​Best Time To Visit – Mahale Mountains NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Tanzania.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

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It is possible to track chimpanzees all year in Mahale Mountains National Park. However, the chances of finding chimps improve toward the end of the Dry season (especially from August to October) when they tend to favor the lower slopes close to the lakeshore lodges and bandas. If you have two or three days, your chance of seeing them is reasonable at any time of the year.


Mahale Mountains Chimp Tours
Best Time August to October (Chimp trekking is easiest)
High Season August to October (Mahale is never crowded)
Low Season November to mid-December and March to May (Most lodges are closed from March to May)
Best Weather May to October (Almost no rainfall)
Worst Weather November to April (Wet season)

May to October –Dry Season

  • Chimpanzees can be found easily on the low mountain slopes from August to October
  • Sunshine with little chance of rain
  • Malaria is less of a concern since there are few mosquitoes present
  • You might see other safari-goers while tracking chimps, but otherwise the park is never crowded

Wildlife Photos

View Photos (14)
+12 Photos Want To Visit

November to April –Wet Season

  • The air is clean and clear
  • Waterfalls are in full flow
  • Migratory birds are present, so birding is at its peak
  • Butterflies are plentiful
  • Forest trails may be slippery and hard to travel on
  • Chimpanzees move to higher ground and are harder to track
  • It gets hot and humid

Wildlife Photos
+12 Photos

Best Time To Go by Major Park

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Want To Visit Mahale Mountains NP?

Mahale Mountains Chimp Tours