Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Kigoma region Tanzania. Its named after the Mahale Mountains range that is within its borders, the park has got many un usual features. First its one of only two protected areas for chimpanzees in the country. The chimp’s population in Mahale Mountains National park is the largest known and due to its size and remoteness, the chimpanzee’s curlicue. It’s the only place where chimpanzees and lions co-exist. The other unusual feature of the park is that it’s one of the very few in Africa that is experienced by foot. There are no roads or other infrastructure with in the park boundaries, and the only way in and out of the park is via boat on the Lake.

The Mahale Mountains were inhabited by the Batongwe and Holoholo people, with populations in 1987 of 22,500 respectively. When the Mahale mountains wildlife Research Centre was established in 1979 and these people were expelled from the mountains to make way for the park, which opened in 1985. The people had been highly attuned to the natural environment, living with Virtually no impact on the ecology.

Bird watching; The Avid bird watchers will not be disappointed on an African safari! This gray crowned crane was spotted in the heart of the serengeti, Tanzania. Always carry good binoculars so that you can spot the birds up in the canopies.

Boating; get to explore aquatic wildlife by boat or canoe. With these, you will see many animal species found in water including the fish and the birds.

Cultural visits; the cultural visits enrich any holiday. Get to spend an hour at a local orphanage be something you will never forget. Check with your tour operator to see what to see what the children might need. The books, pencils, erasers and the back packs are always welcomed. Many tours incorporate visits with local tribes, where the guests can join them on their daily activities. The visits with local bush men often include the ability to participate in a hunt.

Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park

Get to spend an adventure filled morning searching the forested slopes of the Mahale Mountain National park ideally placed on the banks of Lake Tanganyika in the Kigoma Region of Tanzania, in search of the chimps. The park stands as one of the two chimpanzee protected areas in the country, as well as boasting the largest chimpanzee population, and the only park were the chimps and lions exist side by side. The topography shows mostly craggy and rolling hills, running across the towering Mahale Mountains chain that boasts a grand elevation of 2462m above sea level.

Walking safaris are curried out across the stunning lowlands that awards guests the rare opportunity to tread the very paths of myriad wildlife and birdlife that call the park. There are 82 species of mammals are peppered throughout Mahale National Park, including a group of habituated chimpanzees.

How to access Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale is not the easiest or cheapest place to get to, depending on your itinerary, your entry point to the country will be either Kilimanjaro international Airport in Arusha town or Julius Nyerere international Airport in Dar es salaam. Your tour operartor will pick you up from the Airport and make ongoing arrangements.

The best way to get to Katavi is by a flight from Arusha The only public, scheduled flight is twice- weekly service between Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale operated by Safari Air Link.