MahaleNational Park lies 120 kilometer south of Kigoma on a peninsula in Lake Tanganyika. The park is dominated by the Mahale mountain chain running from the northwest across the middle of the park. The highest peak is 2462 meters above sea level.
Vegetaton is mainly miombo woodland with narrow strips of reverie forest. The park supports variety of animal species including elephants, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, roan antelopes, buffaloes, hyenas, wild dogs. Also found in Mahale are chimpanzees and blue monkeys. According to a recent census, there are more than 700 chimpanzees in about 15 communities