  • Tips for guide and camp staffWe send guidance with your booking
  • Drinks at lodges and campsUnless the property includes them
  • Excess baggageLight aircraft take soft bags only, with a weight limit
  • A private charterPossible, at extra cost, if the scheduled days do not suit you
VIIAdd-ons & changes

The plan is a starting point, not a package.

The changes people ask for most, each with what it costs you in days or hours. Not in the standard price — arranged on request, and most can be combined.

Extra costprice

Charter instead of scheduled

A private light aircraft flies when you want, not on set days, and can shorten the journey.

Makes senseWhen the scheduled days do not fit
Private flying →
+1 nightprice

A fifth night at Mahale

One more chance with the chimpanzees, or a full day on the lake.

Makes senseIf the chimpanzees are the whole reason
Mahale →
+6 nightsprice

The northern circuit first

A week of savannah game viewing from Arusha before you fly west. The two halves could not be more different.

Makes senseA first visit to Tanzania
The Great Midrange Journey →
+3–5 nightsprice

Finish on Zanzibar

Fly on from Arusha to the island rather than home. An easy way to rest after the forest.

Makes senseEveryone, most of the year
Zanzibar →
−2 nightsprice

Gombe instead

Smaller, closer to Kigoma and reached by scheduled flight and boat. Shorter and usually cheaper.

Makes senseShort on time or budget
Gombe Chimpanzees →
VIIIWhen to go

Rated for this route, not for the country.

The dry months, roughly July to October, are the easiest: trails are firmer, and the chimpanzees are often found lower on the slopes, closer to the lake. In the wet months they can be high in the forest and the walks longer and muddier. Some camps close in the long rains — ask us which are open for your dates.

Jan
Wet, chimps often high
Feb
Wet
Mar
Long rains
Apr
Long rains, camps may shut
May
Long rains
Jun
Drying out
Jul
Dry, easier trails
Aug
Dry
Sep
Dry, chimps often lower
Oct
Dry, hot
Nov
Short rains
Dec
Wet
Three bars — the route at its bestTwo — good, with trade-offsOne — possible, and quiet
IXFlights & extras

Getting there.

Arrive

Kilimanjaro International (JRO)

About an hour by road from Arusha. Land any time on day one; the flight west leaves Arusha the next morning.

Flying west

Arusha (ARK) → Mahale airstrip

A long light-aircraft flight with stops on the way, running on set days of the week, not daily. Ask us for this season’s days — your dates are built around them.

Bags

Soft bags only

The light aircraft takes soft bags with a weight limit per person. Ask us for the current limit; anything extra can stay in Arusha.

What else to budget.

Not part of the safari price, in order of how much they matter.

  • Tanzanian visaApply online before travel
    Current fee
  • Travel insuranceMust cover medical evacuation
    Typical cost
  • TipsGuide and camp staff, per day
    Guideline
  • DrinksAt lodges and camps
    Typical range
  • Personal spendingLaundry, crafts, extras
    Varies
  • Excess baggageOn the light aircraft, if allowed at all
    Rate
XWhy book with us

Only what we can prove.

01

Arusha, since 2010

A Tanzanian company, locally owned, running safaris and climbs from Arusha for more than fifteen years.

02

Licensed and registered

TALA-licensed through the Tanzania Tourist Board and registered with BRELA. Ask us for the numbers; we will send them.

03

Guided by people who live there

At Mahale you trek with the park’s own guides and trackers, who follow the chimpanzees every day. We arrange everything around them: the flights, the boat and the camp.

04

Every fee on its own line

Park, conservation and concession fees are shown separately on your quote, so you can see exactly what goes to the authorities.

XIQuestions

The ones we are asked most.

Not sure, but likely over three days. The groups visitors see are used to people, and trackers go out each morning. Some days they are far away or high up; that is why the plan has three treks.

They vary from a short walk to several hours on steep, slippery forest slopes in heat and humidity. You need to be reasonably fit and steady on your feet.

About an hour on each visit. The limit, the masks and the distance rule protect them from human illness.

Yes. The park sets a minimum age for chimpanzee trekking; ask us for the current rule before you book with children.

The scheduled flight west runs on set days, not daily. Ask us for this season’s days and we build the plan around them.

The park is, but some camps close in the long rains. Ask us which are open for your dates.

Begin here

Send us your dates. We will send you the real version.

Named camps, the right direction of travel for your month, every fee on its own line — and a straight answer if another plan would suit you better.

Rather talk it through?WhatsApp us+255 762 914 714
Safari request Mahale Chimpanzees 6 days · 5 nights · private, fly-in
01When, and what for?
How fixed are the dates?
What do you want from it? Pick any
02Who’s coming?
Travelling as
03How you like it
Style of camp

Not a commitment. It lets us send something realistic instead of something you have to reject.

04Where to reach you
We need a name to write back to.
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3 days · Northern circuitTarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara ExpressRead the plan →
5 days · Northern circuitMidrange Best of TanzaniaRead the plan →
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