Greystoke Mahale

Greystoke Mahale Camp is in a wonderfully remote area of Tanzania, reached by air and then by dhow or perhaps on foot. The camp is set on a crescent beach on the shores of Lake Tanganyika at the foot of the 8,000ft high Mahale Mountains. If you are seeking a destination with a difference look no further, this is truly one of the most dramatic and stunning locations in East Africa. The camp combines great style, atmosphere and charm with a sound ecological approach. All the buildings are constructed from biodegradable materials and the camp has no electricity generator.

Accommodation at Greystoke Mahale is in six wooden bandas, over-looking the golden sanded beach, with interiors fashioned from dhow lumber. Each banda is open fronted, with changing room, adjoining bathroom (accessible via a short boardwalk), with flush toilet and powerful shower, and an upstairs chill-out veranda. Meals are served either in the main dining area, complete with library and viewing decks upstairs, or set up on the beach in the moonlight on the water's edge. There is also a bar on the rocks of the headland with views panning out west across the lake.  

Greystoke Mahale is the place to visit to see Mahale's wild chimpanzees; the camp organise morning treks into the forest, led by local guides whose knowledge of the forest and chimps is exceptional. The duration of the treks differ hugely and there is no guarantee of finding the chimps, but the guides are diligent, and, if possible, will continue until they find them. Their area is so large that sometimes they are just too far to find on foot, but generally they will be within walking range every three to four days. Other activities include pleasant forest hikes, enjoy sundowners on the dhow and kayaking and fishing in the clear waters of the lake.