Mahale Mountains National Park: Tracking Chimpanzees

Located in the remote western part of Tanzania, bordering Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountains National Park offers a unique and unforgettable chimpanzee tracking experience. It’s a less crowded alternative to Gombe Stream National Park and boasts a larger chimpanzee population, estimated to be between 700 and 1,000 individuals, representing the eastern subspecies.

Highlights of Chimpanzee Tracking in Mahale:

Large and Habituation Groups: Mahale is home to several habituated chimpanzee communities, most notably the Mimikere community, which has been studied by Japanese researchers since the 1960s. This long-term research means the chimpanzees are relatively accustomed to human presence, offering excellent viewing opportunities.
Pristine and Diverse Habitat: The park’s landscape is stunning, with lush rainforests, miombo woodlands, bamboo forests, and montane grasslands cascading down the slopes of the Mahale Mountains to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. This diverse habitat supports a rich array of flora and fauna beyond chimpanzees.
Unique Coexistence: Interestingly, Mahale is the only national park in Africa where chimpanzees and lions are known to coexist. While encounters with lions are less frequent during chimp treks, it adds an element of wildness to the experience.
Other Primate Encounters: Besides chimpanzees, you’re likely to see other primate species, including yellow baboons, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, pied colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Experience: Due to its remote location, Mahale offers a more secluded and exclusive safari experience compared to the more popular northern circuit parks.
Combined Activities: Beyond chimpanzee tracking, Mahale offers opportunities for hiking in the mountains, exploring waterfalls, swimming and snorkeling in Lake Tanganyika, and enjoying boat trips.

The Chimpanzee Tracking Experience:

Guided Treks: Experienced local guides and trackers lead you into the forest to search for the chimpanzee families. They are skilled at identifying their calls, tracks, and other signs.
Varying Trekking Difficulty: The terrain can be challenging, involving hiking up and down steep, forested slopes. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended. The duration of the trek can vary depending on the location of the chimpanzees.
Observation Time: Once a chimpanzee group is located, you’ll typically have about one hour to observe them in their natural environment, witnessing their social interactions, grooming habits, and foraging behavior.
Strict Guidelines: To protect the chimpanzees from human diseases and minimize disturbance, strict rules are in place, including maintaining a safe distance (usually 7-10 meters), avoiding flash photography, and refraining from eating or drinking in their presence.

Planning Your Visit to Mahale:

Best Time to Visit: The dry season (June to October) is generally considered the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Mahale as the trails are drier and easier to navigate. Chimpanzees may also congregate in larger groups during this time.
Getting There: Mahale is relatively remote and is typically accessed by flights to Kigoma followed by a boat transfer across Lake Tanganyika, or by charter flights directly to the park’s airstrip.
Accommodation: Accommodation options within and near Mahale range from rustic campsites to comfortable lodges like Greystoke Mahale. Booking in advance is essential due to the limited number of options.
Permits: A chimpanzee trekking permit is required and should be booked in advance through your tour operator. The cost is typically around $150 USD per person per trek.