Mahale Mountains National Park, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, is about as far West as you can go in Tanzania. It is home to the most incredible Chimpanzee trekking experience on the continent. Thick tropical forest runs all the way down to fine sandy beaches, with no roads or vehicles in sight. Arriving by boat you step into one of Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas, and one of very few that is accessible without being a world class adventurer.
As part of a “Western Circuit” with Katavi National Park Mahale Mountains receives very few visitors each year. It is the perfect place for those that are looking to get off the beaten track or for those that have been on a number safaris already and want to try something new and very different but have been “bitten by the Africa bug”. On the flight in you will see nothing but the occasional tiny village and the odd fishing dhow, the isolation of the local communities is something that is quite hard to comprehend coming from our modern lives.
If you decide not to trek the chimps on one day this is a perfect place to simply unwind, there are waterfalls that you can walk to, quietly keeping an eye out for all the other wild inhabitants of the surrounding bush, take an afternoon dhow cruise or take a kayak out into the lake for a paddle. Alternatively just sit on the beach and read a book!
Mahale Mountains National Park is easiest accessed by light aircraft from Arusha in Northern Tanzania, taking around 3 hours to reach the nearest airstrip, followed by a boat transfer of around 2 hours in a traditional dhow. Flights depart twice a week and due to flight times require a night in Arusha.
The Mahale Mountains are accessible from June to March, this incredible tropical environment closes for just over a month every year so that properties can do annual maintenance.
One of the most remote parts of Tanzania, with only a few isolated communities on the shores of lake Tanganyika and the surrounding forests, getting here takes some time but it is well worth it. Flights operate from Arusha, stopping in the Serengeti and continue on to Katavi national Park. From the airstrip a drive and boat ride is then required to access this amazing environment.
The primary reason for visiting this area is most certainly trekking to spend time with habituated chimps, however, this is far from all there is to do here. Apart from relaxing in these idyllic surroundings there are dhow cruises, fishing and treks to beautiful waterfalls and the like.
Chimp Trekking
For many this life changing experience is one of the most rewarding wildlife interactions in Africa. You will trek to the sight of the clan and get to spend one hour with them while they go about their daily life. We cant recommend this enough, most often reserved for those that have already fallen in love with Africa and all she has to offer, this can also make the most incredible experience for those n their first visit to the continent when combined with a more traditional safari in the Serengeti.
Top Mahale camps
Greystoke Mahale
Mahale Mountains, Tanzania
Perfect to experience a once in a lifetime African adventure combined with the most relaxing surrounding imaginable.
One of our absolute favourite places in Africa, on an idyllic lakeshore in one of the most amazing wilderness areas on the planet.