Katavi National Park, Mahale Mountains and Lake Tanganyika

We shall then take another local flight from Katavi National Park to Mahale Airstrip. The true highlight of Mahale Mountains National Park is the chimpanzee trekking experience. This park and the neighbouring Gombe Stream National Park are the only locations in Tanzania where you can enjoy these Great Apes. The chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains were habituated to humans by a Japanese research project in the 1960s. Mahale is sometimes called Nkungwe- named after the park’s highest mountain (2,460 metres above sea level) that is sacred to the local Tongwe people. We shall enjoy chimpanzee trekking here as well as cultural experiences at the local villages.

We shall also enjoy visiting the refreshing waterfalls within the national park; on guided nature walks. Along these forest trails, hundreds of beautiful birds species occur alongside the chimpanzees. Other primates also occupy these mountains and the neighbouring area, including Red-tailed Monkey, Mahale Silver/ Blue Monkey, Reddish Green Vervet Monkey, Kinda Yellow Baboon, Mahale Angola Colobus Monkey and Ashy Red Colobus Monkey.

We shall enjoy the nearby Lake Tanganyika; which is the World’s longest and second-deepest lake. The lake also has another World record, in that it is the second largest, by volume, lake in the world. The only lake with more water volumes and a deeper depth is Lake Baikal. Lake Tanganyika is considered the least-polluted freshwater lake in the World; and the clear waters here are a testimony to that. The lake is fed by over 50 streams and rivers.

The lake is located inside the Western or Albertine Rift Valley and touches four countries- Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania and DR Congo. The lake is also a paradise for wildlife, hosting over 1,000 fish species and the only place in East Africa where you can find Slender-snouted Crocodiles.

You can choose to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, boat cruises or beach walks at Lake Tanganyika on any of the days.

Nights at Mahale.