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Mahale Mountains National Park

The Original Safari Destination

Mahale Mountains National Park

One of Tanzania’s ‘off-the-beaten-track’ safari destinations. Mahale Mountains National Park is a remote destination. Established to protect the chimpanzee population. The park is dominated by Lake Tanganyika to the west and the Mahale Mountain range on the east.
 
Like Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park is remote and tricky to access. It is costly to visit, but both are very different from any where else in Tanzania. They are magical! The Mahale Mountains are one the best place in the world for chimpanzee safaris.
 
This park is one of the most beautiful in Africa. The lakeshore is a beach of the finest powder-white sand. Behind, rises a range of imposing mountains, clad in verdant tropical vegetation. Big electric-blue butterflies flit above the streams, and the forest is alive with sound.

highlights

Chimpanzee Trekking

Mahale is home to around 1,000 chimpanzees. One group of Mahale chimps – the Mimikire clan – has been habituated by researchers since 1965. Currently led by an impressive alpha male, Alofu. The M-group has around 56 chimps. They go where they want and when they want. They remain relaxed near people. It is possible to track and observe them from very close quarters. For the wellbeing of the chimps’ health, all human visitors on chimpanzee safaris wear surgical masks. Trekking can vary from a leisurely wander of 20 minutes to a more strenuous hike lasting up to three hours. Towards the end of the dry season (August to October) Mahale’s chimp safaris are at their easiest. The forest paths are at their driest and least slippery, and the chimps are usually at their closest to the shore.

Trekking in the Mahale Mountains
Chimpanzee in the Mahale Mountains National Park

Primates

In addition to the chimpanzee, Mahale also harbours Tanzania’s densest population of primates: yellow baboon, red colobus, blue, red-tailed and vervet monkeys.

Bird Watching

Mahale is home to more than 247 species of birds, including some that are not sighted in other parks. Birders have to walk through the forest with an armed guide. As the main activity is chimp trekking, please inform your guide of your preference for birds as well so they can keep a lookout.

Birdlife in Mahale Mountains
Lake Activities in the Mahale Mountains

Lake Activities

Kayaking on the lake or snorkeling and swimming are popular activities. However, these activities are only conduced in certain areas for safety. There are other animals that have made the lake their home. Check with your guide before taking a dip.

Protected Lake Front

Lake Tanganyika known internationally for the spectacular variety of its endemic cichlid fish. Since 1985 when the Mahale Mountains National Park was gazetted, there have been no settlements on the island. The 1.6km stretch of lake front remains protected, allowing for wonderful viewing of the aquatic organisms.

Mahale Mountains Lake Front
Mahale Mountains Scenery

Scenery

The untouched lakeshore provides the park with the most beautiful soft white powder sandy beach. Behind the lake rise the spectacularly imposing Mahale Mountain, clad in tropical vegetation, miombo woodland and low lying forest.

Best time to visit

The dry season in Mahale is usually from June through mid October. This is when the chimpanzee trekking tends to be a bit easier as the chimps come down to the lower slopes of the mountains. The heat of the dry season tends to make the environment a bit hazy, but a great time to jump into the lake to cool down. During the green season from mid November to March, the haze from the heat settles, the air is crisp and the lake is crystal clear. The forest is in bloom. The green season is a photographers paradise. Mahale Mountains combines great with Katavi National Park.
Best time to visit Mahale Mountains National Park
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