Unique Activities to do in Mahale Mountains National Park : Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the remote national parks in Tanzania with un-spoilt eco environment. It is located on the western border with Congo on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Mahale Mountain National Park was officially established as a national park in 1985 with the main purpose of protecting all the wildlife species. Mahale Mountain National Park is known to have been named after the Mahale mountains with are found within the borders of the park. It covers a total surface area of about 1,650 square kilometers being under the management of Tanzania National parks AuthorityVisiting Mahale Mountains National Park will give you an opportunity to see large chimpanzee populations with more numerous, regular and prolonged sightings compared to Gombe National Park. The park has a wide variety of habitats ranging from miombo forest, Kasoge (lowland) forest and montane rainforest home to various flora and fauna.
Visiting the park is a gratifying experience as you have a chance to carry chimp-trekking, hiking, snorkeling, sport fishing, boat cruise, fly camping and birdwatching as explained in details below;
Chimpanzees tracking
One of the biggest draws of Mahale Mountains National Park is its wild chimpanzee population. This park is one of the few places where you can still find these endangered primates, giving visitors a unique chance to hike through the beautiful forest and see them living in the wild. Mahale national park is regarded as one of the world’s best places to see different chimpanzees. There are guided tours for chimpanzee tracking that let people experience these amazing animals up close. During a chimpanzee’s tracking tours, tourist have the chance to encounter with other wildlife species that dwell in the park such as ed colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, giant squirrel, red-legged sun squirrel, duikers, bush pig, leopard, bushbuck, myriads of birds. Once you have encountered with these incredible primates, you will be allowing 1 hour interaction with them in their natural habitat. Visitors have the chance to see how they e chimpanzees go on with their lives such as walking, sleeping, fighting, politicking, eating among others.
Bird watching
Mahale Mountains National Park is a dream destination for birdwatchers, boasting more than 355 different bird species. On your birdwatching trips, you can look forward to seeing a wide range of birds, including: red-winged starling, wattled starling, mountain thrush babbler, African yellow white eye, African hill babbler, scaly francolin, crested francolin, African olive pigeon, red-eyed dove, scarce swift, white-browed coucal, Schalow’s turaco, great white pelican, goliath heron, long-tailed cormorant, African jacana, osprey, African harrier hawk, tawny eagle, common barn owl, southern ground hornbill, olive woodpecker, white-fronted bee-eater, broad-billed roller, African malachite kingfisher, red-necked falcon, mountain oriole among others. Birdwatching adventure best done during the months of November and April, when the migratory birds are available.
Cultural encounter
If you’re eager to discover the local culture and traditions of the area, Mahale Mountains National Park has a variety of cultural experiences to offer. The park is surrounded by communities such as Holoholo and Batongwe people from Ujiji and kigoma District and these villages have inspired many visitors to. Ujiji is remembered during the days of colonial rule of the Germans in Tanganyika and in some town, there was slave trade and it was stopped from there by Dr David Livingstone.
You can visit nearby villages to engage with the local communities, join in traditional dances, try delicious local foods, and fully appreciate the area’s rich cultural heritage. These experiences give you a chance to connect with Tanzanian people and their customs while enjoying the park’s natural beauty. Also, consider a cruise on the River Nile and its delta with your loved ones when visiting Murchison Falls National Park.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing is another fun activity you can enjoy at Mahale National Park, located by Lake Tanganyika. Tourists often bring their own fishing gear and the necessary permits to fish before visiting the park. This activity usually takes place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., when the weather on the lake is calm or cool. Many visitors do this for the thrill and excitement it brings.
Snorkeling
Visitors at beautiful Lake Tanganyika love to go snorkeling, which is a fun activity where you can swim or dive in the water while using simple mask and snorker. This activity takes only 3 hours due to existence of many crocodiles in L. Tanganyika and in process tourists are able to view different aquatic animals in the lake for example crocodiles’ hippos in Lake Tanganyika.
Hiking and nature walks
The park is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, with a network of well-maintained trails that winds through the dense forest, picturesque waterfalls and breathtaking mountain landscapes. Hiking mountain mahale national park and this is done through arranging two days up and day down accompanied with armed tour guide. As they hike, they normally camp on the mid of mountain and also near the highest peak of mountain Mahale. Tourist can also opt to embark on a guided nature walks offers opportunity to explore the hidden gems of the park including a walk to the nearby villages.
Best time to visit the park
Mahale Mountains National Park can be visited year-round, but the best time to visit the park is during the dry season which runs from may -October. During this period, chimpanzees are likely to be seen in big groups, the sunshine illuminates the fish in the Lake and the beach is an inviting place to relax.
Getting there
Mahale is remote which makes it uncrowded. The easiest and quickest way to get there is by air.
By air
During peak season, from June to October, you can catch regular scheduled flights from Arusha and Dar es Salaam to the Mahale Airstrip, which takes about 3-5 hours. In off-peak times, flights are less regular. Charter flights can also be arranged.
By road
The roads leading to Mahale Mountains National park are quite rough and can become difficult to navigate, especially un rainy season. If you choose you choose to drive Arusha to Kigoma, it will take roughly 2 to 3 days, after which you’ll need to take a boat or a plane to reach Mahale.
By boat
From Kigoma, there are speedboats (four to six hours) and timber boats (up to 15 hours) to Mahale. Twice a week, the MV Liemba, a large steamship, travels from Kigoma (10 hours
Accommodation facilities in Mahale Mountains National Park
In Mahale Mountains National Park there is a wide range of accommodation establishments that are lodges and camps offering accommodation to travelers visiting the park for a Tanzania safari, accommodation establishments in Mahale Mountains National Park are of various status that are luxury, midrange and budge such as; Mbali mbali Mahale lodge, Greystoke mahale camp and Kungwe Beach Lodge among others.
