Description: Mahale National Park is home to some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees: a population of roughly 800. Tracking the chimps is a fascinating experience.
It’s likely that you will observe them grooming each other in small groups, squabbling noisily, or bounding from tree to tree swinging on vines.
Watching a mother chimp with her offspring is truly remarkable. Difficult to reach and relatively expensive, Mahale has few visitors each year. And although chimpanzees are admittedly the main attraction, the park supports a diverse forest fauna, including troops of red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, and a colorful array of forest birds.
You can also take a dip in the unbelievably clear waters of the world’s longest, second-deepest and least-polluted freshwater lake!
Location: Can only be reached by shared charter flight from Arusha. Combines well with a visit to Katavi National Park.
Things 2 Do: Chimpanzee Trekking, Hiking, Swimming/Snorkeling and Fishing
Time: Requires 3 or 4 night visit. Avoid Apr-May rainy season, though the November rains can be managed.
Animals: Chimpanzees, Red Colobus, Red-Tailed and Blue Monkeys and many colorful Birds.
Accommodations
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Mango Tree Park Bandas
“Karen was very good at listening to our interests and putting together an itinerary that would meet our budget and needs, Our guides, Maningo and Nasibu were outstanding! They were very aware of maintaining the appropriate distance from the animals while still giving us views of everything we wanted to see. Nasibu, who was the guide in my vehicle, was extremely knowledgeable of animals, birds and vegetation and had an eagle eye for finding all the animals we wanted to see.”