Greystoke Mahale

Wonderfully remote, Greystoke Mahale is reached by flying and then by dhow and lies on a crescent beach at the base of the 8000ft Mahale Mountains on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is truly one of the most beautiful and dramatic locations of any camp in East Africa.

Accommodation & Facilities
Greystoke Mahale has eight wooden bandas, seven of which are settled into the edge of the forest looking out to the soft sand beach, while the eighth is raised above the tree canopy further back. The rooms and interiors have been fashioned from timber reclaimed from old dhows, and the forest edge bandas have paths through the bush to private beach-front salas. The bandas are open fronted, with dressing room, adjoining bathroom (accessible via a short boardwalk), with flush loo and powerful shower, and a mezzanine chill-out deck. Meals are served either in the gorgeous main lodge, which has a library and upstairs viewing decks, or set up on the beach under the stars on the water’s edge. There is also a bar on the rocks of the headland with views out west across the lake.

Wildlife & Activities
Greystoke Mahale is the place to stay 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 unrivalled. The lengths of the treks vary greatly and there is no guarantee of finding the chimps, but the guides are conscientious, and, if possible, will continue until they find them. Their range 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 gentle forest hikes, sundowners on the dhow and kayaking in the clear waters of the lake.