Mahale National Park
Mahale is located in the Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, and it is bordering Lake Tanganyika the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harboring an estimated 1000 fish species.
The Park is the home to some of the Africa’s last enduring wild chimpanzees, a population of roughly more than 850 chimps in the park, it’s also, the home for other primate species have been recorded. These are yellow baboon, red colobus, blue monkey, red tailed monkey and vervet monkey. The research and habituated to human visitors are a Japanese project that goes back as long 1960s, as Jane Goodall’s research in neighbouring Gombe National Park
The eastern slopes of Mahale support populations of elephant, lion, wild dog, roan antelope, buffalo and giraffe, but they are rarely seen by visitors
Climate range from warm to hot and humid, because its located close to the equator. This doesn’t change much throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 27°C during the day and 17°C during the evenings.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
- May to October, is the best period for trekking chimpanzees. During this period, chimps tend to stay close to the lakeshore and likely to be seen in big groups, the sunshine illuminates the fish in the Lake and the beach is an inviting place to relax.
- The Park is accessible all year round. A visit in the rainy season can also be a memorable experience, but the trails might be difficult to walk
WHAT TO DO
- Chimps and mountain Trekking
- Local and sports fishing, sundowners, Snorkeling, Swimming and roaming in the forest,
- Forest birds, fauna and flora tour, camping safari, beach stay, MV LIEMBA tour.
- Filming, photographic Safari, Honeymoon port of Call
- Beach Stay, Leisure , and beach sport
GETTING THERE
The major entry point to the country will be either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Kilimanjaro, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.
The Park is accessible by air, road and boat, as an options to suit the travelers and chimps’ lovers
- By scheduled flight from Arusha, Katavi, Ruaha or from Kigoma with a daily flight from Dar es Salaam airport or chartered flight from major cities Dar es Salaam Zanzibar, Arusha and Dodoma.
- By road from Kigoma, Katavi, Mbeya or Mpanda, but it can be rough and impenetrable, especially in the rainy season.
- By speedboats or timber boats from Kigoma or by large steamship (MV Liemba) leaves Kigoma to Zambia, with numerous stops along the way, including one for Mahale, which is referred to as Lagosa- Mgambo, for park boat to Mahale.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Park offer budget and luxury facilities,
- Tourist Banda’s for budget travelers and students, the park has five self-contained tourist bandas, two rooms with twin beds and a private bathroom in each bandas with Kitchen facilities for self-catering.
- Three luxury tented camps; Nomad Safaris Luxury Tented Camp, Nkungwe Luxury Tented and Flycatcher Safari Camp
