Mahale Mountains National Park

About Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale is one of the most remote and distinctive parks in Tanzania -- a range of forested mountains rising directly from the shore of Lake Tanganyika, the world's second-deepest lake, and reachable only by boat or light aircraft. There are no roads here, which is part of what has kept it so pristine.

What Makes It Different

Mahale is best known for chimpanzee trekking. A habituated troop of roughly 60 chimpanzees, studied continuously by Japanese researchers since the 1960s, ranges through the forested slopes above the lake, and guided treks bring visitors close enough to observe their behavior in the wild. Afterward, Lake Tanganyika itself offers a rare combination: crystal-clear water for swimming and snorkeling among colorful cichlid fish found nowhere else on earth, right beside the forest.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season from May to October offers the easiest chimp trekking conditions and calmer lake waters, while the park closes to visitors during the heaviest rains from March to mid-May.

Getting to Mahale Mountains National Park

Access is by light aircraft to a nearby airstrip followed by a boat transfer, or by boat from Kigoma. Because of the logistics involved, Mahale is best suited to travelers with extra time who want a genuinely off-the-grid combination of primates and lakeshore.

Good to Know

Because permits for chimpanzee trekking are limited and access requires advance planning, Mahale itineraries should be booked well ahead of travel dates. Most stays combine two to three nights, allowing for more than one trekking attempt in case the chimps range further from camp on a given day.

Because of its remote location, Mahale is often combined with Katavi National Park or added onto a Ruaha safari, giving travelers a rare combination of chimpanzee trekking, lakeside relaxation, and classic game viewing in a single extended trip.