MAHALE MONUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Mahale’sgreen season runs from November through to March and this time of year
is a photographers dream; the haze often prevalent through the dry
season is washed away. The forest offers varied viewing, although the
forest is at its best, full of the colour of wildflowers, birds and
butterflies. The lake is clearest in these months with incredible views
of the Congo in the distance.
Famous for containing some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees in Africa,
the Mahale Mountains National Park was gazetted in 1985, covers an area
of 1 613 km² and is located about 128 km south of Kigoma town on the
eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. The western boundary of the park
protects an adjacent 1.6 km wide strip of Lake Tanganyika’s waters.
The
land in and around Mahale is the traditional homeland of the Watongwe
and Waholoholo tribes. Japanese primate researchers began exploring
along the shore of Lake Tanganyika, south of Kigoma as early as 1961. In
1965, the researchers established their first camp, ‘Kansyana’, in
Mahale and began habituating chimpanzees.
The terrain is mostly rugged and hilly,
and is dominated by the Mahale Mountains chain that runs from the
northwest to the southeast across the park. The highest peak (Mount
Nkungwe) rises to 2 462 m above sea level.
Tourist Attractions
Mahale offers a number of outstanding
attractions for visitors, from tracking wild habituated chimpanzees, to
mountain climbing, snorkelling, fishing, kayaking and relaxing on
deserted, pristine, white, sandy beaches.
- Walking safaris in the beautiful, lowland forest allow close encounters with a vast array of birds and animals,
- An ascent of the highest peak in the Mahale Mountains ridge, Mt. Nkungwe, is one of the most spectacular activities available to tourists.
- Lake Tanganyika contains more than 250 species of fish found nowhere else on Earth,
- Long walking trips can be arranged for viewing big game such as lion, elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe and leopard. These safaris may require up to 7 days.
- Sport fishing on the fresh waters of Lake Tanganyika is possible under special licences available to visitors.
- Cultural tourism activities entailing visits to the nearby villages can also be arranged. Kigoma town and the historical town Ujiji are worth a detour.
- Other tourist destinations in western Tanzania that can complement a visit to Mahale Mountains National Park include Gombe Stream and Katavi National Parks,
SEASONS
“Mahale isn’t just about chimps, although we appreciate they like to take centre stage. There’s also forest walks, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and sailing down the shoreline with sundowners and fresh sashimi.”
The dry season in Mahale starts in June,
when the long rains have stopped, and goes through to October. At this
time of year the temperatures increase and the skies are quite hazy, the
lake has never been more appealing for a cooling dip. As the dry season
progresses, the chimps are more usually found in the lower slopes due
to their favourite fruits being found lower down.
E-mail: sokwe@tanzaniaparks.com , mahale@tanzaniaparks.com Tel: +255 689 062326, +255 769 536127.
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