National Park in Tanzania
Chimpanzees on the shore of Lake Tanganyika
Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the world's best places to see wild chimpanzees, and one of the most beautiful wilderness settings in Africa. The park lies on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, with the forested Mahale range rising behind white sand beaches. No roads reach it. You arrive by light aircraft or boat, and the silence is complete.
About 800 to 900 chimpanzees live in the park, including habituated groups studied for more than fifty years. A guided trek into the forest brings you within a few metres of chimps feeding, grooming and playing, and the experience is deeply moving. The lake is clear, deep and warm, with snorkelling, kayaking and sunset dhow trips between treks.
Mahale is remote, small-scale and high-end, and it suits travellers who want a once-in-a-lifetime primate experience in a stunning setting.
Chimpanzees are the main attraction, and the park also has red colobus, blue monkey, red-tailed monkey, yellow baboon and bushbuck. Lions and leopards live on the eastern slopes but are rarely seen. The lake holds hundreds of species of cichlid fish, many found nowhere else.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The Mahale Mountains tower above a long white beach and clear blue water, with forest stretching up to the cloud-wrapped summit of Mount Nkungwe. At dawn and dusk the lake is calm and glassy.
Activities here
Mahale is warm and humid on the lake shore, with daytime temperatures of 27°C to 31°C, and cooler on the mountain. The rains fall from November to April.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 20 | 150 |
| Feb | 29 | 20 | 150 |
| Mar | 28 | 20 | 200 |
| Apr | 28 | 19 | 200 |
| May | 28 | 19 | 50 |
| Jun | 28 | 17 | 5 |
| Jul | 28 | 16 | 2 |
| Aug | 29 | 17 | 2 |
| Sep | 30 | 18 | 10 |
| Oct | 31 | 19 | 50 |
| Nov | 30 | 20 | 140 |
| Dec | 29 | 20 | 170 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
May to October is the dry season, with clear skies, calm water and easier trekking. The chimpanzees tend to descend to lower, more accessible slopes in the dry season, which makes sightings more reliable.
The wet season from November to April is hot and humid, with the forest slippery and many camps closed. The chimpanzees move higher into the mountains, and treks are longer.
June to October is the best time for chimpanzee tracking. Camps are normally closed in the heavy rains from March to May.
Best time to visit May to Oct
Mahale is reached by scheduled or charter flight from Arusha, Katavi or Kigoma, followed by a boat transfer along the lake, or by boat from Kigoma in about six to eight hours. Most guests fly into the airstrip at Mahale or Katavi and take a boat the rest of the way.
Park fees and chimpanzee tracking permits are included in our safaris. Most visitors need a Tanzania visa, applied for online before travel or bought on arrival, and a passport valid for at least six months. Tracking is limited to small groups and children under 12 are not allowed.
Treks can be steep and humid, so you need a reasonable level of fitness. Chimpanzees can catch human diseases, so anyone with a cold or infection must not track. Mahale is remote, and medical evacuation is by air. Please take advice on malaria before you travel.
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“Our take”
Mahale is the most adventurous trip we sell. Give it at least four nights, and pair it with Katavi if you can.
Safaris from
US$10,810 per person
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Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
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