Mahale Mountains

With its forest-clad peaks and misty mornings, we believe the stunning scenery of the Mahale Mountains makes it an enchanting place to spend a few days. Yet it is not just the beautiful setting that attracts visitors to Mahale. Towering more than 2,000 metres above Tanganyika, the world’s longest freshwater lake, the magnificent mountains make the perfect home for chimpanzee and with a population of around 1,000, it is the best place in the world to track these fascinating primates in the wild.

The chimps are organized into around 14 different clans and live in the park alongside yellow baboon, red colobus, vervet monkey, leopard and giant pangolin. The Mimikire clan or M-group, have been habituated by researchers since 1965 and includes around 56 chimps. Although they are totally wild, the clan are relaxed around humans, allowing you to track and observe them at close quarters. 

As you trek through the leafy paths of the Mahale Mountains, the sound of shrieking will gradually increase, until you find yourself fully immersed in the wonderful wild behavior of these lovable primates. You can then sit and watch them forage, groom, wrestle, bicker, feed and care for their young. We promise you this will be one of the most intimate and unforgettable experiences of a lifetime.