Chimpanzee Experience — Mahale

Early morning transfer to the airport for your light aircraft flight to Mahale Mountains National Park — one of the most remote destinations in Tanzania. The flight itself is spectacular, crossing the Rift Valley and following the Lake Tanganyika shoreline south. Transfer by boat to Kungwe Beach Lodge — a beautiful lakeside lodge with breathtaking views across Lake Tanganyika to the Congo on the far shore. After lunch, afternoon visit to the local fishermen's village on the lake — an insight into the traditional life of the Tongwe people who have lived alongside the Mahale forest for centuries. Dinner and overnight at Kungwe Beach Lodge.

The day begins before dawn when the expert trackers go ahead into the forest to locate the M-group. After breakfast, set out with your guide to find the chimpanzees. Trekking through Mahale's ancient montane forest — mahogany, fig and strangler fig trees dripping with moss — you may encounter red-tailed monkeys, red colobus, olive baboons and extraordinary forest birdlife before reaching the chimps. Once found, spend one hour at close range with approximately 60 habituated individuals: grooming sessions in the treetops, males displaying on the forest floor, mothers carrying infants and the group's complex social interactions playing out around you. All meals and overnight at Kungwe Beach Lodge.

A second day of chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains, following a different route through the forest and often encountering the group in a completely different context to the previous day. After the chimp encounter, return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon water activities on Lake Tanganyika: snorkelling in the crystal-clear lake among the extraordinary cichlid fish (Lake Tanganyika has over 350 endemic cichlid species), optional kayaking along the forested shoreline, or a boat safari exploring the lake bays for hippos and waterbirds. All meals and overnight at Kungwe Beach Lodge.

After a final breakfast on the lake shore with views across to the Congo, boat transfer to Mahale airstrip for your light aircraft return flight to Arusha or Dar es Salaam for your onward international connections. This experience can be combined with wildlife safaris in Katavi National Park, Gombe Stream chimpanzee trekking, or any Tanzania northern circuit safari.