Mahale Mountains National Park, Eastern chimpanzee sanctuary in Western Tanzania
The Mahale Mountains National Park extends over 1650 square kilometers along Lake Tanganyika, featuring rainforests, woodlands, bamboo forests, and mountain grasslands.
The Tanzanian government established Mahale Mountains National Park in 1985, relocating the Batongwe and Holoholo communities who inhabited the mountains for generations.
Traditional inhabitants of the Mahale mountains included two distinct groups, the Batongwe people with 22,000 members and the Holoholo people with 12,500 members.
Access to the park requires boat transportation on Lake Tanganyika, as there are no roads within its boundaries, with travel times of 9 hours from Kigoma.
The national park contains 700 to 1000 eastern chimpanzees, representing the largest protected population of this subspecies in Tanzania.
Location: Kigoma Region
Inception: 1985
Website: https://tanzaniaparks.go.tz/national_parks/mahale-mountains-national-park
GPS coordinates: -6.26667,29.93333
Latest update: May 19, 2025 06:08
Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move between baobab trees, and the Ngorongoro Crater, which holds a dense concentration of large mammals within its 100-square-mile (260-square-kilometer) caldera. Coastal regions and offshore islands like Mafia and Pemba offer opportunities to photograph coral reefs, sea turtles, and traditional dhow boats. The Mahale Mountains support habituated chimpanzee groups, while Selous Game Reserve presents riverine landscapes and diverse animal populations. Stone Town's historic quarter features Arab, Persian, and Indian architecture spanning several centuries, including the House of Wonders and the narrow alleys of the former trading port. The less visited Katavi National Park delivers scenes of hundreds of hippos crowding shrinking pools during the dry season. Kondoa rock art sites preserve prehistoric paintings dating back as far as 30,000 years. The active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai and alkaline Lake Natron with its flamingo flocks add geological interest. From the terraced hillsides of the Usambara Mountains to the wildflower meadows of Kitulo National Park, Tanzania covers nearly every photographic interest.
Kalambo
296.8 km
Gombe National Park
181.2 km
Our Lady of Kibeho
404.9 km
Kalambo Falls
296.7 km
Katavi National Park
170.9 km
Kibira National Park
377.2 km
Livingstone–Stanley Monument
316.6 km
Rusizi National Park
345 km
Ruvubu National Park
354.7 km
Lumangwe Falls
369.6 km
Nsumbu National Park
280.2 km
Chutes de la Kagera
271.7 km
Musée Ethnographique
410 km
National Museum of Gitega
317.1 km
Stade Huye
409.1 km
Living Museum of Bujumbura
326.9 km
Regina Mundi Cathedral
326.2 km
Our Lady of Wisdom Cathedral, Butare
408 km
Abercorn Memorial
328.2 km
Christ the King Cathedral
314.6 km
Ikamba
95.1 km
Mawina
353.6 km
Gishora Drum Sanctuary
323.2 km
Water point Tabora
347.2 km
Monument de l'Unité Nationale
325.6 km
Parc national de la Ruvubu
351 km
Tabora Zoo
347.4 km
Monument de l’Unite de Muramvya
335.7 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes