Ahsante Tours Home page

Highlights

Plot 29-A Karanga Drive
P.O. Box 855, Moshi-Kilimanjaro
t/f: +255 27 27 50248
Email: info@ahsantetours.com

Ahsante Tours

is a locally-owned tour operator that specialize in mountain climbing, wildlife safaris and beach holidays...

Featured Trekking Trip

Mount Oldoinyo Lengai Climb…

A typical itinerary for trekking Lengai includes a 5-day or 14-day Ngorongoro…

Discounted Price:
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Park Overview

Mahale Mountains National Park


Mahale Mountains National Park is home to some of Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees: a population of roughly 800 (only 60 individuals forming what is known as "M group"), habituated to human visitors by a Japanese research project founded in the 1960s.

Mahale Mountains National Park
Location: Kigoma Region, Tanzania
Circuit Western
Area: 1,577 sq km

Gazetted: 1985

Topography:
Mountains, lake, rift valley and forest

Main Features:
- Uniquely varied flora and fauna
- Japanese Research Project
- Mahale Mountain range
- Huge primate population; especially chimpanzees
- Remoteness
- There are no roads at all in the park therefore the only way to visit the park is by foot - enhancing the whole experience

Animal life:
Common animals include chimpanzees, blue duiker, Sharpe's grysbok, bushy-tailed mongoose, red legged sun-squirrel, brush-tailed porcupines, red colobus monkey, Angolan black and white colobus monkey.

Birdlife Include:
Livingstone's turaco, crested guinea fowl, crowned hawk-eagle, ducks and geese, sandpiper, giant king fisher, African fish eagle, paradise fly catcher and trumpeter horbill.


Gear List


Highlights / Features

Best time to visit:
May to October

What to do
Chimp tracking (allow two days); hiking; camping safaris; snorkelling; fish for your dinner.

When to go
Dry season (May-October) best for forest walks although no problem in the light rains of October/November.

Accommodation
Three seasonal luxury tented camps.
Two small resthouses, large campsite.

 

 

Safari Park Gear List

The key to staying comfortable on safari is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation. This gear list is provided to help you in choosing your equipment and clothing for this trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, as this helps you and the field staff.
Weather

On safari, temperatures are typically in the 70s - 80s during the day, cooling off to the 50s - 60s in the evening. The Ngorongoro Crater is over 7,000' high so you can count on the evenings being cool regardless of season.

Gear Checklist
Official Papers
- Valid passport
- Visas
- Airline tickets
- International health card with immunizations

Luggage
- Medium size duffel bag (~4000 cu in.)
- Luggage tags and luggage locks
- Passport pouch or money belt
- Daypack, ~1500 cu in.

City Clothing
- Bring a few lightweight, easily washable casual items for travel and city/lodge wear

Outerwear
- Waterproof, breathable jacket
- Sweater/jacket - synthetic fleece or wool (especially for cool morning game runs and evenings at the Ngorongoro Crater)

Footwear
- Walking shoes with good ankle support (for side hikes/walks and lodge wear)
- Sport sandals

Clothing
- T-shirts, mix of synthetic and cotton
- Synthetic, long-sleeve shirt(s) - think sun protection
- Synthetic, quick-drying shorts (mid-thigh or longer)
- Light weight, breathable, quick-drying pants (zip-off legs are great)
- Socks
- Underwear, quick-drying
- Sleepwear
- Swimsuit (some lodges have a pool)

Clothing Accessories
- Sun hat with brim
- Bandanna(s)

Travel Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Personal first-aid kit
- Hand sanitizer gel / towelettes
- Sun block and lip balm w/high SPF
- Toiletry kit with bio-degradable soap/shampoo, hand lotion,
- Small wash cloth
- Electrical converter and adapter
- Headlamp or flashlight & extra batteries
- Beach towel

Optional Field Gear
- Camera, lenses, and lots of film/memory cards
- Binoculars (highly recommended)
- Motion sickness remedies
- Earplugs and travel pillow
- Alarm clock or watch
- Spare contact lenses or prescription glasses
- Zip lock bags, to protect camera, binoculars from dust
- Favorite kids snacks

Things to Consider
- Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
- It has become quite common these days for a family to have more than one surname. Maybe a mother has kept her maiden name of perhaps the children are from different unions. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to be able to prove that, yes, these kids are really yours. Even if you are the nuclear family, copies of birth certificates aren't a bad thing to have along if passports are lost or stolen
- Parental permission - If you're traveling with your kids without your spouse, you may need proof that the absent parent has given permission for the child to travel with you. It's simple enough to write up a letter, sign it, have it witnessed and notarized.
- The checked luggage allowance on the internal flight from the Serengeti to Arusha is 33 pounds. Please pack accordingly. Travelers flying home on Day 9 can store extra luggage in Arusha while on safari.
- Casual attire is acceptable for Africa. Neutral, light-colored clothing is best for the safari, to blend into the landscape and not alarm the wildlife. Khaki is always a good color while on safari.
- Be prepared to hand wash your clothes (quick-drying materials are best). Laundry services are available at some lodges for an additional cost.
- Stuff sacks are great for sorting your gear. Plastic bags are also helpful to separate clean and dirty clothing.
- If you normally wear contacts, bring a pair of glasses in case of irritation from dust in your eyes.
- Many of the roads in Africa are deeply rutted and dusty. It is a good idea to pack camera equipment and binoculars in plastic bags to protect them from the dust. This is in addition to their normal cases. Also bring lens cleaning materials.

Photos

Coleman La Sportiva Mammut Vaude Black Diamond