Mahale Mountains National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park
Are you planning to go on safari in Mahale Mountains?
Talk to our experts about the perfect planning for your holiday.
Mahale is located in the Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, it is bordering Lake Tanganyika-the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harbouring an estimated 1000 fish species.
Famous for:
Its fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, which makes it an essential stop for keen photographers and safari enthusiasts.
- Foot-walking National Park
- Research-and conservation-oriented park
- Conservation of indigenous fish of Lake Tanganyika: No commercial fishing is permitted within 1.5km from the shore line
- Mixture of western and eastern Africa fauna and flora
- Unique combination of forests, mountains and the lake
- Abundant bird life
- Abundant insect life with over 30 species of Charaxes butterflies
- Abundant primate life: at least 9 species of non-human primates including a habituated group of chimpanzees
- Intact fauna of mammal predators including leopards, lions and hunting dogs
- Best Time: July to October (Chimp trekking is easy)
- High Season: July to October (Mahale is never crowded)
- Low Season: April and May (Most lodges are closed)
Mahale is not the easiest or cheapest place to get to. Depending on your itinerary, your entry point to the country will be either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha town, or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and make ongoing arrangements.
The best way to get to Katavi is by a flight from Arusha. The only public, scheduled flight is the twice-weekly service between Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale operated by Safari Air Link.
- The Chimpanzees
- Chain of Mountains (Mahale range)
- Forest fauna and flora (Angola colobus, red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, forest birds, alpine bamboo, montane rain forest etc).
- Beach along Lake Tanganyika
- Local fishermen
- Sun set on the Lake horizon
- Chimp tracking (allow two days)
- Hiking to the Park’s highest point “Nkungwe” (8,069ft) held sacred by the local Tongwe people.
- Boating and canoeing
- Diving and Snorkeling
- Sports fishing and many more water sports activities
- Mid range accommodation: Greystoke mahale camp, Tarn hut resort, Nkungwe tented camp
- Luxury accommodations: Mbali Mbali Mahale lodge
- Best Weather: May to October (Almost no rainfall)
- Worst Weather: November to April
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