Located in the deep west of Tanzania lies Mahale Mountains National Park.

You’ve probably never head of the place; it’s quite difficult to access and expensive to visit but Mahale happens to be one of Tanzania’s best kept secrets. It’s a magical place that is very different to the other national parks in the country. Also, it happens to be a haven for chimps of all kinds!

Mahale Mountains National Park is touted as one of the continent’s most gorgeous parks. With its powdery-white sand beaches as its lakeshore and towering mountains blanketed with tropical vegetation, it becomes easy to see why the park is eminent for its beauty.

Not only is the park one of the most stunning locations on the planet, it’s also bustling with sounds of wildlife—primarily primates. The park has a huge population of primates of all kinds. Tourists are welcomed by red-tailed moneys, yellow baboons, red colobus and lot of chimpanzees.

Mahale Chimpanzees

Spanning over an area of 1600 km², the Mahale Mountains are home to over a 1000 chimps. Its native chimps—the Mahale chimps have occupied the mountains since 1965. The group is now being led by an alpha male chimpanzee named Alofu. Alofu leads a troop of 56 chimps that are comfortable around humans. His troop travels at will and can easily be tracked and observed by visitors. To protect the health of some of the chimps, people are required to wear surgical masks when they visit certain parts of the park.

On a good day, Mahale chimps can be found on a leisurely stroll of just 20 minutes but on other days it can take visitors up to 3 hrs to find the troop. It’s easier to spot the chimps toward when the dry season is coming to an end (August to October). During this period, the forest ground is dry and the chimps can be found near the shore.

If the goal of your trip is to watch chimpanzees then put on a pair of comfortable walking boots and long trousers. Grab a small backpack and don’t forget to pack your binoculars and camera!

There’s no guarantee that you’ll definitely see the Mahale chimps but there are sorts of chimps walking around the park that you’re sure to bump into.

You’ll be able to sit and watch them collect food, mingle and bicker with each other and look after their young. Chimps are strange but fascinating species that visitors can spend hours observing if they wanted too.

Getting to the Mahale Mountains

Watching chimps up close in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience that’s worth the long journey to the park.

The park is isolated—but that’s what makes it so special. For a moment you’ll forget all about the business of the city as you immerse yourself in nature completely!

You’ll need to hop on to one of the biweekly flights from the North of the country.

Looking to visit Mahale National Park? Get in touch with Nakuja Expeditions to arrange guided tours and lodge stays.