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Mahale Mountains National Park
For those who enjoy remoteness, beautiful
landscapes and wildlife Mahale Mountains
National Park is surely one of the most
spectacular places to visit in all of Africa. This is
not idle sales talk. Some would argue that it is one
of the most spectacular travel destinations in the
whole world. Distance and cost notwithstanding,
you owe it to yourself to somehow drum up the
budget to get there at least once in a lifetime!
Lake Tanganyika is the world’s longest lake (673 km)
and is about 1½ km deep and contains about 16% of
the world’s fresh water! It is second only to Lake Baikal
in Russia in volume. It is the purest fresh water on the
planet. The lake is home to hundreds of species of fish
including the brightly colored fish known as cichlids.
Hippo and crocodile are common across its full extent.
Chimpanzees may be the main draw, but they are by
no means the whole picture. Pristine forested mountains
tower up behind intimate sandy beaches and bays
and rocky promontories of the eastern shores of Lake
Tanganyika.
Wildlife
The forests at Mahale have a wealth of wildlife besides the 1,000 or so Chimpanzees. There are 6 species of monkey (yellow baboon, vervet, blue, red tailed,Angolan colobus and red colobus), duikers, bush pig, leopard, bushbuck, myriads of birds etc.
Getting there
Mahale is accessible by air, road and boat. . Air. The easiest way to and from Mahale is via scheduled flights
The flight from Arusha takes 3 hours, usually with a refueling stop en route. There is a 1 ½ - 2 hour boat ride from the lodges to and from the airstrip at the Park boundary. Outside this season flights still operate but confirmation will be needed with the operators.
It is also possible for visitors to arrange their own charter flights with private companies. Private charters can be arranged from most of the major cities of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Road. Mahale can be accessed by road that follows Lake Tanganyika from from Kigoma.
Water. Mahale can be accessed by boat and private boats can be hired in Kigoma for the journey. The famous German built ship the M.V.Liemba travels the length of Lake Tanganyika twice a
Activities
Chimp watching. To get to the only habituated
group of Chimps, the M Group,, one climbs up
through the mountain forests on a network of simple
cleared paths to get into touch with the chimps, and
when one does the experience is extraordinary to
the point of being bizarre.
The chimpanzees go on with their lives – walking,
sleeping, fighting, politicking, eating etc. as if
you are not there. They take virtually no notice of
visitors. This is perfect, because you never feel that
you are intruding.
After spending the strictly controlled 1 hour with
chimps you return to your accommodation facility
to wash off the sweat, have a delicious lunch and
spend the rest of the day at leisure; or perhaps do
one of a number of other activities.
- • Kayaking
- • Fishing
- • Swimming and snorkeling
- • Cultural visits by boat can be arranged to border communities
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