Trek through forest to sit with wild chimpanzees, on the shores of one of the world's deepest lakes.
Accessible only by boat or small plane, Mahale sits on the remote eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, one of the world's deepest and longest freshwater lakes. The park protects one of Africa's largest known populations of wild chimpanzees, habituated over decades of research, alongside pristine beaches and forested mountains that rise directly from the lake.
Chimp trekking permits are limited to protect the habituated groups, book well in advance, and note that unlike gorilla trekking in Rwanda, there's no guarantee of a fixed encounter time, trek duration varies based on where the chimps are that day.
The dry season (May-October) offers easier forest trekking conditions and clearer lake water for swimming. The wet season (November-April) makes trails muddier but the forest lush and green.
Mahale is reached exclusively by small aircraft to a nearby airstrip followed by a boat transfer, or by a longer boat journey across Lake Tanganyika. There are no road connections, part of what keeps it so remote and pristine.
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