Whilst visiting our lodges at Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe Stream National Park you will be taken for daily walks into the park with professional guides to ensure that you see the best the parks have to offer.

Most guests will have the opportunity to see chimpanzees but a sighting is not always guaranteed. Tracking usually begins early in the morning and it sometimes takes up to 30 minutes - 6 hours to find the chimpanzees. The trek can sometimes be very strenuous, especially up steep slopes, so it is advisable for you to inform the lodge manager of your fitness.

You will also require good hiking shoes and a small day pack for carrying water and any other necessary items.

Once found, you will see chimpanzees in their natural habitat and you will be amazed at how human-like our closest animal relatives are and how unconcerned they are by your presence.

Although we do everything to help you enjoy these extraordinary parks we ask you to keep to the few important rules which have been set out to solely protect the chimpanzees:

• We offer one chimp track a day and the time spent with the chimps is a maximum of 1 hour only.
• It is not permitted to visit the chimps if you are sick or have an infectious disease. Please be responsible and tell the lodge manager if you are unwell as the chimpanzees can be killed by the mildest of diseases passed from humans.
• Surgical Masks will be issued to you on your chimp track and these are to be worn at all times within the vicinity of the chimps.
• A distance of at least 10 metres is to be strictly maintained from the chimps at all times. This minimises the risk of you transmitting bacteria and viruses to them.
• Do not eat or drink while you are near the chimps – move at least 250 meters away first. Food remains can also spread disease.
• Do not leave personal belongings on the ground as chimps are curious animals.
• Do not smoke or litter in the forest. The wearing of perfume is also not permitted.
• Please control your urge to sneeze or cough and please do not spit on the forest floor.
• Try not to go to the toilet in the forest. If it is totally unavoidable please ask the guide to direct you.
• No more than 6 visitors are permitted close to the chimps at any one time.
• Do not try to attract the chimpanzees with sound or movement and remember to stay quiet, calm and relatively still.
• Camera flashes must be switched off. Flash photography can disturb and antagonise the chimps.
• No person under the age of 12 is allowed to visit the chimps.
• Do follow your guide’s instructions at all times.

Thank you for your time!