Greystoke Mahale

On a remote beach where the rainforested Mahale Mountains tumble into the impossible clarity of Lake Tanganyika stands Greystoke Mahale — six open-fronted bandas built of reclaimed dhow wood, reachable only by boat, with no roads for a hundred miles.

Why We Love It

It is the wildest address in Tanzania, and the chimpanzees are the reason: the forest behind camp shelters around sixty habituated wild chimps, and trekking to sit quietly among them is, our guests tell us again and again, the single most moving wildlife encounter of their lives.

The Experience

Mornings follow the chimps through the forest; afternoons belong to the lake — sailing the camp dhow, kayaking at sunset, snorkelling among hundreds of endemic cichlid fish, or simply reading in a hammock with sand between your toes. Dinners happen barefoot on the beach under hurricane lamps.

Need to Know

Mahale is far — a scheduled charter from Arusha — so we recommend at least three nights, ideally four. The dry months of June to October offer the easiest trekking. It is the perfect wild finale to our Southern Tanzania Wild Luxury itinerary; tell us your dates and we will build the route.