Key facts
| Area | 1,613 km² |
|---|---|
| Location and distance | Western Tanzania on Lake Tanganyika, around 128 km south of Kigoma |
| Getting there | Around 2 hours' flight from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, then 3 to 4 hours by boat; alternatively charter flight to Kalilani Airstrip and around 90 minutes by boat |
| Park fee per person per day | 80 USD, children aged 5 to 15 years 20 USD (chimpanzee visit from age 12), under 5 years free, plus 18% VAT. |
| Best months | January to February, June to October |
| Typical wildlife | Chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, colobus monkeys, forest elephants, leopards |
| Accommodation | Mbali Mbali Mahale Lodge, Greystoke Mahale (Nomad Tanzania) |
Highlights and wildlife
Guided hikes take you through dense rainforest, over steep mountain slopes and into deeply cut valleys above Lake Tanganyika. Streams and waterfalls run through the forest and create a humid climate, while the differences in altitude produce different vegetation zones with a high diversity of species. The focus is on the chimpanzees: several groups live here in one of the largest contiguous protected areas for this species in Africa. Your guide tracks one of the groups with you on foot. Besides the chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys and colobus monkeys inhabit the treetops of the forest.
Besides the primates, forest elephants, leopards and buffalo also live in the park, but in the dense vegetation they usually stay out of sight. The birdlife is easier to observe: forest and water birds populate the shore and rainforest, and birds of prey circle above the mountain slopes. After the hikes, Lake Tanganyika provides relaxation. You swim in the lake or take a boat along the shore. As you pass remote stretches of shoreline and forested banks, a different view of the mountains opens up. In this way, observations in the forest alternate with quiet hours by the water.
Best time to visit
Mahale Mountains National Park can be visited all year round, but the best conditions are from January to February and from June to October. In these dry seasons the paths are drier and easier to walk, and the chances of successful chimpanzee sightings increase. During the rainy seasons the forest is particularly green and lush, but the paths are slippery and the hikes more demanding. You can read about what the seasons are like elsewhere in Tanzania in the guide to the best time to visit Tanzania.
| Month | Weather | Wildlife |
|---|---|---|
Dry season, better paths | ||
Dry season, better paths | ||
Lush, paths slippery |
Fees and rules
The park fee is 80 USD per person per day. Children aged 5 to 15 pay 20 USD, children under 5 are free of charge. 18% VAT is added to the fees. As the fee applies per day, factor it in for your planned length of stay. In the park itself you get around exclusively on foot or by boat, as there are no roads. The chimpanzee treks only take place with a guide and require patience, stamina and respect for the animals. According to TANAPA, only visitors aged 12 and over may visit the chimpanzees; if you are ill or have an infectious disease, the visit is not permitted. You keep a distance of at least 10 metres from the animals, and when you come within 50 metres of them, you wear a mask provided by your guide. You stay with the animals for a maximum of one hour, in small groups. You can read about how the park fees fit into the total price of a trip in the guide to Tanzania safari costs.
Getting there and combinations
The park lies around 128 km south of Kigoma and cannot be reached by road. You take a domestic flight from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma in around two hours; from there it is three to four hours by boat along Lake Tanganyika. Alternatively, you fly by charter to Kalilani Airstrip and cover the last roughly 90 minutes by boat. For a longer trip through western Tanzania, combine your stay with Gombe Stream National Park, where you also observe chimpanzees, and with the savannahs of Katavi National Park.
