Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale Mountains National Park is another chimpanzee haven, with the added allure of its remote and pristine location. Nestled along Lake Tanganyika, the park combines forested mountains, white sandy beaches, and rich biodiversity. Guided treks to observe chimpanzees are a highlight, but visitors can also enjoy kayaking, fishing, and exploring the lake’s stunning shores. Mahale offers an unparalleled blend of wildlife and relaxation.

When to visit

The dry season from May to October is the best time for chimpanzee trekking: the forest trails are firmer and the chimps tend to range lower down the mountains, closer to the lakeshore camps. The wet season is greener and the lake is beautifully clear, but treks can be longer, steeper and less certain. Most camps open roughly June to March.

Getting there

Mahale is one of the hardest-to-reach parks in Tanzania and there are no roads in. Visitors fly by light aircraft to an airstrip near the park, then transfer by boat along Lake Tanganyika to the camps — part of the adventure, and a spectacular arrival.

What you'll see

The reason to come is a habituated community of wild chimpanzees that has been studied by researchers since the 1960s; trackers locate them each morning and small groups hike in to spend time nearby. The forest also holds red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys and a rich birdlife, while the white-sand beaches and clear water of Lake Tanganyika make this a genuine safari-and-relax destination.

Good to know

• Plan three to four nights; chimpanzee sightings are likely but never guaranteed, so allow more than one trekking day.
• Treks can be steep and hot — a reasonable level of fitness helps.
• Kayaking, snorkelling, boat trips and catch-and-release fishing fill the non-trekking time.
• Almost always combined with Katavi, which shares the same fly-in routing.