Mahale Mountains National Park.
Located on a far-flung beach along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika accessible only by air and water, below a huge story-book tropical forest, is the tiny sanctuary of Mahale Mountains National Park. Here the water is as clear as gin, the air scented and the living is very easy indeed. The forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains rise behind our camps, home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees, with approximately 1000 individuals inhabiting the national park. Each day you can venture out into the forest, to observe and commune with these, our closest relatives, as they groom, wrestle and forage across the leafy floor.
The forest itself is special, with eight other species of primate, shy forest mammals, birds, butterflies, giant vines and waterfalls. And if a day’s ‘chimping’ wasn’t enough, you can snorkel in Lake Tanganyika or swim in the clear waters (there are over 250 species of cichlid, most unique to the lake), go fishing for giant Tanganyika Perch or kayak along the lake shore.
The best time to visit Mahale is between May and February, the chimps are in residence all year round but they can on occasion be high up the mountain making them difficult to spot. Most guests will get to see them on a short holiday safari in Mahale.
Mahale Mountains National Park combines very well with a short safari in Katavi National Park which is one of Tanzanias Best and least explored parks or Ruaha National Park which may be a stop on route.