Mahale Mountains National Park Tanzania
Mahale occupies an area around 1600sq km over the far eastern shore on the Lake Tanganyika, southerly of Kigoma. It derives the title by the Mahale ranges and also mountains which edge the park’s boundaries. The region is additionally known as Nkungwe, from the park’s greatest mountain, taken holy within the local Tongwe people, and also at 2,460 metres, the tallest from the 6 notable points that make up the Mahale Range.
Mahale Mountains is a habitat for a number of Africa’s surviving wild chimpanzees: a number of about 800, familiarized with tourists by the help of a Japanese research project started from the 1960s. Many other animals include giant squirrels, porcupines, colobus monkey, mongoose, grysbok, leopards, lions, African wild dogs, kudus, sable antelopes, giraffes, elephants as well as buffalos. Butterflies fly around the park too.
The foot hills on the ranges in addition support different flora varieties with above 500 plants. Particularly, more than 100 of such are ingested by chimps besides other animals. Hike over the montane rainforest, the elevated grassy ridges and alpine forest vegetation.
A plethora of Tanzania safari wild birds are documented in the park. The lakeshore makes the vital home for water birds; the reed swamps, plains and smaller swamps also house a handful of birds. A number of these are; red collared widow birds, crown eagles, mouse birds, bee eaters, rollers, guinea fowls, parrots along with turacos.
The world’s best, deep and also least-polluted lake has a projected many fish varieties.
travel and transport
Charter airfare from Arusha, Dar as well as Kigoma. Boats also are offered on routine departures of 3 to 4 hours. You will find a weekly steam boat that departs Kigoma for the six hour journey. From there, arrange for a fishing boat, alternatively arrange for transfers from the park headquarters just before you arrive.
Things to do
Chimp tracking is done within a couple of days. The guides identify the nests and indistinct clumps from the jungles. Leftovers from half-eaten fruit and fresh dung become valuable evidence, leading deeper to the forest. The experience is simply memorable.
Walk in the low lying forest to find different birds and wildlife. Climbing for the peak on Mt Nkugwe makes another thriller which will go for 2 to 3 days. There is at all times night camping on the mountain in the course of the dry season.
Lake Tanganyika comes with options meant for diving in the vast inland sea. Often the fresh lake waters are best for your swim in addition to sport fishing, however under license alone. Popular fishes caught include the big tiger fish.
Cultural visits to the nearby village towns of Kigoma and Ujiji.
When to go
Dry season from May until October is normally perfect for nature walks along with lighter rains. The surfaces is normally rocky mounting for some 2462 m having a some tracks inside of the park
Accommodation
3 temporary luxurious tented camp sites, two easy resthouses and a large campsite at the mountain.
