Mahale is where forested mountains drop straight down to the clear water of Lake Tanganyika, and where you come to walk among wild chimpanzees. There are no roads into the park, so you arrive by light aircraft and then by boat along the shore. Your days are shaped around the trek: you head up into the forest with a ranger and trackers, then come back to a sandy beach and an evening by the lake. It is remote, quiet and quite unlike any other safari in Tanzania.

What you will see

The chimpanzees are the reason to come. One community here has been studied by researchers for decades and is used to people, which allows calm, close viewing. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed, because the chimps move through the forest and on some days they range high up the slopes. The forest is also home to other primates, such as red colobus and blue monkeys, along with forest birds and butterflies. On the lake you may see fish eagles and kingfishers, and the water is clear enough to swim close to shore where your guide says it is safe.

The chimpanzee trek

Treks can be steep, slippery and hot, and may take anything from under an hour to several hours
Time with the chimps is limited once you find them, and you wear a mask and keep your distance to protect them from human illness
A minimum age applies, so please tell us if you are travelling with children
Good walking shoes, long trousers and a light rain layer all help

When to go

The dry season, roughly July to October, is the most popular time. Paths are drier, and later in the dry season the chimps can often be found lower down the slopes, which may mean shorter treks. In the rains the forest is wetter and walking is harder, and many camps close in the long rains of roughly April to May. Our Tanzania weather guide has more detail.

Getting there

Scheduled light-aircraft flights from Arusha, with connections from Dar es Salaam, serve the west, often on set days of the week and often via Katavi. From the Mahale airstrip the final stretch is a boat ride along the lake shore to your camp. It is a long journey, but that is part of what keeps the park so peaceful.

How it fits your trip

Mahale pairs naturally with Katavi for a western circuit of chimps and big game. It also works well after the northern parks or a Kilimanjaro climb, and some guests fly on to Zanzibar to finish by the sea. We suggest three or four nights so you have more than one chance to trek.

Where to stay

Accommodation is limited to a small number of camps on the lake shore, simple in style, with the beach and the forest as the main attraction. Space is tight in the peak months, so plan early.