Tanzania: Chimp Trekking & Serengeti Safari

The Great Migration, the tallest mountain in Africa and the world's largest game reserve are only a few of the grand things that make Tanzania one of the most sought after destinations in Africa. Starting this 10 day adventure in the Geneva of Africa gives you the opportunity to explore all the sides of Tanzania. We welcome you to Arusha, and to Tanzania, and invite you to let the endless adventure of wildlife encounters deepen your connection with the earth.

Join your CEO and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing. Afterwards, head out for a delicious welcome dinner.

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

ACTIVITY: Join your CEO and group for a Welcome Dinner

Millions of years ago when the volcano erupted, the world's largest intact and unfilled volcanic caldera was formed, creating Ngorongoro Crater. It is believed that animals like zebras, lions and rhinos fell into the crater almost 500,000 years ago and were trapped. The steepness of the crater is why you won't find a single giraffe inside. Travel to this incredible natural phenomenon after a day of cooking classes and a traditional lunch at your G for Good moment in Mto Wa Mbu.

Your first stop of the day is to Mto wa Mbu, your G for Good moment, where you'll participate in a cooking demonstration led by the women of the community. To understand this unique village more, we will take a walking tour through some of its most notable landmarks before enjoying a traditional lunch. Then head out in search of wildlife as you descend into Ngorongoro Crater on safari.

TRANSPORT: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a cooking demonstration with some of the women from Mto wa Mbu. Create a breakfast snack that will keep you full until lunch!

ACTIVITY: Take part in a cultural walk to learn about life in this East African town. Mto wa Mbu has attracted some 18,000 residents from 120 different tribes. During the two-hour tour, visit the village's local market, go right to the farmer's fields, see how huts are constructed and meet artisans in their shops.

Afterwards, sit down with our new friends and enjoy a traditional lunch of meat and plantains.

ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON Head down into the crater and to all the best spots to view wildlife. Spot zebras, gazelles, buffaloes and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the crater floor.

TRANSPORT: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

Safaris don't always have to involve being seated, so set out today on two feet. On your OMG Day, choose between two incredible hiking options. The opportunity to explore the crater on foot provides a connected and humbling experience unlike any other safari adventure. If you are ready for a physical challenge, hike to the peak of Mount Makarot, arguably the most stunning view over the Ngorongoro plains. For a more mellow adventure, take Mt Makarot's more gentle trail to ascend to a view of Lake Eyasi on a laid back hike surrounded by the Ngorongoro highlands.

No matter which way you choose to hike Mt Makarot, you are guaranteed to feel the vast grandness that is so unique to the East African landscape. Enjoy a well deserved afternoon at leisure before a delicious dinner at camp.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: For those seeking a more relaxed and less strenuous experience, while still capturing the essence of the Ngorongoro Highlands, option one is a scenic excursion that allows you to appreciate the beauty of Lake Eyasi from a distance. This option involves a leisurely ascent of less than 500 metres. It's a perfect choice for those who prefer a more laid-back adventure. As you ascend, you'll reach a vantage point that provides a stunning view of Lake Eyasi. The vastness of the lake, surrounded by the Highland's landscape, creates a captivating scene for photography and relaxation.

Option 2: Climbing Mt Makarot is the more physically challenging option today. Starting from camp, head out into the acacia canopy and climb a steep track upwards. With your Maasai guide and armed ranger, continue upwards, looking down at Maasai villages both near and far below. Your Maasai guides carry lunch and water and are experts in pointing out flora and fauna as you ascend. The elevation gain is approximately 800 metres, with Ngorongoro crater already sitting at around 2200m above sea level. Summit Mt Makarot at 3100m above sea level, and for your efforts you are rewarded with stunning views of the Ngorongoro Crater itself and the surrounding plains.

Ngorongoro Crater and The Serengeti are two of the world's most renowned safari destinations. Driving from one iconic spot to the next means three and a half hours of nonstop beauty, wildlife and adventure. But don't go anywhere, because your time in the Serengeti is just starting. So grab your binoculars and your camera and get ready to experience some of the most jaw dropping wildlife encounters.

Today is a full day out on safari as we keep our eyes peeled for wildlife on our drive out of the Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti National Park. Your first safari in the Serengeti wouldn't be complete without a picnic. So set the blanket up, relax and enjoy your first moments in one of the most incredible parks in the world.

TRANSPORT: Get a better view and take better snapshots aboard this off-road ride with a pop-up top.

ACTIVITY: This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars and set out on safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras and more. Enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow and the up-close look at wild Africa.

The Serengeti is famed for its sheer numbers of wildlife. Millions of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles flock to this national park every year—accompanied by hungry predators. See for yourself how huge lions can blend into the golden backdrop of the savannah, or how giant giraffes can bend down so low that you don't see them until they're right in front of you.

What better way to spend your time in the Serengeti than a full day out on safari? Grab your camera and head out for your game drives. Have a picnic in the park and enjoy all the magic the Serengeti has to offer from sunup to sundown.

ACTIVITY: This is the reason you came to Africa. Charge your camera, grab your binoculars, and set out on a full day safari. Your eagle-eyed driver will keep an eye out for wildlife – buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Enjoy the scenery, the vast expanse of the grasslands, the play of light and shadow, and the up-close look at wild Africa.

The encounters you experience on safari are life changing and some are more rare than others. With so few places left on Earth that are home to wild chimpanzees, your trek into Gombe Stream National Park may be one of the most special moments on your Tanzania trip. Adventure to the national park where Dr Jane Goodall lived and conducted her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees. Her work there, and her lifelong commitment to conservation and the protection of animals, continues to inspire travellers to this day.

To arrive to this remote part of the world, we take a plane, a road transfer and a boat to our lakefront jungle lodge. Just like the gorillas of Rwanda, trekking to see an endangered wild animal like the chimpanzee requires special care and attention to ensure their environment remains safe and protected. Tonight with your group, learn all there is to know about ensuring the safety of yourself and the chimpanzees throughout your trekking experience.

TRANSPORT: Take a boat transfer from Kigoma to Gombe National Park

ACTIVITY: In following National Park regulations and to be a responsible traveler, there are certain rules and protocol we must follow to safely and respectfully see chimpanzees. Don't worry though, this helps prepare everyone and make sure the trek is as amazing as it can be.

TRANSPORT: Flight from Seronera Airstrip to Kigoma Airport

Spending an hour with a family of chimpanzees is a life changing event. With complex social hierarchies, intelligent communication and human-like behavior, it's easy to see why these are our closest relatives. Spend the day trekking to see the chimpanzees. With any luck, encounter them and spend an hour observing them in their natural habitat.

Today will be a magical day. Meet your guide and head out to Kasekela where you'll begin your chimp trek. Travel on foot as your guide uses their tracking skills to find where the chimpanzees are that day. Don't forget to bring your camera so you can remember this moment forever. In the afternoon, spend free time on Lake Tanganyika.

ACTIVITY: Free time on Lake Tanganyika

ACTIVITY: A chimpanzee trekking day in Gombe Stream National Park is a unique and humbling experience, offering you a glimpse into the world of these fascinating primates and the delicate ecosystem they inhabit. It's a day filled with discovery, wonder, and a deep connection to the wonders of nature. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this incredible journey in one of Tanzania's most iconic wildlife destinations. Chimp trekking times can vary, depending on the location of the chimps. After breakfast, you'll gather at the camp, where you'll be introduced to your experienced guide. Their knowledge of the park, its inhabitants, and the nuances of chimpanzee behavior will prove invaluable throughout your trekking experience. With your guide and ranger leading the way, you'll set off on foot, venturing into the dense and captivating forest that serves as the chimpanzees' natural habitat. The forest is alive with the vibrant colors of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the distant echoes of chimpanzee calls, creating an immersive environment for your journey.
Chimpanzee Encounters: Gombe Stream is home to several habituated chimpanzee families, and your guide and ranger will use their tracking skills to take you to the areas where the chimpanzees were last seen. Your guide will remind you to maintain a respectful distance to ensure the chimpanzees' comfort and natural behavior. A maximum of one hour may be spent near the animals once they are spotted.

Since chimpanzees are gravely endangered, there are many efforts in place to help protect the species in Tanzania. Thankfully, there are legendary conservationists, like Dr. Jane Goodall, paving the way for their protection. Spend the day exploring some of Jane Goodall's most iconic spots. Visit her former house and the research station. Hike to Jane's Peak and take a moment to reflect on yesterday's adventures.

On the unusual occasion that you did not see chimps on your trek the day before, you have the option to go out on an early morning trek for a second attempt. After the day spent exploring, return to the town of Kigoma on a boat across Lake Tanganika.

ACTIVITY: If we did not see chimps on our trek the first day, our National Park pass allows us to re-enter the park for a second try early this morning. This way we are more likely to find the Kasekela chimp community. This is included, so you have the option to wake up early and join us to try again.

ACTIVITY: Hike to the point known as Jane's Peak. This place sits above the canopy and was the site of one of Dr. Goodall's major primatological discoveries.

ACTIVITY: Visit Jane Goodall's home in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania.

TRANSPORT: Take a boat from Gombe Stream National Park to Kigoma.

On your final day in Tanzania, spend time by the coast to rest your mind and body before the return home. After an epic 10 days spent discovering Tanzania's diverse beauty, the afternoon in Dar es Salaam's seaside coastal area is the perfect end to an incredible adventure.

Fly to the seaside city of Dar es Salaam and choose how you want to spend your last day. Join your CEO on an excursion to the tropical island reserve, Bongoyo Island. Or choose to explore the city, do some last minute souvenir shopping or relax at the hotel. In the evening join your group for a farewell dinner together.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

ACTIVITY: If you would prefer to relax, do some souvenir shopping or explore Dar Es Salaam, you can opt to have free time today.

ACTIVITY: Join your group for a farewell dinner at a seaside restaurant.

Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time today.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.