Mahale Mountains National Park.
Mahale Mountains National Park is an outstanding safari destination to see wildlife on a Tanzania safari, especially chimpanzees. This magical Tanzania safari spot is in western Tanzania, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and the closest big city is Kigoma. Mahale Mountains Park is 1613 square kilometres big and is 130 kilometres north of Mahale. It is in a remote area and is controlled by the Mahale range, which is a mountain range. The Mahale range is a section of the rift valley slope that rises sharply from the shore of Lake Tanganyika to the 2,462-meter-high Nkungwe peak and 6 other peaks that are higher than 2,000 metres above sea level. The Mahale Mountains are a mountain range in western Tanzania. They are on the eastern side of Lake Tanganyika.
Mahale Mountains have several large peaks and steep slopes covered with montane and middle altitude forests. Peaks on Mahale Mountains include Mount Nkungwe standing at the altitude of 2, 462 meters, Mhesabantu at 2,100 meters, Sisaga at 2,335 meters, Humo, Sibindi, Mfitwa and Pasagulu peaks. Lake Tanganyika, which is part of the park’s scenery, has clear water and empty sandy beaches that look like they belong on a volcanic island beach resort.
Attractions in Mahale Mountains National Park.
Chimpanzees.
Mahale Mountains Park is a famous location for chimpanzees to live. It is home to more than 1,000 chimpanzees who live in families, such as the Mimikere group, which is made up of more than 60 chimpanzees. Mahale Mountains national park protects and is home to many different kinds of animals, which is why it is a popular place for Tanzania wildlife safaris. The chimpanzees who live in the park’s montane forests are the major animal species and attraction. There are more than 1,000 chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains national park. They are some of the few left habituated chimpanzees in the world. In Mahale Mountains Park, chimpanzees live in groups of 15 individuals, and the Mimikere group, which has 60 members, is the largest group.
Animal species.
In Mahale Mountains Park, you can also find other primates and animals. There are 8 kinds of primates, including yellow baboons, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, nocturnal lesser greater galagos, and vervet monkeys. Elephants, roan antelopes, buffaloes, giraffes, bush backs, waterbucks, lions, wild dogs, and many other types of mammals live in Africa that can be seen in the park.
Bird species.
Mahale Mountains National Park is also an excellent destination for a Tanzania birding tour. It protects and is home to more than 350 bird species, such as hornbills, giant kingfishers, Bamboo warbler, Crested malimbe, crested Guinea fowls, African fish eagles, Crowned eagle, Ross’s turaco, Crowned eagle, Giant kingfisher, Livingstone’s turaco, Palm-nut vulture, Scaly francolin, Stuhlmann’s starling, Trumpeter hornbill, Vieillot’s black weaver and among others.
Safari activities in Mahale Mountains national park.
Chimpanzee trekking.
The best safari activity in Mahale Mountains National Park is chimpanzee trekking, which gives you a chance to see one of the biggest remaining groups of chimpanzees in the world. Mahale national park is an excellent safari destination for chimpanzee safaris in Tanzania. This activity starts with a briefing at the park’s offices, and then a group of 6 people walks through the park’s mountainous terrain to meet the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking safari in Mahale national park gives chimpanzee trekkers an hour with the chimpanzees, during which they can take pictures if they want. The best time to go on a chimpanzee tour in Tanzania is from July to October in the Mahale Mountains national park.
Mountain hiking.
Mahale National Park is a perfect safari destination to go on a mountain hike safari in Tanzania. This is one of the most exciting and amazing safaris because it takes people to the highest peak of the Mahale Mountains, Mount Nkungwe, which is 2462 metres high. It takes about three days to hike up and down Mount Nkungwe. It takes about two days to get to the top and one day to get back down.
Hikers should bring their own camping gear and food when they go up a mountain, and the best time to climb this mountain is between May and October.
Sport fishing.
Sport fishing on Lake Tanganyika is a great way for a group to spend time together in Mahale Mountains National Park. There are many points on the lake where sport fishing is allowed. Sport fishing is allowed in Mahale Mountains National Park from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but tourists should buy a sport fishing permit in order to take part.
Boat safari.
One of the best safari activities to do in Lake Tanganyika is a boat safari in Mahale Mountains National Park. Boat safaris offer a chance to relax in the cool breeze of the water and see animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, crocodiles, and many more as they come to drink water from the lake.
Bird watching.
Mahale Mountains national park is one of the most popular safari destination to go on a bird watching safari in Tanzania. The park is home to more than 350 kinds of birds, both those that live there and those that come and go. Bird watching in this park is best done in Kabezi area in the north sector of the park and this experience is an opportunity for spotting bird species such as Bamboo warbler, Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Crested Guinea fowl, Crested malimbe, Crowned eagle, Giant kingfisher, Livingstone’s turaco, Palm-nut vulture, Ross’s turaco, Scaly francolin, Stuhlmann’s starling, Trumpeter hornbill, Vieillot’s black weaver and many more. The best time to go bird watching safari in Mahale Mountains national park is from November to April, when migrating birds are there.
Cultural tours.
Cultural tours in Mahale Mountains national park take people to nearby villages of Holoholo and Batongwe people, Kigoma town, and the historical town of Ujiji. These trips give people a look into the local traditions and ways of life of the Tanzanian people and give you a chance to meet the locals, watch local dance and theatre, and take part in other local safari activities. Kigoma town can be explored on the Tanzania cultural safari is the capital of Kigoma district and an economic center of the region, Ujiji town is a historic town with a great history dating back to the German colonial rule in the then Tanganyika and in the 19th century the town was visited by Dr. Livingstone in a bid to stop slave trade.
Bestime to visit Mahale Mountains national park.
The best time to visit Mahale Mountains National Park is during the dry season from May to October. This period offers the easiest chimpanzee trekking as the chimps tend to descend to lower elevations in search of food and water, making sightings more frequent. The weather is also best, with little to no rain, and forests trails are dry and less slippery perfect for hiking. This season also provides excellent conditions for relaxing on shores Lake Tanganyika with clear waters for swimming snorkeling and boat trips. While the park is accessible year around the wet season can make trekking more challenging.
Where to stay in Mahale Mountains National Park.
In Mahale Mountains National Park there is an extensive variety of accommodation establishments that are lodges and camps offering accommodation to travelers visiting the park for a Tanzania safari. Accommodation establishments in Mahale Mountains National Park are of various status that are luxury, midrange and budge. Accommodation in Mahale Mountains National Park is offered in Greystoke Mahale camp, Mbali Mbali Mahale lodge, Mahale Mango Bandas and many more.
How to get to Mahale Mountains National Park.
For a Tanzania safari, the best way to get to Mahale Mountains National Park is by road, air, or boat.
By air, you can take chartered flights from big cities in Tanzania like Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanaza, and Zanzibar. Companies like Northern Air, Air Excel, and Regional Air offer these flights.
By road, you can get to the Mahale Mountains National Park from places like Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanaza, and Zanzibar. The roads are maintained well.
By Boat, You can get to Mahale Mountains National Park from Lake Tanganyika by taking a boat ride.
