This national park is the second habitat for chimpanzees in Tanzania. Similar to Gombe Stream National Park, which is not too far away, a Japanese research team began the habitat of the apes, which are so closely related to us, in the 1960s. You can reach Mahale Mountains via the park’s own airstrip on a charter flight or by safari car on adventurous roads. Alternatively, you can travel by boat from Kigoma town. There are various options here, from speedboats in just under 5 hours, to steamboats in a good 10 hours, to local wooden boats in around 15 hours, depending on your preference. Once you arrive in the park, which is almost twice the size of Berlin, you will be taken to your accommodation by boat. Due to the dense forest and the location of Mahale Mountains National Park directly on Lake Tanganyika, there is no other way to get around apart from walking and boating. In addition to the obligatory Tanzania chimpanzee trekking, you can also observe other primates, birds, warthogs and possibly leopards in the park. For hiking enthusiasts, there is also the multi-day ascent of Mount Nkungwe at 2,459 meters, which is the sacred mountain of the Tongwe tribe living around Mahale. You can also go snorkeling and fishing in Mahale Mountains National Park.