The Kungwe blog is online!

Mahale and the Chimps
During this time of year it is not unusual to wake up to the sound of thunder and the sweet smell of rain, dark clouds hang overhead and sunsets over Congo Mountians are wild with colour.

As we now reach the end of our closed season, we know that slowly the heavy rains will also be coming to an end.
We prepare for June and July, knowing that these are the months that our guides and trackers are put to the test and have to be at their best to find our habituated group of chimps, known as the ‘Mimikere’ group.

The home range of these chimps covers a very large area, rising up from the lakeshore through the forest to the top of the Mahale Mountians. Normally from late May to July it becomes quite tricky to find them because food is scarce, and this group, consisting of about 60 individuals, are spread out through the forest. During these months they also prefer higher parts of their home range.
Our guides and trackers, Sixtus, Given and Samjee, are not intimidated by the climb though and will readily set off into the forest in search of clues and the whereabouts of the group.

Then from August all the trees start bearing fruit, making Kungwe a hotspot with activity for a few months, as during this time the chimps are often found feeding in or around the camp.

Our camp team is currently working on our ‘M’ group Family tree, which we are hoping to complete soon. The Tree we will not only be giving information about the birth dates, but also the characteristics, behaviour and pictures of each chimp, which will make it easy for guests to read up about their favourites. We welcome any suggestions, and will be happy to receive any photo’s that you would like to share with us.

Kungwe, a Season of change
Our team have been working hard to prepare the camp, which is now ready to receive our first guests later this month. Last year we slowly started with small upgrades in and around the camp, with which we will be continuing throughout the season. There are quite a few projects in the pipeline which we are very excited about, and will be posting regular updates and pictures about this too.

After all, apart from the rewarding chimpanzee experience that has become synonymous with Mahale, it is also the time spent at the lodge and the small things that makes your stay unique and memorable....
Watching the sun set over the Congo Mountians and sipping on a cool drink around a crackling fire. Evening forest calls of Frogs, Insects and even a Bushbaby or two. An afternoon Kayak trip on the lake, or snorkelling in the shallows along the shoreline. Having the feeling that you don’t have to do any activity at all, and simply relax on the beach.

All of these things, and of course not forgetting the great taste of Tanganyika Perch or Yellow Belly straight from the lake to the barbeque, is what makes Kungwe a truly personal experience.

We look forward to the season ahead of us and will keep weekly updates on the blog of our sightings and Camp news. So be sure to check back often as these and other posts are added.
If you would like to share your images of Kungwe or Mahale with us, or comment on our news we will be posting, simply scroll down and use the link below.

So until next time, we look forward to hearing from you!

The Kungwe Team