Greystoke Mahale

Iconic Beach Lodge in Mahale Mountains National Park

On the far-flung Kawenga Beach along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, below a huge story-book tropical forest, lies the tiny sanctuary of Greystoke Mahale.

The forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains rise behind camp, home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees, with approximately 1,000 individuals inhabiting the national park. Each day you can venture out into the forest, to observe and commune with these, our closest relatives, as they groom, wrestle and forage across the leafy floor.

Exotic wooden bandas look out over a soft sand beach, with interiors fashioned from dhow
timber. The six bandas are open-fronted, with dressing rooms and adjoining bathrooms accessible via a short boardwalk with flush toilets and powerful showers. Upstairs is a chill-out deck.
 
The forest itself is special, with eight other species of primate, shyer forest mammals, birds, butterflies, giant vines and waterfalls. And if a day’s ‘chimping’ isn’t enough, you can take gentle forest hikes, fish (there are over 250 species of cichlid in the lake) or kayak along the lake shore.

You can enjoy private barefoot dinners on the beach, or get friendly in the wildly thatched mess, complete with library and upstairs viewing decks. For some evening pizazz, there’s the bar of all bars on the rocks of the headland, with fresh sashimi and iced vodka, and a view out west to Congo across the mighty waters of the lake.

Please be aware that most guests will see the chimps at least once in a 3-4 day stay, however a sighting is not always guaranteed. Whilst they could be right behind camp one day, the next they could be high in the mountains. One chimp trek a day is included and this will usually take place in the morning. The time spent with the chimps is one hour only, trekking time can be very variable.

Greystoke Mahale is open year round, except 24th March to the end of May.

Highlights of Greystoke Mahale

• The magical forests of the Mahale Mountains, and the many animals who inhabit it.
• See an amazing array of birds.
• Hiking into the forest in search of the chimps.
• Dinner on the beach under the stars.
• Sundowners on a dhow.
• Kayaking and fishing in the clear waters of the lake.