How To Get to Mahale Mountain National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the eastern side of Lake Tanganyika in the secluded western part of Tanzania. Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake, offers opportunities for snorkeling, swimming, and wildlife viewing. it’s known for its stunning beauty, featuring the majestic Mahale Mountains and lush, tropical flora. The park covers approximately 1,613 sq km in the Kigoma region.
If you’re wondering how to get to Mahale Mountains National Park, here’s what you need to know. Being in a remote area, this peaceful and less crowded national park can be reached from Dar es Salaam or Arusha by travelling to Kigoma, the nearest major town, which is about 130km north of the Mahale Mountains National Park along the lakeshore in different ways.
Travelling to Mahele mountains by air
The simplest and fastest way to get to Mahale Mountains National Park is by air. During the dry peak season, you can catch scheduled charter flights from Dar es Salaam and Arusha to Mahale Airstrip to the Mahele airstrip. Various local airline, like Safari Air Link, operate these flights, which take about 3-5 hours. However, in the wet season, these charter flights area not as frequent.
Fantasia collaborates with its partner, Mbali Mbali lodges, located in Mahale Mountains National Park, to offer twice-weekly. These flights connect the northern circuit for safaris and western Tanzania, including Katavi and Mahale National Parks.
Travelling to Mahale Mountains by road.
You can also get to Mahale Mountains National Park is by road. If you drive from Arusha to Kigoma, you need to take a speedboat to reach the park. However, the roads can be quite rough and may take along time, especially during the rainy season when they get really muddy and hard to navigate.
Traveling to Mahale Mountains National Park by boat
Alternatively, if you’re in Kigoma, there are speedboats running to the park for four to six hours and timber boats run up to 15 hours to Mahale National Park. Additionally, there’s the MV Liemba, a large steamship that departs from Kigoma twice a week and takes around 10 hours to reach Mahale National Park.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Tanzania Safari in Mahale Mountains National Park
What are Mahale Mountains National Park known for?
Mahale Mountains National Park, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and the healthy populations of wild chimpanzees. In addition to chimpanzees, Mahale is heaven for other primates such as red colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, giant squirrel, red-legged sun squirrel, brush-tailed porcupine, bushy-tailed mongoose, Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys red colobus, red-tailed monkey among others. The beauty of the park includes rivers and waterfalls and white sandy beached around the shoreline of the Lake. Visitors come here primarily for chimpanzee tracking, but it also offers opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and experiencing its diverse wildlife.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Mahele mountains national park is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. These months provide the best weather conditions, making it easier to trek and spot wildlife. The park can be quite humid and rainy during the wet season from November to April, which can make trekking challenged and less enjoyable.
What should I pack for the safari?
Packing for a safari is the Mahale Mountains National Park requires careful consideration due to the park’s varying terrain and climate. Here’s a basic packing list, lightweight clothing, sturdy hiking boots, insect repellent, sun protection, binocular and a camera, strong hiking shoes, hiking sticks, and water bottle among others
Are there accommodations in the area?
Yes, Mahale Mountains National Park has several accommodation options, ranging from luxury lodges to more budget-friendly camps. Most lodges are situated near the lakeside and provide a comfortable base for exploring the park. Some of the more popular choices include the Grey Stoke Mahale Camp, Mbali Mbali Mahale Camp, Flycatcher Mahale Camp, Mahale Mango Tree Bandas, and Nkungwe Tented Camp among others.
What other wildlife can I expect to see?
Aside from chimpanzees, Mahale Mountains is home to various other wildlife species. You might encounter groups of yellow baboons, blue monkeys, red colobus, pied colobus, and vervet monkeys two or three species of Galago. You will also encounter with different animals’ species such as as Elephants, the elephants, Lion, Duikers, Bush pig, monitor lizards, snakes, and frogs. More so, bird watchers will also delight with the sight of 398 bird species such as Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Crested Guineafowl, Crested malimbe, Crowned eagle, Giant kingfisher, Livingstone’s turaco, Palm-nut vulture, Ross’s turaco, Scaly francolin, Stuhlmann’s starling, Trumpeter hornbill and more. The diverse ecosystems here also support unique flora and fauna.
Is it safe to go on a safari in Mahale?
Yes, visiting Mahale Mountains National Park is generally safe for travelers. Mahale Mountains is a very remote park and you’ll most likely get here by plane and private boat on an organized safari. This makes the destination particularly safe. Your guide will look after your safety while on safari.
