Tanzania to upgrade access road to Mahale Mountains National Park
The Tanzanian government has committed to upgrade the 38 km road linking Rukoma village and Mahale Mountains National Park in Uvinza District, announced on 18 November 2025. Kigoma Regional Commissioner Simon Sirro said the route’s poor condition is a major barrier to growth, with travellers taking five to six hours from Kigoma, and instructed Uvinza District Council to prioritise the works to benefit visitors and local communities.
Mahale’s Chief Park Warden, Assistant Park Commissioner Halid Mngofi, reported visitor growth from 210 in 2020/21 to 923 in 2023/24, but noted that rainy‑season conditions still push tourists to rely on air access, alongside challenges of encroachment, poaching and human‑wildlife conflict. Industry reaction was cautiously supportive – Nomad Tanzania said improved road access could broaden appeal if managed well, urging sensible visitor limits to protect the park’s estimated 900 chimpanzees and to sustain conservation outcomes.
Source: Tourism Update
