Experience Serengeti from above

Conquer the highest peak in Africa

Like its northerly neighbour, Gombe the Mahale Mountains are home to some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees in Africa. Around 1,000 of these fascinating animals roam the valleys and hills, some of whom are so habituated that you can sit amongst them and watch the daily life of a chimp unfold. Unfortunately, when they decide to feed on fruits high in the trees or move off through the branches at high speed, all man's intelligence and inventions cannot help him follow.

 

A trip to see the chimpanzees is a magical experience. They preen each other's glossy coats in concentrated huddles, squabble noisily or bound effortlessly into the trees, swinging nonchalantly through the vines.

Other primates include colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and baboons. Larger mammals found here are buffaloes, elephants, roan and sable antelopes, leopards, lions and warthogs.

 

The area is also known as Nkungwe - named after the park's massive mountain. At 2,460 meters it is the highest of the six prominent points that make up the mountain range which runs down the Mahale promontory alongside Lake Tanganyika.

You can also trace the Tongwe people's ancient pilgrimage to the mountain sprits, hiking through enclaves of rainforest to grassy ridges chequered with alpine bamboo. Then return to the lake to plunge into the clean waters, home to 250 unique species of fish before returning as you came by boat.

 

Best time to visit is during the dry season, mid May to October. Light rains of October to November are also fine. However, most camps are closed during the high rainy season (March to May).

 

Take a look at our fleet of cars to see which would suit you best