Mahale Chimpanzee Trek – Tailor-Made Tanzania Itineraries

Mahale Mountains National Park is one of Tanzania’s most remote and rewarding sanctuaries.

Part of the Southwest Circuit alongside Nyerere, Ruaha, and Katavi, Mahale is home to 82 mammal species, 355 bird species, and nine primate species—most famously, the largest remaining population of wild chimpanzees in the world. You can combine a visit to Mahale with a safari in the Serengeti, but its remote location makes for a longer and somewhat expensive flight (only operating twice a week). Though harder to reach, Mahale feels wonderfully untouched—and entirely worth the journey.

Aerial view of the Greystoke Mahale camp on a jungle promontory beside Lake Tanganyika.

An open-sided canvas tent lodge overlooks Lake Tanganyika through palm fronds at golden hour.

A chimpanzee peers through dense jungle foliage in the Mahale Mountains of Tanzania.

Why visit Mahale Mountains National Park?

Hike through Mahale's dense mountain forest to reach the park's habituated chimp community, where you can sit quietly and observe them going about their lives: grooming, playing, feeding, and moving through the canopy above you. Note that the hiking can be more strenuous between June and early July, when the chimps range higher up the mountain.

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Hike through Mahale's dense mountain forest to reach the park's habituated chimp community, where you can sit quietly and observe them going about their lives: grooming, playing, feeding, and moving through the canopy above you. Note that the hiking can be more strenuous between June and early July, when the chimps range higher up the mountain.
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There are only two properties in the park from which to go chimp trekking, and we send all of our guests to just one: the singular Greystoke Mahale, sitting at the foot of the mountains on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
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Mahale is not just about chimpanzees. The park's rugged, mountainous interior and pristine lakeshore offer a remarkable range of experiences: swimming in waterfalls and natural mountain pools, sailing on traditional dhows or kayaking on the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, and visiting local communities and schools.

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Other areas to explore

A visit to Mahale Mountains National Park puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of Africa.

A herd of wildebeest and zebra leap through the churning Mara River during the annual migration.

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park is the heart and soul of Tanzania and the quintessential safari experience.

Ngorongoro Crater

Unforgettable game drives inside a volcanic caldera described as Africa’s “Garden of Eden”

A woman in a colorful sarong walks barefoot through a lush green palm garden near the beach.

Zanzibar

Famous for white sand beaches, Swahili culture, and a spice trade history, Zanzibar is commonly included at the end of a Tanzania or Kenya safari for a relaxing end to an extraordinary journey.

A group of giraffes moves across open savanna at golden hour with Mount Kilimanjaro beyond.

Amboseli National Park

Sitting at the Kenyan border with Tanzania, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro rises above a saucer of clouds and dominates every aspect of Amboseli National Park.

Why book with Extraordinary Journeys?

We go deep

We value depth over breadth. While we have broadened our map, our intimate expertise runs deep—from understanding each locale's hidden rhythms to cultivating relationships with exceptional guides.

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We keep it honest

Seasoned travelers know that places change, authentic experiences migrate. We'll listen to your hopes and passions, but push back when we know something will better resonate with you.

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We’ve got it covered

Traveling to wild places asks something of us— a quality of attention and presence. From behind-the-scenes logistics to bespoke culinary experiences, our team has thought of everything.

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We know it’s personal

There will undoubtedly be extraordinary unscripted moments: hippos emerging at sunset, the impossible blue of Arctic ice. We know that meaningful memories often live in personalized details.