The Mahale Mountains National Park, which is located among the stunning, forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains, was initially established to save the numerous chimpanzees that live in the area. A staggering variety of habitats, including rainforests, grasslands, alpine bamboo, and forests, make up the park. There are over 90 different types of fish swimming in the lake’s crystal-clear waters, and there are over 50 different species of animals that have been recorded in the park.
Chimpanzees are the main draw for tourists in Mahale Mountains National Park. There are about 800 chimpanzees in the park, of which 60 members of the Mimikere group are extremely sociable. Mahale national park is a must-stop Tanzania safari destination for serious photographers and nature related-safari fans because of its legendary sunsets over Lake Tanganyika. The following are the Main Tourist highlights of Mahale Mountains National park:
- An opportunity to interact directly with chimps
- The park is significantly larger than Gombe National Park.
- The pristine forest around Lake Tanganyika’s shoreline
- A pleasant difference from automobile safaris is seeing animals while hiking.
- It is extremely rare visited and never gets crowded.
Scenery of the mahale Mountains National Park.
The park is made up of a series of untamed peaks covered in jungle that rise about two kilometers above the beach of Lake Tanganyika’s blue waters. A dhow trip is the greatest way to fully experience the geography of this iconic Rift Valley Lake, with its high escarpment and white sand beaches. Another activity available is a trip to a breathtaking waterfall in the rainforest.
Climate and weather in Mahale Mountains National Park.
Unsurprisingly, the Mahale Mountains have a wide range of altitude. This has an impact on the average temperatures, which drop as you ascend. The two distinct seasons, dry (May to October) and wet (November to April), are the other major factors that affect the Mahale’s environment.
Wildlife in Mahale mountains National Park
Although Mahale’s chimpanzees are the main draw, the park also hosts a variety of forest animals, including red colobus, red-tailed, and blue monkey armies that may be easily spotted, as well as several vibrant forest birds and butterflies. Occasionally, warthogs have been spotted near the camp.
Aside from chimpanzees, eight other species of primates have been identified, and visitors are likely to see at least five of them. These include the vervet monkey, blue monkey, red-tailed monkey, yellow baboon, and red colobus. Lesser and larger galagos, nocturnal birds, are more likely to be heard than seen. Although visitors hardly ever see them, the eastern slopes of Mahale are home to populations of elephant, lion, wild dog, roan antelope, buffalo, and giraffe.
Best Time To visit Mahale Mountains National Park for Wildlife Viewing
The dry season is a great time for chimpanzees trekking at Mahale Mountains National Park (from July to October) at this time, the woodland paths are firm underfoot and the animals prefer the lower mountains. The chimps are more elusive during the rainier seasons. Nevertheless, exploring at this time is rewarding because of the teeming waterfalls and the flurry of butterflies. The park is open all year round, but it may be challenging to navigate the paths during periods of high rain.
Tourist activities at mahale Mountains National park.
Mahale’s major tourist activity is chimpanzee trekking, but it also provides much more. It is frequently compared to heaven because it is such a stunning and isolated place. It’s breathtaking to simply be here and stroll along Tanganyika’s coastline. On the lake, you may go kayaking, fishing, or snorkeling. You can also spend hours walking through the forest in search of other smaller primates and a wide variety of birds.
Getting to mahale Mountains National Park
After arriving at one of Tanzania’s three international airports (Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport, and Aman Abeid Karume International Airport), travelers can drive or fly domestically to Kigoma, a town nearby. From there, visitors can access the park by boat, which is the primary mode of transportation.
The Mahale Mountains have survived because of their solitude; it takes four or five hours by light plane to get here from Dar es salaam, Tanzania largest city or Arusha city. However, as a result, Mahale only receives a few hundred tourists each year. It is expensive to visit due to its privileged location, yet it is unlike everywhere else in Tanzania and is completely magical safari destination.
Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park.
Chimpanzee watching is an amazing experience that can be found in only two safari destination in Tanzania which are Mahale national Park and Gombe stream National Park. Chimpanzees’ intelligence and thoughtfulness are readily apparent when you are face to-face with one. Chimpanzees can be seen close to the lakeshore or high in the mountains depending on the season, saving you a lengthy walk. Because chimpanzees are so active, exploring these forests on foot can be taxing. You can occasionally track them through these tangled woods. Therefore, having an informed guide is crucial.
The dense forest of mahale national park offers a number of accessible routes for chimpanzee trekking. The old mango trees and guava trees you pass were planted by Japanese scientists to observe chimps up close. The guava is the preferred fruit of the chimpanzee. When you get close to the chimps, the excitement definitely increases. To avoid mishaps, the 10 meter distance between you and the animals is rigorously observed. The possibility exists that the chimpanzees will unintentionally choose to visit you.
A chimpanzee permit is provided each day of your stay. A walk might last anywhere from a few hours to the whole day, and you can even spend the whole day with the chimps. Although fairly pricey, the permit is unquestionably worthwhile. A truly life-changing experience.
