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
“It was excellent! The pre-trip planning with Karen was great and she and/or Allison promptly answered my many questions at various points prior to our actual trip. Also, Karen was extremely helpful in making our final day in Tanzania as comfortable as possible – she arranged for us to spend the afternoon in the Arusha Access 2 Tanzania day room. Our transport guide for the day, Haji, brought us a wonderful selection of Tanzanian food for lunch! He as well as Stella and the A2T staff were very nice and welcoming! Our safari guide Noel was such a good man and an excellent guide. He was thrilled to learn that we had requested him at the recommendation of my friend, and he didn’t disappoint. I don’t know how anyone can navigate the unmarked Serengeti roads like he did. He made sure that we were comfortable, safe, and had everything that we needed. During the trip, another A2T guide, David, and his 2 passengers (whom we previously met during the village tour) invited us into their land cruiser to watch the wildebeest crossing because they had a better position. We really appreciated that!”