The Mahale Mountains rise just beyond the beaches of Lake Tanganyika, home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees, with approximately 1000 individuals inhabiting the national park. This unique location is unserviced by roads, the only way in is by boat or aircraft. From beachside camps guests venture up into the forested slopes to observe and commune with chimp families as they groom , wrestle and forage across the leafy floor. The forest itself is special, with eight other species of primate, shyer forest mammals, birds, butterflies, giant vines and waterfalls. Treks are only in the early morning and the amount of time depends on where the chimps are located - sometimes close to the camp but sometimes high in the mountains. The actual visit is limited to an hour and guests that have any bacterial infection or virus are forbidden by the park authorities from entering the park (in order to protect the health of the chimps).
The beachside camps are relaxed and comfortable, in the shade of fig trees and with easy swimming in the lake. Relax in the afternoon, or take a gentle forest hike, swim or snorkel in the clear lake water, kayak along the lakeshore, or hire a boat to fish (there are over 250 species of cichlid). In the evening enjoy candlelight dinners and drinks in the setting sun, with the feeling of a castaway on a far foreign shore.
NOTE: This itinerary is only available on Monday (4 days) or Thursday (5 days), due to limited air options.
Kensington Tours has its own offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Arusha, Tanzania. We also have our own tented camps (www.kensingtoncamps.com). Our prices include the support of our own dedicated team on the ground! Another reason we deliver unbeatable value.