Mahale Mountains National Park
Like Gombe Stream, The Main Attraction Of This Remote Park, Which Was Only Recently Gazetted In 1985, Is Being Able To Walk Among Large Populations Of Chimpanzees. The Chimps Have Been Studied By Japanese Researchers For More Than 20 Years, And Over 100 Of Them Have Been Habituated To Humans.
Located About 95 Miles (150 Km) South Of Kigoma, This 609-Square-Mile (1577 Km2) Park Is Situated On The Eastern Shores Of Lake Tanganyika. The Mahale Mountains With Deep Ravines, Permanent Streams And Waterfalls Run Through The Center Of The Park, Forming The Eastern Wall Of The Great Rift Valley With Altitudes Up To 8075 Feet (2462 M) Above Sea Level.
The Area Surrounding Park Headquarters Is PredomiŽnantly Acacia Woodland, Changing To Lowland Forest And Then Niontane Forest As One Progresses Inland And Gains Altitude.
In Addition To Over 1000 Chimpanzees, The Park Is Also Home To The Red Colobus Monkey, Angolan Black And White Colobus Monkey, Banded Mongoose, Sharpe’s Grysbok And Blue Duiker. Bushbuck And Warthog Are Commonly Seen Around Park Headquarters.
Seasons Are Relatively Unpredictable. The Dry Season Usually Runs From May-October While Rainy Seasons Are Usually November-January And March-May. Nights Are Often Cool And Rainfall Ranges Within The Park From 60-100 Inches (1500-2500 Mm) Per Year. The Best Time To Visit Is May-October.
There Is No Easy Way To Reach This Seldom-Visited Park. Easiest Access To The Park Is By Charter Flight From Bujumbura, Burundi. The Park Can Also Be Reached By Boat From Kigoma. Take The Weekly Steamer Mvliemba For Six Hours To The Village Of Lagosa (Mugambo). You Usually Arrive In The Middle Of The Night And Must Be Transferred Ashore. From Here Charter A Boat For A Three-Hour Ride To Kasoge (Kasiha Village) In The Park. Small Boats From Kigoma Make This Journey In 12-16 Hours. The Park May Also Be Reached By Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle On A Dirt Track From Mpanda Via Mwesi, But This Route Is Not Advised.
Accommodation - Class B: * Mahale Mountains Tented Camp Is A Small Semi-Permanent Tented Camp (Operating May-October) On The Shores Of Lake Tanganyika. Hikes To See Chimpanzees, Sailing By Dhow, Dugout Canoeing, Snorkeling And Fishing Are Offered.
Class F: There Is A Basic Guesthouse, But You Will Need To Bring Your Own Food, Crockery And Cutlery, Bed Linens And Stove. No Supplies Are Available In The Park.
Camping: Camping Sites Are Available.
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