Tanzanian Chimpanzee tracking

Tanzanian Chimpanzee tracking  : Tanzania Chimpanzee Trekking Safari: In contrast to the typical wildlife safaris in Tanzania’s Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara national parks, which form the northern circuit of the country, chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania offers a unique experience. You can typically anticipate seeing the big five, a variety of predators, and grazers in the various protected areas on a Tanzania safari. However, Meeting man’s closest relatives in their natural environment is as amazing as it gets, though.

 In this experience, you wander through Gombe and Mahale Mountains National Park’s magnificent forest in search of these apes. Even more enjoyable is spending time with them. You search through the fig, mahogany, silk, and nutmeg trees for the source of the noise. You soon come across a colobus monkey searching for fruit or a massive forest squirrel. But your heart is still racing because you can’t wait to see your close relatives. You finally find them after a few hours of walking. A group of habituated chimps, all staring with interest. An hour spent with chimps is well worth the money.

 It’s incredible to watch them climb the massive forest trees in search of leaves and fruits. Accept the various chimpanzee sounds as they communicate with one another. In Mahale, chimpanzee groups are habituated, which means they are unconcerned about the presence of humans. They will go about their daily lives as if they don’t see you. Watch them feed, play, and even fight from a safe distance.

CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN MAHALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Mahale Mountains National Park is a lovely National Park on Lake Tanganyika’s eastern shore. It can be found in Tanzania’s Uvinza District, Kigoma Region. The Park, named after the Mahale Mountains that border it, covers an area of approximately 1,650 square kilometers. It is located at an elevation of 2400 meters above sea level. Mahale is a jungle-clad mountain range with mahogany, nutmeg, silk, fig trees, and verdant vines at its base. Above that, there’s britlewood, pines, rush foil, and bamboo shrubbery. Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake, is also included in the Park. It is distinguished by white sand beaches and enthralling turquoise freshwaters.

Aside from chimpanzees, the Park is home to red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, and blue monkeys. There are also many vervet monkeys and yellow baboons. Wild dogs, roan antelopes, blue duikers, porcupines, mongooses, and squirrels are among the park’s wildlife. On rare occasions, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and giraffes can be spotted. Furthermore, the Park has an impressive bird count.

Mahale Mountains National Park, renowned for its singularity, is home to the majority of Eastern chimpanzees. And because of its size and isolation, chimpanzees thrive there. Additionally, it is the only place in Tanzania where chimpanzees and lions live side by side. Mahale is one of the few parks on the continent that must be explored on foot, which makes it even more unique. Within the boundaries of the Park, there is not a single road or other piece of infrastructure. Only boats on Lake Tanganyika are permitted to enter and exit the Park. Mahale National Park is one of only two chimpanzee-only reserves in Tanzania. Gombe Stream National Park is the other.

CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK

Tanzania’s Kigoma District is home to the national park known as Gombe Stream. The Park is only 35 sq. km. in size and is located along Lake Tanganyika’s eastern shore. It is one of Africa’s tiniest National Parks, and the only way to get there is by boat. Tropical rainforest, grassland, woodland, and steep valleys can all be found in Gombe. The Park is one of Tanzania’s two well-known chimpanzee protected areas.

After Jane Goodall began her behavioral studies on chimpanzee groups in 1960, Gombe rose to fame. The park is also home to blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and Anubis baboons. The Park is home to a variety of vervet monkeys and beachcombers. More than 200 different bird species, numerous bushpigs, and numerous snake species also thrive in Gombe. Hippos and African leopards are also occasionally spotted in the Park.

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING EXPERIENCE IN TANZANIA

Experiences with chimpanzees can be had in Tanzania without any special training. Instead, you need to be in good physical shape to hike through forests and mountain ranges. Frequently, it begins at 8:00 a.m. with an experience guide. The rules for chimpanzee trekking are also discussed before the experience starts. Tourists are led through the trails in groups of six in search of the apes. You eventually locate them by looking for hints such as their last night’s nest, recent chimpanzee dung, and abandoned fruit.

It is breathtaking to watch the chimpanzees swing between tree branches above the tree canopies. Watch as the chimpanzee mothers gather termites and insects from the trees to feed their young. Watch them play and groom each other. The majority of these individuals have habits. Consequently, humans have the chance to interact with them more closely. In addition to seeing chimpanzees while on a trek, the forest is home to birds, olive baboons, monkeys, roan antelopes, and bush pigs.

THE BEST TIME FOR CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN TANZANIA

In Tanzania, you can go chimpanzee trekking any time of year. But the dry season, which lasts from May to October, is when it is most enjoyable. The terrain in the forests is accessible at this time. Short vegetation is present. Additionally, the trekking routes are less slick and muddy. Chimpanzees are also simpler to locate because they are closer to the lower mountain slopes.

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN TANZANIA

• Chimpanzee trekking is only permitted for people 15 years of age and older.
• It’s against the law for visitors to consume food, smoke, or drink close to chimpanzees.
• It’s not allowed to use flash photography. When taking pictures of the chimpanzees, tourists are required to always turn off their camera flashes.
• In the forest, avoid leaving trash behind. Keep your trash and place it in the trash cans at the park’s administrative building.
• When ill, one is not permitted to trek with chimpanzees. Human diseases can infect chimpanzees.
• The instructions provided at the time of the briefing must also be followed by tourists. Additionally from the trekking guides.
• Keep at least an 8-meter distance from the chimpanzees at all times. This keeps the chimps from feeling crowded in and encircled.
• When around chimpanzees, speak in a low voice at all times. Primates can be aroused by noise.
• What you’ll need for a Tanzanian Chimpanzee Trek
• A permit for trekking with chimpanzees. This card allows you to trek with chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Wear comfortable hiking boots to navigate the challenging terrain and steep slopes.
• Long pants and shirts with sleeves. These will shield you from the thorns and jagged tree branches.
• Drink plenty of water, and keep yourself energized with a packed lunch or snacks.
• Wear a rain poncho for the erratic rains in the tropical rainforest
• A set of binoculars to aid in capturing distant views of the chimpanzees in the treetops.
• If you want to get the best pictures of the primates and the surrounding nature, you’ll need a good camera and batteries.