Overview
Mahale Mountains National Park is about as remote as safari travel gets in Tanzania โ reachable only by light aircraft and boat, with no roads connecting it to the rest of the country. That isolation is exactly what protects one of the last strongholds of wild chimpanzees, tracked on foot through steep rainforest with experienced local guides. Between treks, the park’s beaches on Lake Tanganyika, the world’s longest and second-deepest freshwater lake, offer swimming and snorkelling found nowhere else on a Tanzania itinerary.
Wildlife Highlights
- Guided treks to habituated wild chimpanzee groups
- Lake Tanganyika beaches โ the world's longest freshwater lake
- Pristine, largely untouched rainforest wilderness
- A genuinely off-the-beaten-path addition to a Tanzania trip
- Excellent freshwater snorkelling among endemic cichlid fish
Things to Do
- Game drives and guided walks
- Photography and storytelling
- Cultural encounters
- Pair with another Tanzania destination
Best Time to Visit
MayโOct
MayโOctober is the dry season and the easiest time for chimp tracking, with clearer forest trails. The wet season brings lush scenery but tougher, muddier hiking conditions.
Gallery
Where to Stay
Beach & forest tented camps