Anna’s emailed request went like this: “After reading all of her books, I long to feel a little bit like Jane Goodall – like a castaway in a remote corner of Africa, chimp trekking in the wild! Can you suggest where I can track down this feeling?”
Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania hosts a healthy chimpanzee population that remains protected thanks to the remoteness of the Mahale Mountains. Disturbance to the primates is minimal, there is no infrastructure within the park boundaries, and the only way in and out of the park is by boat across Lake Tanganyika.
As a result, our intrepid traveller became ever more enthused at the prospect of visiting Mahale, which is increasingly recognised as Africa’s ultimate chimp trekking experience.
We asked Ana Zinger to share some of her thoughts about her experience:
“To achieve my dream, Africa Geographic designed an itinerary that involved flying for four hours to the furthest and most remote confines of Tanzania, followed by an epic two-hour lake cruise in a dhow, braving the somewhat angry waters of Lake Tanganyika.
Throughout the trip, I remained hypnotised by the alluring and incomprehensible vastness of Congo’s lowlands that extended to the west – the far bank of the vast lake. When we eventually reached the white beaches of Greystoke-Mahale, I could not unlock my gaze from the verdant and looming peaks that towered behind the lodge. We had finally arrived, and I have to confess that, not only did I feel a bit like Jane Goodall, but I also felt a bit like Tarzan’s Jane!
The staff at Greystoke were wonderful. I felt welcome and comfortable from the moment I walked into the lodge! I shall also always be thankful to them for introducing me to the delicious Ndovu Beer, now my favourite beer in Africa.
Anyone landing at Greystoke is bound to become enamoured with every nook and cranny of this lodge. The lofty main banda, visible from the lake, provides a charming and relaxing ambience to read or just hang out and chat with other guests.
Everywhere in the lodge, you stumble across cleverly considered and skillfully designed nooks to take in the beauty and serenity of Lake Tanganyika.
Each room is a love affair, spiced with exquisite décor and disguised from the next. They are tucked into the surrounding bush and at perfect distances from each other, which gives guests all the privacy that they deserve.
But chimp trekking is what this whole trip was about.
I have trekked for gorillas before – in Uganda – and, as magnificent as that experience was, I have to say that tracking chimpanzees is in a league of its own. When it comes to gorillas, you know the drill – you find them and then stay put wherever they are, watching them and the odd movements that may happen, from playful youngsters darting about to the general allogrooming and social interactions that keep troops cohesive. Chimps, on the other hand, tend to always be on the move. And boy, do they move! Trees and hills are conquered with ease, and they move like black phantoms. They are not the easiest primates to keep up with, but this is where the skills and instincts of Greystoke’s trackers kick in, and they amazingly keep you on track every time you set off after them.
I also noticed another key difference to my gorilla experiences. Chimps are ‘all over the show’ compared to gorillas, which are generally quite merry and calm. Chimp troops are more likely to be divided into sub-units, with several still up in the canopy, while others swing in the mid-storey, and the remainder interact with each other and their babies at ground level. However, on sunny days, when light beams pierce through the forest leaves, it was common to find the entire group down below, stretched out and enjoying the sun’s warm rays, or engaged in some serious grooming sessions. Needless to say, these all make for the most perfect photographic opportunities.
Whilst framing them in my viewfinder, I could not help feeling a bit jealous. I thought to myself that I could definitely use a bit of that grooming as it looked very relaxing. I felt a bit like I was photographing a chimp spa! Comparatively, observing how edgy and grumpy they were on a misty morning after a night of rain was funny.
This was one of the most intense experiences I have ever had in the forests of Africa, and it is in no small measure thanks to Africa Geographic, as well as Mahale’s Mountains, the incredible lodge and the amazing guides at Greystoke. I shall never forget their patience, innate ability to track the chimps, and how we laughed when they discovered my ability to imitate chimp contact calls. When they asked how I did it, I replied: ‘I have learned from the best.’
Back at home, when I close my eyes and think back, I can vividly remember the chimps’ chestnut brown eyes, fascinating gazes, and intense stares.
No one forgets the power of a pant-hoot. Hearing the noises they make carried a very special significance for me, as these were the sounds that Jane Goodall played as an overture to her presentations. The same cries triggered my curiosity and yearning to experience chimp tracking in Africa. Needless to say, my dream came true.
Africa Geographic got everything right. Starting with the suggestion of this wonderful place for my chimp trekking dream safari, all the information they provided, their patience, and the swiftness with which they replied to my queries. Even my rather complicated flight schedule was arranged splendidly, and all flight connections worked like clockwork. Throughout the trip, I had no surprises or changes to my itinerary, and I felt well looked after at all times so that I could relax and enjoy a most magical time.”
Find out about our chimp trekking safaris here – find a ready-made safari or ask us to build one just for you.
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