Set among the spectacular, forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains, the Mahale Mountains National Park is best known for having a wild chimpanzee population of around 800 individuals. Only accessible by boat or plane, it is a wild frontier that offers brilliant hiking opportunities and the chance to climb the imposing Mount Nkungwe. The park’s dense undergrowth and mountainous setting make it a park for the physically fit, but it rewards intrepid explorers with a wealth of animal and bird life. Nearby Lake Tanganyika, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, you will find a great place for snorkelling, swimming and fishing. It is renowned for its fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, which makes it an essential stop for keen photographers and safari enthusiasts.

The park’s breathtaking array of habitats include rainforests, grasslands, alpine bamboo and woodlands. Mahale is home to nine species of primates including the yellow baboon, red colobus, blue monkeys and the red-tailed monkey as well as 73 other mammals. Over 90 unique species of fish swim in the clear waters of the lake.There are no roads in the park, only forest paths through the lush vegetation. This park is a hiker’s paradise, but most importantly it is a chimpanzee paradise.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Mahale Mountains National Park can be visited throughout the year. The best time to visit is in the dry season from July to October when the chimpanzees tend to gather in bigger groups, closer to shore. You should still to able see them in the wet season, it may just require a little more walking.

During the wet season (April/May), spectacular thunderstorms over the lake delight visitors! Some camps, however, close during this period.