Mahale Mountains National Park:
It borders Lake Tanganyika and covers 1,613 sq km (623 sq mi). It is inaccessible by road. The Mahale Mountains tower 2 km from the shore to form a chain of wild jungle draped peaks which are home to roughly 800 of Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees who reside in the area known as the Nkungwe range. The Nkungwe range, held sacred by the Tongwe people, towers 2,460 meters (8,069 ft) and is the highest of the six prominent points that make up the Mahale Mountain Range.
The slopes of the Mahale Mountains support a diverse forest fauna. Its inhabitants include the red Colobus, red-tailed monkey and blue monkey. The variety of forest birds are to numerous to mention.
Clients can trace the Tongwe people’s ancient pilgrimage to the mountain spirits, as they hiking through the montane rainforest belt, which is home to the endemic race of Angola Colobus monkeys. In the high grassy ridges clients may glimpse at the rare alpine bamboo. Clients will also find the world’s longest, second deepest and least polluted fresh water lake in this national park. The exquisitely clear waters harbor an estimated thousand species of fish.
Clients can track chimps, hike, snorkel, and fish for their own dinner. The dry season of May through October is best for forest walks and hiking. Clients will need to charter a private or park motorboat from Kigoma for their three to four hour water safari to the Mahale Mountain National Park.
