Gombe and Mahale · Arusha-based operator, TATO member
Chimpanzee Trekking in Tanzania: Gombe and Mahale, How to Get There and What It Costs
Six trips from one Tanzanian operator, night by night, with the route from Dar es Salaam by flight and boat in the times the trips themselves give, the park fees from the TANAPA tariff, and prices per person for two to six travellers (solo on request).
- Trips6to Gombe, Mahale or both, night by night
- From$495per person, two sharing, a Gombe day from Kigoma
- Park fee a day$100 / $80Gombe / Mahale, plus 18% VAT
The short answer
Where: Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains national parks on Lake Tanganyika, western Tanzania, both reached through Kigoma.
How long: a day from Kigoma; 3 days from Dar es Salaam to Gombe; 5 to Mahale; 7 days or 10 days with Katavi.
From: $495 (day trip), $1,474 (3 days), $1,953 (Mahale), $4,392 (10 days, flights in); per person, two sharing, read 29 October 2026.
Park fees: Gombe US$100, Mahale US$80 a day plus 18% VAT, in every price here; Mahale chimpanzee habituation (CHEX) US$100 (TANAPA tariff).
Both buttons do the typing. The first opens a one-minute form on this page; WhatsApp opens with your request written out, including anything you choose in the form.
Arusha-based operator, TATO member.
Updated 29 October 2026
Which park
Gombe or Mahale: The Two Parks Side by Side
Built only from our trips' own tour pages and the TANAPA tariff, read 29 October 2026: the hours and kilometres each trip gives, the lodges it names, and the fees. Every trip name opens its card below. The parks themselves: our Gombe guide and Mahale guide.
| Compare | Gombe Stream | Mahale Mountains |
|---|---|---|
| How you get there | Fly Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, about 2 hours, then a boat on Lake Tanganyika, about 2 hours (the 3-day Gombe trip). By dhow from Kibirizi, two to three hours (the 19-day trip). | Fly Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, about 1,200 km and 2.5 hours, then 4x4 and boat, about 120 km and 4 to 5 hours (the 5-day Mahale trip). Road from Kigoma along the lake, then boat (the 10-day western Tanzania trip). |
| Where you sleep | In the park: Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (the 3-day Gombe trip); TANAPA Gombe Rest House (the 7-day Katavi and Gombe trip, the 10-day western Tanzania trip and the 19-day trip). In Kigoma: Kigoma Hilltop Hotel (the 3-day Gombe trip); Lake Tanganyika Hotel (the 19-day trip). | TANAPA Mahale Rest House (the 5-day Mahale trip); Mahale Mango Tree Bandas (the 10-day western Tanzania trip). On the 5-day Mahale trip, nights 2 and 3 and night 4 are not named on the tour page. |
| Forest walking the trip states | Varies with where the chimpanzees are (the Gombe day trip from Kigoma); start early (the 3-day Gombe trip). Kakombe Waterfall walk (the 3-day Gombe trip, the 7-day Katavi and Gombe trip). | About 4 to 8 km, 2 to 5 hours, up to one hour with the chimpanzees once found (the 5-day Mahale trip). |
| Park fee per adult per day | US$100 ($118.00 with VAT) | US$80 ($94.40 with VAT) |
| Chimpanzee fee in the tariff | None listed | CHEX US$100 per adult ($118.00 with VAT); none of our trips lists it |
| Shortest trip | 1 day from Kigoma, $495; 3 days from Dar es Salaam, $1,474 | 5 days from Dar es Salaam, $1,953 |
| Our trips that go there | Five: the Gombe day trip from Kigoma, the 3-day Gombe trip, the 7-day Katavi and Gombe trip, the 10-day western Tanzania trip and the 19-day trip | Two: the 5-day Mahale trip and the 10-day western Tanzania trip |
| Ask | Get a price for GombeWhatsApp | Get a price for MahaleWhatsApp |
Our chimpanzee trips
Our Chimpanzee Trekking Trips, Night by Night
All six trips in our catalogue that go to Gombe or Mahale, read from each tour page on 29 October 2026. Each card names every night as the tour page lists it, says whether flights and chimp trekking permits are on its inclusion list, and gives the price per person for larger groups. Four start in Dar es Salaam; the day trip runs from Kigoma and the Katavi and Gombe trip starts in Mpanda. Not on any of these trips' inclusion lists, so not in the price: your international flights to Tanzania, a hotel night before or after the trip (the tour pages mark it extra cost), your visa, travel insurance and tips.
Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking Day Trip Tanzania
1 day · Kigoma to Kigoma
Nights: none; back in Kigoma the same day
Flights: none on this trip; it starts and ends in Kigoma
Chimp trekking permits: included (tour page list)
Included (tour page list): park fees, chimp trekking permits, a professional driver-guide, meals, activities as listed, transport as listed, all taxes and VAT
A day in the park with a forest guide; the Kakombe and Mkenke waterfalls and Jane's Peak if time allows, as the tour page lists them. Your Kigoma hotel is not in the price.
Private
from $495per person, two sharingSame per person for 2 to 6 travellers; solo: on request
Gombe Chimp Trekking Fly-In from Dar
3 days · Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam airport
Every night: 2 nights
- Night 1: Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (luxury)
- Night 2: Kigoma Hilltop Hotel (mid-range)
Flights: confirm with us. The itinerary flies Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and back, but flights are not on the inclusion list
Chimp trekking permits: check with us; not on this trip's inclusion list
Included (tour page list): park fees, a professional driver-guide, accommodation as listed, meals, activities as listed, transport as listed, airport transfers, bath towels, all taxes and VAT
Night 2 is listed at Kigoma Hilltop Hotel, but day 3 starts with the boat back from Gombe (about 2 hours): we confirm where you sleep on night 2 in your quote.
Private
from $1,474per person, two sharingPer person at 3 to 4: $1,441; 5 to 6: $1,419; solo: on request
Mahale Mountains Chimp Trekking Safari
5 days · Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam airport
Every night: 4 nights
- Night 1: TANAPA Mahale Rest House (budget)
- Nights 2 and 3: in Mahale, lodge not named on the tour page
- Night 4: in Kigoma, lodge not named on the tour page
Flights: confirm with us. The itinerary flies Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and back, but flights are not on the inclusion list
Chimp trekking permits: check with us; not on this trip's inclusion list
Included (tour page list): park fees, a professional driver-guide, accommodation as listed, meals, activities as listed, transport as listed, airport transfers, all taxes and VAT
Up to one hour with the chimpanzees once they are found, on each of the two trekking days, as the tour page puts it. The lodge for nights 2 and 3 and night 4 is not named on the tour page: we name it in your quote.
Private
from $1,953per person, two sharingPer person at 3 to 4: $1,795; 5 to 6: $1,669; solo: on request
Katavi & Gombe Wildlife & Chimp Safari
7 days · Mpanda to Kigoma
Every night: 6 nights
- Nights 1 and 2: TANAPA Katavi National Park Bandas (budget)
- Night 3: in Katavi, lodge not named on the tour page
- Nights 4 to 6: TANAPA Gombe Rest House (budget)
Flights: not on the inclusion list. The trip starts in Mpanda and ends at Kigoma Airport; we quote flights with your dates
Chimp trekking permits: check with us; not on this trip's inclusion list
Included (tour page list): park fees, a professional driver-guide, accommodation as listed, meals, activities as listed, transport as listed, airport transfers, all taxes and VAT
Starts in Mpanda with three days in Katavi, then three days at Gombe with the Kakombe Waterfall walk on the last. The lodge for night 3 is not named on the tour page: we name it in your quote.
Private
from $2,783per person, two sharingPer person at 3 to 4: $2,341; 5 to 6: $1,961; solo: on request
West Tanzania Chimp Fly-In Safari Tour
10 days · Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam airport
Every night: 9 nights
- Night 1: Harbour View Suites (mid-range)
- Night 2: Kigoma Hilltop Hotel (mid-range)
- Night 3: TANAPA Gombe Rest House (budget)
- Nights 4 to 6: Mahale Mango Tree Bandas (budget)
- Nights 7 to 9: TANAPA Katavi National Park Bandas (budget)
Flights in Tanzania: included (tour page list)
Chimp trekking permits: check with us; not on this trip's inclusion list
Included (tour page list): park fees, flights during the tour, a professional driver-guide, accommodation as listed, meals, activities as listed, airport transfers, bath towels, all taxes and VAT
One night at Gombe, three at Mahale, then Katavi; flies home from Mpanda.
Private
from $4,392per person, two sharingPer person at 3 to 4: $3,867; 5 to 6: $3,449; solo: on request
Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Combo Tour Package
19 days · Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam airport
Every night: 18 nights
- Night 1: Harbour View Suites (mid-range)
- Night 2: Lake Tanganyika Hotel (mid-range)
- Night 3: TANAPA Gombe Rest House (budget)
- Night 4: Lake Tanganyika Hotel (mid-range)
- Nights 5 to 7: TANAPA Katavi National Park Bandas (budget)
- Nights 8 to 10: Lake Shore Lodge (luxury)
- Nights 11 and 12: Hotel Desderia (budget)
- Night 13: The Old Farm House (mid-range)
- Nights 14 and 15: Ruaha Hilltop Lodge (mid-range)
- Nights 16 to 18: Camp Bastian Mikumi (mid-range)
Flights in Tanzania: included (tour page list)
Chimp trekking permits: included (tour page list)
Included (tour page list): park fees, chimp trekking permits, flights during the tour, a professional driver-guide, accommodation as listed, activities as listed, transport as listed, airport transfers, bath towels, all taxes and VAT
This is a western and southern Tanzania trip: Gombe on days 3 and 4 (one night), then Katavi, Lake Tanganyika, Mbeya, Kitulo, Ruaha and Mikumi. Its title says Zanzibar, but its day-by-day has no Zanzibar night; the last day offers Zanzibar on request.
Private
from $6,910per person, two sharingPer person at 3 to 4: $6,045; 5 to 6: $5,313; solo: on request
What the parks charge
Gombe and Mahale Park Fees
Conservation fees for non-East African visitors, in US dollars, from the TANAPA Tariffs 2023/2024, which state that all charges are VAT (18%) exclusive. The tariff lists no separate Gombe chimpanzee fee. Katavi is included because two of our trips combine it.
| Fee | Adult, 16 and over | With 18% VAT | Child, 5 to 15 (with VAT) | Under 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gombe conservation feeper person per day | US$100 | $118.00 | US$20 ($23.60) | Free |
| Mahale conservation feeper person per day | US$80 | $94.40 | US$20 ($23.60) | Free |
| Mahale Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX)per person | US$100 | $118.00 | US$50 ($59.00) | Free |
| Katavi conservation feeper person per day | US$30 | $35.40 | US$10 ($11.80) | Free |
- In our prices: all six trips list park fees as included on their tour pages. Chimp trekking permits are listed on two: the Gombe day trip from Kigoma and the 19-day trip. None lists CHEX: ask us if you want it at Mahale.
- Not in our prices: Your international flights to Tanzania, a hotel night before or after the trip (the tour pages mark it extra cost), your visa, travel insurance and tips.
- Which edition: the 2023/2024 tariff (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024) is the one on the TANAPA website. A copy titled 2023/2026, on a third-party site, prints the same figures for every fee in this table. We have not found a newer tariff; we confirm the fees in your quote.
On the trail
On the Trail: What Our Trips Say and the Rules
What the trips themselves say about the day
- Start early. The early morning is "the most productive chimpanzee trekking period" (the 3-day Gombe trip); some days the chimpanzees are found quickly, other days the walk is longer.
- How far. About 4 to 8 km of forest hiking, 2 to 5 hours, with a park ranger guide (the 5-day Mahale trip). At Gombe the walk varies with where the chimpanzees are (the Gombe day trip from Kigoma).
- How long with them. Up to one hour once they are found (the 5-day Mahale trip).
- The waterfall. A walk to Kakombe Waterfall (the 7-day Katavi and Gombe trip, day 6; the 3-day Gombe trip, day 2). The day trip adds Mkenke Waterfall and Jane's Peak if time allows (the Gombe day trip from Kigoma).
The rules on the trail
The only written guidance we have found is a draft: health guidelines for researchers visiting Gombe, compiled by Anthony Collins of the Jane Goodall Institute and published for discussion in Pan Africa News 10(1), marked "Updated 8/01/03". It proposes a minimum observation distance of 7.5 m (10 m for anyone who has not been quarantined), one hour per chimpanzee group per day, and no more than six observers, and it notes that tourists get their one hour. Your ranger sets the rules on the day.
Minimum age: Ask us; the park sets it and we will confirm it for your dates.
If you have a cold or a cough: do not trek. The same draft keeps anyone who is ill out of the forest, because people can pass diseases to chimpanzees.
When to go
Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Tanzania
Our Gombe guide puts it as the drier months, "when trekking conditions are easier", and says the park is rewarding all year; our Mahale guide says the same for Mahale. Neither names months.
For months, one operator's view: Asilia gives "June to September and December to February", when "the trails aren't as muddy" (asiliaafrica.com, read 29 October 2026). That is their view, not ours; tell us your dates and we say what to expect.
With a northern safari
Add a Northern Safari
Our chimpanzee trips run in western Tanzania: four of the six start and end in Dar es Salaam, the day trip runs from Kigoma and the Katavi trip starts in Mpanda. The flight in is Dar es Salaam to Kigoma.
To add the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater, start with our Tanzania safari planning guide, then ask us to join the two.
Plan a Chimp Trek: One Minute, Priced for Your Group
The park, how many days, how many of you, and the month. We reply with the price per person for your group and dates, every night by name, and what is and is not included: flights, park fees and permits. Prefer WhatsApp? The green button sends the same request, already written out.
Questions
Chimpanzee Trekking in Tanzania: Your Questions Answered
Where can you see chimpanzees in Tanzania?
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains national parks, both on Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania; you reach both through Kigoma. Every trip on this page goes to one or both. Chimpanzees also live on Rubondo Island and in the Ntakata Mountains; we do not run trips there.
Gombe or Mahale: which is better for chimp trekking?
It depends on your days. Gombe: about 2 hours by boat from Kigoma, a day trip from $495, park fee $100 a day. Mahale: about 4 to 5 hours from Kigoma by 4x4 and boat, 5 days from $1,953, park fee $80 a day. The table compares them line by line.
How much does chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania cost?
Our trips start at $495 for a Gombe day from Kigoma, $1,474 for 3 days from Dar es Salaam and $1,953 for 5 days at Mahale, per person, two sharing. Park fees: Gombe $100 and Mahale $80 per day plus VAT, included in every trip here. International flights are not.
How do you get to Gombe Stream National Park?
Fly from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma (about 2 hours on our 3-day trip), then take a boat on Lake Tanganyika to the park, about 2 hours. Our 19-day trip goes by dhow from Kibirizi, two to three hours depending on the boat.
How do you get to Mahale Mountains National Park?
Fly from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, about 2.5 hours, then about 120 km by 4x4 and boat, about 4 to 5 hours, as our 5-day Mahale trip sets it out. Our 10-day trip drives from Kigoma along the lake and takes a boat for the last part.
How close can you get to the chimpanzees?
Your ranger decides. The only written guidance we have found is a draft for researchers at Gombe (Jane Goodall Institute, Pan Africa News, marked updated 8/01/03): at least 7.5 m, or 10 m without quarantine, one hour per group a day, at most six observers. Your ranger sets the rules on the day.
Is there a minimum age for chimp trekking?
Ask us; the park sets it and we will confirm it for your dates. We do not print a figure: we have not found one in the park's published tariff or rules.
Are there gorillas in Tanzania?
No. Gorilla trekking is in Rwanda and Uganda, not Tanzania. In Tanzania you trek for chimpanzees, at Gombe and Mahale.
Can I do a Gombe day trip?
Yes, from Kigoma: our Gombe day trip is $495 per person, the same for 2 to 6 travellers, with park fees, chimp trekking permits, transport and lunch on its inclusion list. Your Kigoma hotel is not in the price.
Plan Your Chimpanzee Trek
Tell us Gombe, Mahale or both, how many days, how many of you are travelling and the month. We reply within 24 hours with the price per person for your group, every night by name, and what is and is not included.
Arusha-based operator, TATO member. Every safari we run: Safari-TZ Tanzania safari tours.
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Who to speak to: Salma Rajab
Travel Consultant, Safari-TZ
Send Salma the trip you like, or the park, number of days and month you have in mind, and she will send the price per person for your group with every night by name and the flights, park fees and permits spelled out.
Payment and cancellation terms are on our terms page.
Email us (the request is pre-written) or call or WhatsApp +255 740 666 662.
