Greystoke Mahale is a superb little camp with very stylish thatched bandas. Each is raised slightly on decking and set back into the vegetation, peeking out onto on an idyllic white beach. Inside each are sumptuous beds under mosquito netting and lovely wooden furniture. Thoughtful touches are provided such as kikois for the beach, bowls to wash the sand from your feet, bath and beach towels and comfortable loungers to enjoy the view. Each stylish double-storey wooden banda has a raised viewing deck with day-beds, and links into a private bathroom where there's a flush toilet and a hot shower. In the centre of the beach is the camp's landmark, double-storey dining and lounge area. Off to one side, amongst the vegetation and rocks, is a separate sunset bar.
Tracking chimps from Greystoke is very professional; you're always accompanied by one of the camp's expert guides and a scout from the park. Crucially, your guide is someone who knows all of these chimps individually, by name, and can explain their behaviour with reference to what's happened to that particular chimp in the past. This raises your whole experience beyond simply watching wildlife, and into the realm of watching individuals and their social conduct. This makes it, for us, one of the most riveting wildlife spectacles in Africa.
After a morning trying to understand the chimps, spend a lazy afternoon kayaking on Lake Tanganyika, or sailing on a beautiful old dhow, snorkelling, swimming, fishing and drinking as the sun sets. With a great staff team, superb food and an idyllic location, Greystoke is a very special camp indeed.
Honeymoons: One of the continent's most original and spectacular places for a honeymoon - and reassuringly expensive too!
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for honeymoons in Tanzania
Beach holidays: It's on a freshwater lake, but Greystoke's beach is spectacular white sand!
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for beach holidays in Tanzania
Photographic: Perhaps Africa's best place for seeing, and photographing, chimps in the wild
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for photographic in Tanzania
Walking: Mahale's chimp-tracking trips can be quite strenous walks, including some steep forest paths.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for walking in Tanzania
Wildlife: Simply the best place for watching chimps and other primates in the forests of central Africa.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife in Tanzania
Greystoke Camp review
Wonderful location and accomodation and although the manager (Nicola) was only a temp she did a brilliant job.
The food was excellent without exception.
The guides were the poorest on the trip. Ra...
Greystoke Camp review
A rainy arrival did not mar our delight at the fabulous setting of Greystoke. The emerald mountains cloaked in cloud, the white sand beach and the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. The sun came out a...
Greystoke Camp review
For a premier camp, this falls short of the mark. This is a camp living on it's past reputation and the best chimp viewing experience to be found. The rooms are fantastic and the general staff ver...
