GREYSTOKE MAHALE,

Greystoke Mahale: What we think

Greystoke is one of the best lodges in Africa, there is really nowhere else like it and the game experience is very different – trekking in the Mahale Mountains for Chimpanzees!  Lake Tanganyika is an ancient lake and the second largest by volume in the world.  The main thatched building sits on the white beach and the 6 bandas are hidden into the edge of the undergrowth with incredible views out onto the water.  It’s not cheap but if you have travelled all this way then you simply must stay at this lodge.

There really is nowhere else like this; to be trekking in the thick jungle with chimpanzees to walk out onto the beautiful beach of Greystoke and swim; this is what we call paradise, without question 5 paws

Greystoke Mahale: In depth

Greystoke is located in Mahale Mountain National Park in Western Tanzania on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. To access this remote safari park there are only 2 flights a week from either Ruaha in the south of Tanzania or from Arusha in the north of Tanzania. Mahale works well combining with Katavi National Park, the other safari park in the far west and the flights route through together.

The main lodge area is an iconic image - a huge thatched canopy framed in the middle of the beach with a backdrop of lush rain forest. Most meals are taken in the main building or outside on the beach.  There is also a charming sunset bar on the edge of the beach constructed of an old fishing boat.

The 6 bandas are also made from of the same design as the main area, but nestled into the undergrowth at the foothills of the nearby mountains.  The rooms are very open, encouraging ‘barefoot luxury’ with wooden walkways to the bathroom and also to the top deck which has a relaxing area with great views out over the lake.

The National Park is famous for the chimpanzees that can be visited in the mountains; clients are allowed to spend 1 hour a day with the chimps.  Depending on the season the chimps feed at different altitudes on the mountains, so at certain times of year the days can be quite long to reach the chimps. People come here to visit the chimpanzees, but by all means this is not the only activity you can do, the beautiful lake is great for exploring by Kayak, or following streams up into the hills to hidden waterfalls. The environment boasts excellent bird life and its well worth taking a walk with a guide through the network of jungle tracks.  The lake is incredible for swimming as well as snorkelling.  As Tanzania safari holidays go, this is about as off the beaten track and special as they come.