Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge — Hotel in Kigoma Region

We just came back from a 2-week trip to Tanzania and staying at Mbali Mbali in Gombe was the highlight. The hospitality was beyond our expectations and I loved the lodging and the tranquility. The food was also really really good - better than the other lodges we stayed at in the Serengeti and Zanzibar. Rama and Ahadi were our guides for the chimps - true experts who educated us while helping us trek to where the chimps were - an unforgettable experience!

The staff included Philip, Khalid, Joel, Elias, Moussa - they were all amazing, kind and always greeted us with big smiles. We actually had brought the wrong phone charger with us and Philip actually lent us his personal charger during our stay which was above and beyond.

The lodging itself was really really nice. The permanent tents were very comfortable and everything was clean and in great condition.

Regarding the trek to the chimps - it depends on where they are. We had to travel 1-1.5 hours the first day to see them and it was pretty rigorous, very steep. Rama and Ahadi were very in tune with the group and would slow down if they saw anyone struggling to catch their breath (that was me!). :)

There is a fishing village a 5-10 min dhow ride away (45 min walk). This was a great experience - my kids played soccer with the kids and interacted with them, which they loved. Just the biggest smiles and warm greetings all around. (We also did the Masai village visit in the Serengeti, which IMO, is very staged and not as authentic.)

Overall, this was my favorite part of the trip....

The adventure started by boat - a dhow journey along the shores of Lake Tanganika. When we arrived at the lodge we were amazed to discover we would be the only guests staying - we had it all to ourselves. The team made us very welcome and after an excellent dinner on the first evening we met Rama who was to be our guide. We weren’t sure about our chances of seeing the chimps but he said he was 99.9% confident we would over our three days. The trek starts with a short dhow ride to the Dr Jane Goodall Institute where all her famous research took place and from there on foot up the mountain. And ‘up’ is the word! It was hard work at times but Rama was there to offer a helping hand, pulling us up when needed. Peter our ranger guide and Nkanza the trained guide. The rewards though far outweighed the effort. The chimps were suddenly all around us but were totally unfazed by our presence. We followed them for an hour (which is all that is allowed) and then made our way down. It was an incredible experience and provided lifelong memories. We did two more treks and, thankfully, the chimps had moved down the mountain in search of food. We saw chimps every day so well done Rama on 100% success! |The accommodation was superb and and the food was great. The team were friendly and were always on hand if we needed anything. Congratulations to Philip and all the staff for making it such a wonderful stay. A special thank you to Joe, Rama, Peter and Nkanza. We can’t recommend Mbali Mbali Gombe...

From the moment I was picked up at the airport by the manager of the Mbalimbali Lodges, to the moment I left, I felt so well taken care of! The boat ride was smooth, even with some choppy water and swells; it takes about 2.5 hours, & the views of the coast are beautiful! The service is impeccable with warmth; Joel was ready with refreshing washcloths with every return to camp! Their guide Rama, & his understudy Jackson, were full of chimp information (behavior, history), and had a hand ready for any big steps up or down. It is a work-out, but I enjoy that! |We also visited the village just to the north, and Rama was the friendly ambassador. It’s quite eye-opening to see this way of life, & I highly recommend watching the dancing (& they sing A Capella—really good!). It costs $50/group, & it is well worth it! Swimming in the lake is wonderful too (not too cold!). I went in early November, & worried I might not see chimps, but Rama works hard to try and make sure you see them! It did pour the day before I arrived, & once right when we got back to camp. So I lucked out…& saw chimps all 3 mornings (along with 2-3 other kinds, & lots of baboons playing on the lodge grounds!) It was expensive for me, but I’m so happy I went—it was...