Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale Mountains National Park is located 120 kilometers south of Kigoma town, on a peninsula in Lake Tanganyika along Tanzania's western border. Covering an area of 1,613 square kilometers, the park is defined by the Mahale Mountains chain, which runs from northwest to southeast, with Mount Nkungwe, its highest peak, rising to 2,462 meters above sea level. The park's western edge safeguards 63 kilometers of lakeshore and a 1.6-kilometer-wide strip of coastal waters. The vegetation in Mahale Mountains National Park is primarily Miombo woodland, interspersed with riverine forests, rainforest patches, and savannah, supporting a diverse array of wildlife.

Mahale Mountains, like its northern neighbor Gombe Stream, shelters some of Africa’s last wild chimpanzees, with an estimated population of about 800 residing in its rainforests. These forests are also home to other primates, including the Angolan colobus monkey. The Miombo woodlands host species such as roan antelopes, sable antelopes, and Lichtenstein's hartebeest, while the savannah areas provide habitats for warthogs, giraffes, Grant’s zebras, hyenas, and lions.

The park boasts around 82 recorded mammal species and is a haven for bird enthusiasts, with over 350 bird species documented. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Mahale is a remote, road-free sanctuary bordered to the west by Lake Tanganyika. This lake is the world’s longest, second deepest, and one of the least-polluted freshwater lakes, home to approximately 250 unique fish species.

Visitors to Mahale can enjoy a range of activities, from tracking wild habituated chimpanzees and mountain climbing to snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and relaxing on the pristine, white sandy beaches of Lake Tanganyika.