Mahale Mountains Safari Guide
Pristine montane forest on the shores of Lake Tanganyika — home to one of Africa's most habituated chimpanzee communities and an utterly unique safari experience.
Top Highlights
Best Time to Visit Mahale Mountains
July to October for best chimp trekking (dry season, chimps at lower elevations). The park is closed February to May.
Mahale Mountains Safari Budget Guide
Ultra-premium due to remoteness. Greystoke Mahale $800-2,000/night. Park fees $100/adult/day. Chimpanzee permit included. Charter flights $500-1,000/person return.
Getting to Mahale Mountains
Charter flight from Arusha (3-4hrs) or Dar es Salaam, landing at the lakeshore airstrip. Then a boat transfer to the camp. No road access.
Mahale Mountains is one of Africa's most extraordinary safari destinations — a place where chimpanzees have been studied and habituated for over 50 years, allowing remarkably close encounters in pristine montane forest that tumbles down to the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.
The experience is unlike any other safari in Africa. There are no vehicles — all exploration is on foot through the forest or by boat along the lakeshore. Days are spent trekking through the mountains following chimpanzee calls, swimming in the lake, and relaxing on white sand beaches with a backdrop of forested peaks. The single luxury camp, Greystoke Mahale, is one of Africa's most unique lodges.
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