Mahale mountains national park

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Huge Chimpanzee at Mahale National Park
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Rest house (banda) at Mahale National Park

​Mahale Mountains National Park is home to some of the Africa last remaining wild chimpanzees and estimated to have roughly more than 800 residing in this area. Some of them are habituated to human.

The park was officially declared a National Park in 1985.

Set deep in the heart of African interior, a road free park located about 128 km south of  Ujiji (Kigoma) where Stanley uttered that immortal greeting ''Dr Livingstone, I presume''. It is a scene reminiscent of an Indian Ocean Island beach idyll. Silky white coves hem in the sapphire waters of Lake Tanganyika, overshadowed by a chain of wild, jungle draped peaks towering almost 2 km above the shore; the remote, pristine and mysterious Mahale Mountains.

Best time to visit
The park can be visited throughout the year; however, the best time is during the dry season (May – November) but can be visited also in wet season (December - April), however you will need additional gears such as rain coat and boot for trekking and walking safari.

Available activities
  • Chimpanzee Trekking : This activity is conducted from 0630 to 1830HRS.
 
  • Walking safari : Short and long walking safari are normally conducted along the existing trails depending on tourist preference such as enjoying physical features, bathing in pools and waterfalls as well as hiking safari.
 
  • Sport fishing : This is a form of recreational activity where the primary goal is the challenge of finding and catching a remarkable size of fish for prestige. The best time to do sport fishing is at mid-day and evening before sunset and when the lake is calm.
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Main Tourist attractions (Main attractions)
  1. Chimpanzees
These are species of Ape which is the most humanity’s closest living relatives. Research of wild chimpanzees teaches us ''man's place in nature'' and provides us with key information that is relevant to re-constructing the social life of early man. Long term field studies on chimpanzees revealed many important facts about them such as hunting, tool-using, medicinal use of plants, social intelligence and existence of culture. Mahale National Park has the highest remaining wild chimpanzee's population in Africa.
  1. Nkungwe Peak: (2,462 m a.s.l)
This is the highest point in Mahale mountains range which bisects the park from NNW to SSE running about 50 km long. This area was held sacred by local Tongwe people. Hiking Nkungwe peak increases visitor’s satisfaction as the slopes supports diverse flora and fauna troops of red Colobus, red tailed and blue monkeys, black and white colubus monkey and colourful birds as well
  1. Lake Tanganyika
 Set about 770 meters above sea level, provides swimming and snorkelling opportunity in impossibly clear waters of the world's longest (720km), second deepest (1435m) and least polluted fresh water lake providing aquatic habitat to estimated more than 1000 species.
 
Park rules and regulations
  • Keep to the authorized trails.
  • Do not disturb wild animals in any way. Do not make noise.
  • Be considerate to fellow visitors – do not disturb them or the animals they are watching.
  • Do not take any pets or guns into the park.
  • Do not uproot, pick, cut or damage any plant or be in possession of any part of a plant indigenous to the park.
  • Do not light any fire or discard any burning object.
  • Do not discard any litter.
  • Between 7:00p.m and 6:00a.m. remain in the immediate vicinity of designated accommodation facilities (tented camps, tourist bandas, rest house or campsites).
  • A permit is valid for single entry within 24 hours only.
 
 
5 nights/6 days Mahale National Park Tour Package
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Kigoma
Meals (Lunch – Dinner)
  • Arrive in Kigoma - Be welcomed with our organized pick-up service coordinated to your flight arrival time.
  • Transfer to Lake Tanganyika Beach hotel in a private comfortable vehicle (approx. 20 minutes), followed by lunch at the hotel.
  • Free evening in Kigoma.
  • Dinner and overnight in Lake Tanganyika Beach Hotel.
 
Day 2: Transfer to Mahale
Meals (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
  • Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel (B&B).
  • Transfer  to Mahale National Park overland in our comfortable vehicle (approx. 4-5 hours drive).  Picnic lunch will be provided on the way. Enjoy scenic view of the lake Tanganyika throughout the drive. You will cross the mighty Malagarasi river on the way.
  • Arrival at the Mahale National park, followed by camp/room allocation. Enjoy a free evening as the sun sets down, experiencing an orange African sky by the shores of Lake Tanganyika and sounds of nature. (You can choose to swim, snorkel or decide to stroll at the beach and have a relaxing evening). You can check our footnote for extra activities.
  • Freshly prepared dinner is provided.
  • Overnight in Mahale (bandas).
 
Day 3: Mahale full day Chimps Trekking
Meals (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
  • Wake up to the sounds of nature, followed by a good breakfast.
  • Enjoy a full day trekking in the jungles of Mahale and experience how the primates live in the wild. (Sightings : Chimpanzees, Baboons, Monkeys, Birds etc. )
  • Be welcomed back to the camp with a delicious freshly prepared late lunch.
  • Enjoy a free peaceful and relaxing evening by the lake, recalling all the amazing memories made throughout the day (View our footnote for more activities)
  • Enjoy dinner, relax and look back/discuss about the day's excitement.
  • Overnight in Mahale (bandas).
 
Day 4: Mahale Full day Chimps Trekking
Meals (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
  • Wake up to the sounds of nature, followed by a good breakfast.
  • Another full day trekking in the jungles of Mahale. You will follow another trek, different than yesterday, looking for more chimps and other primates.
  • Be welcomed back to the camp with a delicious late lunch.
  • Enjoy a free peaceful and relaxing evening by the lake, recalling all the amazing memories made throughout the day (View our footnote for more activities)
  • Enjoy last dinner at Mahale - relax and replay all the adventure and fun you had here observing our ancestors!
  • Overnight in Mahale (bandas).
 
Day 5: Transfer to Kigoma
Meals (Breakfast – Lunch- Dinner)
  • Today is the last day and we wake up early, followed by a good breakfast.
  • Enjoy the free morning (check activities), followed by an early lunch (1200HRS).
  • Transfer to Kigoma overland, leaving back only footprints and taking back a bag full of memories of the mysterious Mahale Mountains national park.
  • Arrive at Lake Tanganyika Beach Hotel, followed by dinner at the hotel.
  • Overnight in Kigoma at the hotel.
 
Day 6: Kigoma – Transfer to airport
  • Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel (B&B).
  • Free morning (depending on the time of departure, complementary Kigoma market tour and Livingstone tour in historical Ujiji).
  • Transfer to airport coordinated to your flight reporting time, going back with a handful of memories from Mahale, the lake and Kigoma!
 
What is included:
  • Accommodation in a standard double or twin room - sharing.
  • Full board meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast) when staying the night during the safari.
  • 2 litres of bottled water per person per day.
  • Logistical transfers - you will be transferred, overland or by boat, as stated in the itinerary.
  • Activities that are included in the itinerary.
  • Private arrival and departure meet, greet and transfer services.
  • All park and reserve entry fees, guide fees, camping fees, all transfer as per itinerary, VAT, government levies, service charges and hotel taxes for the services booked.
 
What Is Not Included:

  • Other services, tours, activities, drinks and meals that are outside the included offerings, personal expenses such as travellers' insurance, medical evacuation, communication charges, gratuities - tips, visas, airport specific passenger charges, international and domestic airfares, that are extra and NOT part of the included itinerary.