Top Destinations for Primate Tracking in Tanzania
Top Destinations for Primate Tracking in Tanzania : Tanzania is known for its exotic wildlife and rich culture. Tanzania has become one of the breathtaking destinations that is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbours. However, it holds a treasure that draws adventure seekers from around the world: the chance to see the magnificent different primate species in their natural habitat. For those looking to embark on this unique journey, Tanzania offers unforgettable primate tours that promise not only a close encounter with these magnificent creatures but also a rich tapestry of experiences across its stunning landscapes. Tanzania is home to two main destinations housing the remaining chimpanzee population boasting tourist all over the world to the country. these fascinating destinations includes Gombe Stream National Park and Mahele mountain National Park respectively.
Chimpanzee tracking tours in Tanzania starts early in the morning at 7:00am with a briefing about the rules and regulations as well as the expectation while in the forest. After the briefing you’ll be separated into groups of 6 and located an armed guide who will lead you to the forest to search for the chimpanzees in tire natural habitat. Once you have found these fascinating primates, you will be allowed 1 hour interaction with them as you watch how they do with their daily activities such as feeding, breast feeding, playing and interacting with each other among others.
Gombe Stream National Park
Gombe Stream National Park is a national park in Kigoma District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania, its stretches about 16 km north of Kigoma, the capital and the nearest town to the park. Gombe Stream National Park was stablished in 1968, it is one of the smallest notational parks in Tanzania. the park covers an area of approximately with only 35 square kilometers of protected land along the hills of the eastern shore of like Tanganyika – is an African Great Lakes, it is the second-largest freshwater lake by volume and the second deepest in both cases after lake Baikal in Siberia. Gombe Stream National Park is the smallest National Park in Tanzania and home to Jane Goodall’s famous chimpanzees which were studied by Dr. Jane Goodall for over 50 years. due to her research, many chimpanzees were saved and habituated, which led to the introduction of the chimpanzee trekking exercises in their natural habitat.
Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity that is carried out in Gombe, and it involves tracking through the lush forest in search for chimpanzees in their natural habitat on foot. During your chimpanzee trekking, you will also be able to spot other primate species, which include red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and vervet monkeys, among others.
Besides the chimpanzees, there also other primates such as red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, red colobus monkeys, and diadem monkeys, among others. The park is also home to other animals’ species that you may also encounter while on your primate tours here such as elephant, buffalos and a variety of bird species like Pied Kingfisher, Common Hoopoe, Speckled Mousebird, Crowned Hornbill, Common Barn Owl, African Fish Eagle, African Green Pigeon, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, African Palm Swift, Yellowbill, Jacobin Cuckoo.
How to get Gombe Stream National Park
The only way to accessed to park is by taking a scheduled or charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Mwanza or Arusha. Alternatively, you can as well use a slow train or fast train from Dar es Salaam to get to the park. For tourists coming from the neighboring countries such as Burundi or Zambia to Kigoma can accessed the park by using a ferry across Lake Tanganyika.
Accommodation facilities found here.
The park has got a variety of accommodation facilities such as Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge, Lake Tanganyika Hotel, Coast View Resort, Mwitongo Garden Hotel, Janda Lodge, Sunset Vista Hotel, One Point Lodge, Gombe Executive Lodge, Nzimano Hotel, Triple J Resort, Zanzibar Lodge, Malagarasi Hotel, Mwanga Lodge and Kigoma Hilltop Hotel among others.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Mahele Mountains National Park is situated in Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, it is bordering Lake Tanganyika-the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harboring an estimated 1000 fish species. Mahale Mountains National Park is famous for hosting some of the Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees with a population of roughly 900 chimpanzees. These chimpanzees are habituated and used to human presence offering a great opportunity to trek chimpanzees in Tanzania. Chimpanzee Trekking in the Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the magical experiences to do in Tanzania. Chimpanzee tracking safari in this stunning national park takes about 2-3 hours and once these fascinating primates are located, you’ll have one hour interaction with these primates in their natural habitat. You’ll observe how the conducted themselves in the wildlife such as bickering, grooming their young ones, swinging through the trees and protecting themselves from danger.
Besides the chimpanzees, this remarkable park is home to other primate species that you may also encounter while on your primate tour here. Some of other primates found here includes red colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, giant squirrel, red-legged sun squirrel, brush-tailed porcupine, bushy-tailed mongoose, Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys.
This park also offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains and during your primate tracking tour here, you will also have the chance to enjoy the sights and sounds of the park’s diverse wildlife, Elephants, the elephants, Lion, Duikers, Bush pig, monitor lizards, snakes, and frogs. Mahale Mountain National Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting over 350 species of bird. Some of the bird species found Palm-nut vulture, Ross’s turaco, Scaly francolin, Stuhlmann’s starling, Trumpeter hornbill, Vieillot’s black weaver and many more.
How to get to Mahele Mountains National Park
The park can be accessed both by land, water or by air transports means. Visitors planning to access the park by air means which is the easiest and quickest way to get to the park can arrange charter flights operating from Dar es Salaam and Arusha to Mahale Airstrip by different domestic aircraft companies such as safari air link, flying to Mahale Mountains National Park can take three to five hours, In the wet season charter flights operating are less regular.
For those interested in to get to the park by road, can drive from Arusha to Kigoma and then you will have to take a speed boat to reach the Mahale Mountains National Park however these roads are rough and can take too long and also can be inaccessible during the rainy season because they are so muddy. road, driving from Arusha to Kigoma and then you will have to take a speed boat to reach the Mahale Mountains National Park however these roads are rough and can take too long and also can be inaccessible during the rainy season because they are so muddy.
Best accommodation facilities in Mahele Mountains National Park
Tourists planning to embark on a primate tracking safari in Mahele Mountains National Park should worry about where to stay. The park has a variety of accommodation facilities to cater for its visitors. The best accommodations here ranges from luxury to budget level such as Mbali Mbali Mahale Lodge, Mahale Mango Tree Bandas, Mahele Classic Lodge and Greystoke Mahale Camp among others.
