Positioned in the heart of the interior where the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika laced by sandy white coves sets the scene for a string of wild, jungle mountainous peaks soaring almost 2 kilometres above the shore : the remote and mysterious Mahale Moutains. Like Gombe Stream in the north Mahale Mountains is the residence of about 800 Chimpanzee habituated to visitors by a Japanese research project established in the 1960. Tracking the Chimpanzee is a enchanting experience. Your guide’s trained eye scans the levels of the forests for last night’s nests, half eaten fruit and fresh dung, amidst as butterflies float in the mottled sunlight, collecting valuable clues for locating the chimpanzee. Then unexpectedly you are surrounded by these almost human like primates sharing 98 % of our genes. Mahale is also known as Nkungwe, taken from the name of the parks highest mountain which is sacred to the Tongwe people. One can trace the Tongwe people’s ancient pilgrimage to the mountain spirits hiking through the forest belt which is home to an endemic race of Angola Colobus Monkey onto higher grassy ridges dotted with alpine bamboo ending at the World’s second deepest and longest freshwater lake of Tanganyika. A swim in these least polluted waters habouring an estimated 1000 species of fish ends a long and rewarding day. Please remember that strict rules are in place to safeguard you and the chimpanzee and allocate at least two days to see them (no guarantees).
Beach Dinner at Greystoke Mahale Camp, the best of both worlds ( beach and wildlife )
Size
1613 sq km
Location
Western Tanzania bordering Lake Tanganyika
Getting There
Charter flights Arusha, Dar es Salaam or Kigoma then National Park Headquarters boat
When to go
Dry Season May to October best for forest walks. Light Rains occur during October and November but do not detract from the experience
5 REASONS TO ROVE MAHALE NATIONAL PARK
• Chimpanzee Trekking
• Tongwe People Heritage
• Hiking & Camping
• Snorkelling in Lake Tanganyika
• Fresh fish for Dinner – the best in East Africa
