Mahale Mountains National Park

Overview

Mahale, described simply as one of the most beautiful parks anywhere in Africa, is located in one of the most remote locations in Tanzania. It lies on the western border with the Congo, against the remarkable shores of Lake Tanganyika with a size of 1,613 sq km.
Mahale Mountains National Park, like its northerly neighbor Gombe Stream, is home to some of Africa’s remaining wild chimpanzees. Tracking these chimps in Mahale is a thrilling experience.

Background

Many parts of the Mahale Mountains National Park were once inhabited and under cultivation and nowhere does one have to look far to find the evidence of this. In the 1960s there were at least 5 hamlets in the eastern areas of the park. Ilumbi was located at the source of the Kabezi, Ntondo was further down along the ridge from Ilumbi towards the present day village of Mgambo, Ujamba was on the western side of the Mahale Ridge at 2000m, and Kasangazi was on the path from Ujamba to Kapala on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.

The National Park now no longer contains settlements, with the exception of park administration on the northern border at Bilenge, and four small tourist camps on the edge of the Kasoge Forest.
Presently, most of the people existing on land adjacent to the Park are farmers who cultivate subsistence farms, mainly growing cassava as their staple food, along with beans, maize, rice and sweet potatoes. Fishing is the chief economic activity.

Wildlife

The altitude range of mahale is reflected in its wide variety of habitat, with a floral composition that reflects a unique combination of influences associated with the eastern savannah, western rainforest and southern Miombo woodland biomes. And while chimpanzees are the star attraction, the slopes support a diverse forest fauna, including readily observed troops of red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, and a kaleidoscopic array of colorful forest birds. The eastern slopes of Mahale support savannah and woodland species such as elephants, lion, African hunting Dog, roan antelope, buffalo and giraffe.

Mahale Safaris

• Chimp tracking: Tracking the chimps of Mahale is a delightful experience. The guide’s eyes pick out last night’s nests – shadowy clumps high in a gallery of trees crowding the sky. Scraps of half-eaten fruit and fresh dung become valuable clues, leading deeper into the forest. Butterflies flit in the dappled sunlight.

• Hiking: You can trace the Tongwe people’s ancient pilgrimage to the mountain spirits, hiking through the montane rainforest belt – home to an endemic race of Angola colobus monkey – to high grassy ridges chequered with alpine bamboo. Then bathe in the impossibly clear waters of the world’s longest, second-deepest and least-polluted freshwater lake – harboring an estimated 1,000 fish species – before returning as you came, by boat.

Getting there & around

Scheduled flights are from Arusha, Dar or Kigoma to Mahale Mountains National park. Also available is a National Park motorboat from Kigoma, 4-5 hours. Weekly steamer from Kigoma, 7 hours; and then hire a local fishing boat for another 1 or 2 hours.

Best Time to Visit

Dry season running from May to October is best for forest walks although there are some light rains in Late October and early November, but have an insignificant disruption.