Safari
Located in the idyllic lost world that is the Mahale Mountains National Park, Greystoke Mahale is a byword for adventure. In the 1980s, explorer Roland Purcell built the first Mahale Mountains camp on the edge of the forest, captivated by his sensational surroundings and the magnificent chimpanzee population that roamed wild. Today, the camp has changed somewhat and beautiful wooden bandas have replaced the tents of old, but the magic and allure remain. This is a place where wildlife dreams come true and a hideaway that, selfishly, you hope no-one else ever discovers…
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Located on a crescent of powdery sand where the dense emerald forest meets the shimmering waters of the lake, Greystoke is enchanting in every way. The distinctive main ‘winged’ banda commands centre stage on the beach and is a cool, easy-breezy space dotted with armchairs and beanbags—the perfect spot to relax after a hard day’s ‘chimping.’ There is a small dining area but meals are usually served on the beach, castaway-style, making the most of the verdant views.
The six castaway chic rooms are scattered along the edge of the beach and with their thatched roofs and reclaimed dhow wood walls, each blends seamlessly into the surroundings. Downstairs, there are seriously comfy beds complete with feather pillows, and a little dressing area whilst upstairs is reserved entirely for chilling with a sofa, beanbags and spectacular views to assist. Bathrooms are at the back along a short boardwalk with hot water on tap.
If you hadn’t guessed, Greystoke’s raison d’etre is chimps. Lots of chimps. Trekking takes place in the mountains and there is a group of around 60 chimps that most guests set out to view. Hikes can take from 2 to 7 hours and the pathways are bumpy and sometimes steep so a general level of fitness is required. But when you catch sight of the chimps foraging in the leafy undergrowth, everything else is forgotten. This is exceptional wildlife viewing at its very, very best.
The air of undeniable adventure…
Sail out on the lake on a traditional dhow and enjoy chilled, wild ginger beer cocktails accompanied by catch-of-the-day sashimi. Magical.
The flight options have come a long way in the last few years but this is still an intrepid destination to get to, involving several hours in a small plane and a few stops to refuel along the way.
The Time + Tide Foundation is dedicated to preserving natural environments and supporting nearby communities, and guests contribute to sustainability purely by visiting their hotels. The foundation focuses on community and school-based learning, female empowerment, health, and wildlife conservation. Through initiatives like student sponsorship, it aims to ensure the long-term prosperity of wildlife economies and foster positive social change in Time + Tide communities.
A contribution of $10 per guest, which is included in the nightly rate, goes towards the above goals.
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Search for shrieking chimpanzee and swim in the gin-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.
