9 DAYS
Day 1: Arrival in Dar es Salaam – Hotel Transfer
Upon arrival in Dar es Salaam, you will be welcomed by your safari representative and transferred to your hotel. You will receive a full briefing about your 9-day safari itinerary, including flights, park details, and trekking information. The rest of the day is for relaxation and preparation.
Day 2: Fly to Gombe Stream National Park – Arrival & Introductory Walk
After breakfast, you fly to western Tanzania followed by a scenic boat transfer across Lake Tanganyika to reach Gombe Stream National Park. Upon arrival, you check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, you take a short forest walk to explore chimpanzee trekking trails and may spot chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, baboons, and birdlife. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 3: Full-Day Chimpanzee Trekking in Gombe
After an early breakfast, you enter the forest for a full-day chimpanzee trekking experience. Guided by expert rangers, you track chimpanzee families and observe their natural behavior such as feeding, grooming, and social interaction.
You enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest or return to the lodge depending on trekking distance. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4: Final Gombe Experience – Transfer to Safari Parks
You begin the day with a final short chimpanzee trek or forest walk. After lunch, you transfer via boat and flight connections to mainland Tanzania to begin your Big Five safari circuit. Dinner and overnight at a lodge near your next park.
Day 5: Big Five Safari – Game Drive
After breakfast, you head out for a full-day game drive in one of Tanzania’s famous national parks. You search for the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino—along with giraffes, zebras, and hippos.
You enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park and continue exploring until sunset. Dinner and overnight at the lodge or tented camp.
Day 6: Full-Day Safari Game Drive
Today is dedicated to a full-day safari exploring different areas of the park. You visit rivers, plains, and woodland areas where wildlife is abundant. This day increases your chances of spotting predators and large herbivore herds.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge or camp.
Day 7: Transfer to Another Safari Park – Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, you transfer to another national park or conservation area for more wildlife viewing. In the afternoon, you enjoy a game drive exploring new landscapes and animal habitats.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge or tented camp.
Day 8: Full-Day Big Five Safari Experience
You spend a full day on safari exploring deeper sections of the park. This day focuses on photography, predator tracking, and observing large herds of wildlife in their natural environment.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge or camp.
Day 9: Morning Game Drive – Return to Dar es Salaam
After breakfast, you enjoy a final morning game drive. Later, you transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Dar es Salaam.
Upon arrival, you are transferred to your hotel or airport, marking the end of your unforgettable 9-day chimpanzee trekking and Big Five safari adventure.
Return domestic flights (Dar es Salaam – western Tanzania – safari circuit – Dar es Salaam)
Airport and airstrip transfers in all destinations
Boat transfers across Lake Tanganyika (for Gombe access)
Park entry fees for Gombe Stream National Park and selected Big Five safari parks
Accommodation (8 nights in lodges or tented camps)
All meals during safari (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Chimpanzee trekking permits in Gombe Stream National Park
Professional English-speaking safari guide and park rangers
Full Big Five game drives in designated national parks
Bottled drinking water during safari activities
Government taxes and conservation fees
International flights to and from Tanzania
Tanzania visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, phone calls, etc.)
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Tips and gratuities for guides, rangers, boat crew, and lodge staff
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Accommodation before and after the safari in Dar es Salaam unless requested
Why Choose 9 Days Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking and Tanzania Big five Safari
This 9-day safari is one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Tanzania because it combines chimpanzee trekking and Big Five game viewing in one journey.
One of the main reasons to choose this safari is the diversity of wildlife experiences. You get to track wild chimpanzees in the rainforest of Gombe and also explore iconic savannah landscapes filled with Africa’s most famous animals.
Another advantage is the variety of ecosystems, from Lake Tanganyika’s tropical shoreline to vast open plains, rivers, and woodlands. This makes the safari visually rich and highly rewarding for photography and nature lovers.
The safari is also ideal for travelers who want a complete Tanzania experience in one itinerary, combining primates, predators, and classic safari wildlife in a single trip.
It is perfect for adventure travelers, photographers, researchers, and wildlife enthusiasts looking for a deeper, more unique safari away from crowded tourist routes.
Best Time to Visit 9 Days Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking and Tanzania Big five Safari
The best time for the 9-day safari combining chimpanzee trekking in Gombe Stream National Park and Big Five game drives in Tanzania is during the dry season from June to October.
During this period, wildlife viewing conditions are excellent. In Gombe, chimpanzee trekking is easier because the forest trails are dry and less slippery, and chimpanzees are easier to locate as they move through more accessible areas.
In the Big Five safari parks, animals gather around water sources, making it easier to spot lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos, along with large herds of other wildlife.
Weather is generally sunny and stable, which makes game drives, trekking, and photography more enjoyable with clear skies and beautiful landscapes.
The green season from November to May offers lush scenery and fewer tourists, but heavy rains between March and May can make forest trails and some safari roads more challenging.
Overall, June to October is the best time for this 9-day Gombe and Big Five safari, offering the best balance of accessibility, comfort, and unforgettable wildlife experiences.
