Mahale Mountains Chimpanzee Trekking

Fig trees, silk trees, mahogany, nutmeg… all enchant with their colours and scents. Perhaps you pause to point out a forest giant squirrel to your fellow explorers, as it sits eating nuts or scampers merrily along the high branches. Maybe a colobus monkey is just visible, foraging for seeds in a lower part of the forest. You enter a small clearing… and a group of chimpanzees is there to meet you, their faces intrigued, curious! The Mahale Mountains National Park is home to the best chimpanzee trekking in the world, making this one of the most exciting and soul-stirring destinations and experiences for travellers. Chimp safaris in this lowland forest region are designed to bring you up close to the mammals with whom humans have in common at least 95 per cent of our DNA.

Greystoke Mahale will be your home base for chimp treks. With its idyllic location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and the fantastic experiences available, this adventurous camp offers a truly unforgettable stay. The guides at Greystoke Mahale know each chimpanzee by name, while the managers who used to be trackers for decades in some cases, before being promoted, can tell you literally the entire life history of certain individuals. It’s an experience so unique and intimate that it is truly once in a lifetime, even for the most seasoned safari-goers.You might have already enjoyed some superb safaris featuring the Big Five and any number of predators and herbivores within Africa’s other national parks and game reserves. However, there really is something special about meeting a chimpanzee family in their natural habitat. It is a privilege to spend time in their company.

Mahale Mountains National Park is in a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world, with approximately 1,600 square kilometres of jungle-clad mountains rising to peaks as high as 2,400 metres. The forest ranges from nutmeg, mahogany, silk trees, fig trees, and evergreen vines on the lower slopes to brittlewood, rushfoil, pines, and bamboo bushland above. As well as the chimps, there are squirrels, porcupines, two types of mongoose, antelopes, blue duiker, yellow baboon, and the vibrant black-and-white colobus monkey. The bird count is impressive and there are plenty of colourful butterflies too!The park also includes Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake! Aside from the chimps, the lake is the biggest appeal in the national park. It’s home to roughly 250 species of fish, and the scenic white-sand beach and clear turquoise waters feel picture perfect. Other lake activities include kayaking, boating, swimming, and fishing.

There are about a thousand chimps living in Mahale Mountains, divided into groups. One group – known as the Mimikire clan or the M-group – is accustomed to the presence of humans, because they have been close to Japanese researchers for decades. In fact, this group of 56 chimps is so comfortable around their relatives, they will walk up to you and look you in the eye!Other chimp behaviour observed on treks includes rushing through the forest on a hunt, communicating with shouts and screams. In quieter moments, chimps like to groom each other, as well as squabble and forage. They have even been seen using twigs to fish for termites. Watching the youngest members of a group playing together is particularly rewarding! We highly recommend taking your camera, and also a good pair of binoculars so you can really make the most of your time – usually an hour – with these amazing animals.

During the dry season, between August and October, the chimps tend to come close to the lakeshore and even all the way into some camps in the area! At Greystoke Mahale, the chimps often wander into camp due to the nearby fruiting trees, so you might be lucky enough to glimpse them outside of the daily treks. Of course, whatever the time of year, seeing the chimps is always a pleasure! If this experience appeals to you, just get in touch with a member of our team! We are happy to offer advice on where to stay and when to travel, and we look forward to hearing from you.