Mahale Mountains National Park Best Time To Visit

By Philip Briggs
Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Excellent Good Fair Poor

It is possible to track 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.

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

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

Best Time To Go by Major Park

Excellent Good Fair Poor

Mahale Mountains National Park Best Time To Visit

May to October Dry Season

November to April Wet Season

Best Time To Go by Major Park

Want To Visit Mahale Mountains NP?

Safari Tours to Mahale Mountains NP

9-Day Luxury Western Tanzania Chimp Trekking and Safari

5-Day Mahale Chimpanzee Trekking and Romantic Getaways

22-Day Tanzania Southern & Northern Park Camping Safari