Mahale Mountains

Located in the far west of the country on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and home to the best chimpanzee viewing in Africa, Mahale would stake its claim as one of the most exceptional and unique safari destinations on the continent. 

When you have been in the industry for as long as we have, there are only a few places in Africa which we would consider in the running for the very best safaris on the continent. These would include Schoeman’s Skeleton Coast Safaris, Serra Cafema, Chiawa and Old Mondoro in the Lower Zambezi, Mwaleshi and Kutandala in North Luangwa… and Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania. This remote National Park also has one of the most beautiful camps anywhere in Africa, and offers a Tanzania safari experience to take your breath away. Not just a chimpanzee destination, Mahale has an absurdly good beach with gin clear waters; and the park itself has fair claim to be one of the most interesting destinations in Africa.

We have never had a client not see the chimps at Mahale. Depending on the time of year that you travel however, trekking for the chimps can take between one hour and the majority of a strenuous day! The later you go in the season the easier the viewing gets, as the chimps move down the mountains in search of food. August to October is the best and easiest time of year to see them. Clearly though, chimps have minds of their own; any estimates for how long the walks take are just that. What is certain is that you are only permitted one hour with the chimps when you find them. Chimps are the main attraction, but there are plenty of other smaller primate species to see, birding is very good and the hippos and crocodiles are always close! Leopard often come and visit but you are lucky to get a sighting.