Mahale Mountains National Park (gazetted in 1980) lies 120 kms. South of Kigoma town on a peninsula that cuts out into Lake Tanganyika. The park, covering an area of 1,577 sq.km is dominated by Mahale mountain chain running from north-west across the middle of the park (the highest peak being 2,462 m above sea level). The park vegetation is mainly Miombo woodland with narrow strips of riverine forests.
It forms a suitable habitat for a variety of animal species e.g. elephants, warthogs, giraffes, zebra roan antelopes, buffaloes, hyenas, wild dogs and lions in the eastern woodland.
According to the recent animal census, there are more than 700 chimpanzees living in about 15 different communities. There is a small guesthouse near Kasiha village and a luxury tented camp, which only operates during the dry season (May-October).