Mahale Mountains National Park

 Location:  Eastern Shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania

The Mahal Mountains National Park was established in 1985 after the Mahale Mountains Research Center was set up to make way for the park in 1979 which saw the people forcefully evicted from the mountains even though they were accustomed to the natural environment. Covering an area of approx. 1,600km² (623mi²) the park is home to over 1,000 chimpanzees having been habituated by researchers since 1965.  

One group of Mahale chimps “the Mimikire clan” currently led by an impressive alpha male known as Alofu, commonly known as the “M-group” with around 56 chimps who are fairly relaxed near people making it possible to track and observe them close. Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the eastern shores of Lakes Tanganyika in Uvinza District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania and is home to largest protected population of the eastern subspecies of chimpanzee.

The park has an approx. 9 primates in addition to the chimps which include yellow baboons, blue monkeys, red colobus, pied colobus, vervet monkeys 2 or 3 species of Galago. An approx. of 337 bird species many rare and endemic to the Albertine Rift including the Pel’s fishing owl. Mahale contains an unusual wide variety of habitat types; a mosaic of over lapping rainforest, woodland, bamboo forest, Montane Forest and grasslands, enabling the park to support the unique mix of flora and fauna relying on the different habitats.

Lake Tanganyika is home to at least 400 species of fish, about 250 of which are cichlids, and 98% of which are endemic. The lake is part of Mahale and is the world’s longest and second deepest freshwater lake with length of 673km and 60-80km width. The fresh water fish fauna of the lake is one of the most diverse in the world.

Highlights:  

• Lake Tanganyika has fish species 98% are endemic
• The Lake Tanganyika is part of the Mahale and is the world’s longest and 2 nd deepest freshwater lake
• The Park is home to the largest protected population of the eastern subspecies of chimpanzee.

Accommodation Options: 

• Greystoke Mahale

Activities:  

• Chimpanzee Trekking
• Sundowners on Lake Tanganyika
• Snorkeling and diving