With its large Chimpanzee population, the Mahale Mountains Park is, along with the Gombe National Park, one of the few protected areas for primates.
Mahale National Park is rich in vegetation. Tropical forests thrive in areas with all kinds of trees, including alpine bamboo and laurel.
Safaris in the park are conducted on foot, along trails that wind through the rainforest.
These walks through the heart of the African jungle can last from 20 minutes to several hours. You’ll have the chance to follow the tracks left by the chimpanzees.
There are over 50 species of mammal in the park and over 100 species of fish swim in the clear waters of the lake. The park is home to over 200 species of birds, including African fish eagles, storks and a variety of migratory birds.
A visit to Mahale Mountains Park takes at least two days, so there’s every chance you’ll encounter a chimpanzee. Access to the park is quite difficult and travellers often stay longer.
At the end of the day, sit on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and admire the idyllic scenery and unforgettable sunset. You’ll have the chance to try scuba diving in the turquoise waters and see the colourful fish.
Mahale National Park is a fisherman’s paradise and one of the best places to fish on Lake Tanganyika. Due to the tightly controlled boundaries of the park, there are plenty of fish in the area.
Mahale National Park can be visited all year round, but the best time to visit is from May to October. It is warm and dry during this period, making it an ideal place to visit. You can also easily find chimpanzees during this period.
Access to Mahale Park is very difficult, but there are many ways to get there.
The easiest way to get to the park is by plane.
During the tourist season, accommodation providers organise regular flights between Arusha and Mahale.
If you’re on a budget, you can get to Mahale by car or train via Kigoma.
Depending on where you start from, the journey can take several days, but you can also explore the country at the same time. When you arrive in Kigoma, you need to take a boat, so plan a boat trip of at least 4-5 hours on Lake Tanganyika.
There are several choices available to you during your stay in Mahale Park. From luxury lodges to campsites, our advisors will find the right place for you.
The regulations in Mahale Park are one of the strictest in Tanzania, along with those in Gombe.
As this is a protected park mainly dedicated to chimpanzee research, it is important to respect not only the primate population, but also the park’s flora and fauna. Your local guide will explain the safety measures directly on site.
