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Tanzania

Greystoke Mahale

PLAN MY TRIP

Set on a white sandy beach overlooking Lake Tanganyika with the forest slopes the Mahale Mountains, Greystoke Mahale is famous for its remoteness and its chimpanzees.

The six unique thatched and wood bandas are made from sustainable materials reclaimed from wrecked dhows, old fisherman’s canoes, and thatch from palm trees and tucked into the tree line. Each banda room is open-fronted with great canvas drapes which can be closed in the event of a storm. The twin or double beds nestle beneath a canopied net and there is a dressing area that leads on to an en-suite bathroom with running water than can be heated from a boiler, an open-air shower, and a flush toilet. The best feature of the bandas are the private verandahs and an upstairs chill-out lounge with views across the white sandy beaches to the turquoise waters of Lake Tanganyika.

The camp is ideally located next to the 1,000-square mile Mahale Mountains, a place so remote there are no just forest paths. The camp is accessed via boat. The forest is home to a variety of animals with eighty-two species of mammals including bushbucks, bushpigs, colobus monkeys, mongoose, grysbok, porcupine, duiker, and numerous butterflies and birds. But it is the famous wild chimpanzees that are the biggest draw here. Researchers from Kyoto University, Japan, have been studying wild chimpanzees in Mahale since 1965. Lake Tanganyika is one of the oldest lakes in the world and has around 250 species of fish. While the nearby savannahs are home to lions, giraffes, warthogs, and Grant’s zebras.

The most popular activity at Greystoke is naturally chimping. Chimpanzee treks are led by expert guides in two groups of six through the forest paths. Once discovered, everyone has an hour to watch their movements as they feed, squabble, forage, and groom each other. The chimps inspire a respectful silence and fascination. When not watching the chimps, guests can enjoy hikes through the forest looking for birds and butterflies or taking a swim in ice-cold pools formed by mountain waterfalls. Lake Tanganyika affords many different water-based activities such as kayaking, fishing, or sundowners on a white-sailed dhow.

The focal point of the camp and the only structure actually built on the beach is the main mess area. Delicious meals are enjoyed here while overlooking the lake and mountains of the Congo in the distance or on the beach itself. There is even a lamp-lit bar for an evening drink. Built by Roland and Zoe Purcell, the camp has a castaway fantasy feel in a far-flung land away from everything but the beauties of nature. The camp closes in mid-March through early June for maintenance.

Check out our album of Greystoke Mahale photos on facebook.

Coming soon!

Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts
Journeys

Coming soon!

1 of 12
2 of 12
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5 of 12
6 of 12
7 of 12
8 of 12
9 of 12
10 of 12
11 of 12
12 of 12

Tanzania

Greystoke Mahale

PLAN MY TRIP

Set on a white sandy beach overlooking Lake Tanganyika with the forest slopes the Mahale Mountains, Greystoke Mahale is famous for its remoteness and its chimpanzees.

The six unique thatched and wood bandas are made from sustainable materials reclaimed from wrecked dhows, old fisherman’s canoes, and thatch from palm trees and tucked into the tree line. Each banda room is open-fronted with great canvas drapes which can be closed in the event of a storm. The twin or double beds nestle beneath a canopied net and there is a dressing area that leads on to an en-suite bathroom with running water than can be heated from a boiler, an open-air shower, and a flush toilet. The best feature of the bandas are the private verandahs and an upstairs chill-out lounge with views across the white sandy beaches to the turquoise waters of Lake Tanganyika.

The camp is ideally located next to the 1,000-square mile Mahale Mountains, a place so remote there are no just forest paths. The camp is accessed via boat. The forest is home to a variety of animals with eighty-two species of mammals including bushbucks, bushpigs, colobus monkeys, mongoose, grysbok, porcupine, duiker, and numerous butterflies and birds. But it is the famous wild chimpanzees that are the biggest draw here. Researchers from Kyoto University, Japan, have been studying wild chimpanzees in Mahale since 1965. Lake Tanganyika is one of the oldest lakes in the world and has around 250 species of fish. While the nearby savannahs are home to lions, giraffes, warthogs, and Grant’s zebras.

The most popular activity at Greystoke is naturally chimping. Chimpanzee treks are led by expert guides in two groups of six through the forest paths. Once discovered, everyone has an hour to watch their movements as they feed, squabble, forage, and groom each other. The chimps inspire a respectful silence and fascination. When not watching the chimps, guests can enjoy hikes through the forest looking for birds and butterflies or taking a swim in ice-cold pools formed by mountain waterfalls. Lake Tanganyika affords many different water-based activities such as kayaking, fishing, or sundowners on a white-sailed dhow.

The focal point of the camp and the only structure actually built on the beach is the main mess area. Delicious meals are enjoyed here while overlooking the lake and mountains of the Congo in the distance or on the beach itself. There is even a lamp-lit bar for an evening drink. Built by Roland and Zoe Purcell, the camp has a castaway fantasy feel in a far-flung land away from everything but the beauties of nature. The camp closes in mid-March through early June for maintenance.

Check out our album of Greystoke Mahale photos on facebook.

Coming soon!

Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts
Journeys

Coming soon!