Reviews of Greystoke Mahale
(98%) From 28 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Face to Face with the Chimps
To begin with a critical comment, an important fact is certainly not stressed, maybe not even mentioned in the descriptions of this place: as we were told by our guides (very good and very competent !!) it depends on the time of year how far up into the mountains you have to climb in order to meet the chimps.
However, we were lucky (and as amatter of fact fit) enough to make it to the chimps ( all in all a five and a half hours walk ) and we were very well rewarded !!! Meeting them up there in a rather unaccessable mountainous area was certainly one of the highlights of this whole trip !!
Julian, the manager of the place, tried hard to be a good host - he could, however, spread his attention more evenly to all members of the party. Guests from other parts of the world should be as well cared for as people from Australia......
The staff seemed not as well trained and not as ambitious as in the other places we visited.
A dream location - Greystoke
We finally got to Mahale National Park and the lovely Greystoke Camp with lake Tanganyika at our footstep. The camp has been described as a dream location and to large extent it was. Isolated own bungalows overlooking the lake and with all you need for a very relaxing and enjoyable break.
The highlight was of course the chimp trekking which we did twice, both times reminding us that it is not always easy to find the chimps. The plan was at breakfast around 08.00, we would know from our guides where the chimps were and then we would head out. The practice was that on day one we went out after lunch and on day two around 10.30 only proving that chimps tend to be further away from the camp during the rainy season. Anyway we saw chimps both day, in the trees or on the ground. The walking took about an hour, mostly in rainy conditions.
The camp manager (Julian) was very entertaining and the staff was simply excellent in providing service and caring for the guests. Being at the lake we took a boat out and jumped in 25 degree crystal clear water and afterwards did some fishing (which we had for dinner the same evening). The sunset and evening skies, one day with a distant thunderstorm was magical.
The food was good, nothing to complain about but nothing to be overly positive about either.
wonderful
This place has to be heaven on earth. Just wonderful in every way.
Read more about the whole safariGreystoke Mahale review
I was a bit worried coming to Greystoke Mahale. It seemed so amazing in its descriptions I was afraid it would be a bit of a letdown. Rest assured it lived up to expectations.
We had three chimp treks. The first was a bit quiet, but the other two progressed nicely. Chimp trekking is a bit more hit and miss than, say, a gorilla trek, as the chimps don't stay in a tight group.
Out guide Mateus was top-notch, very conscience and extremely knowledgeable. And eating freshly caught sashimi was not something I expected on an African Safari.
Magical Mahale
A truly magical place. Chimp viewing was an amazing experience.
The camp was the perfect base to do this and provided enjoyable additional activities and great hospitality.
Kate and Cameron were excellent hosts and Butati and Mathias were passionate and enthusiastic guides.
Great chimptrekking
We stayed three nights at Greystoke Mahale.
The camp is divine, the setting is fantastic. You feel as if you were on the seaside. It is remote and beautiful.
Chimptrekking was exciting, we had the opportunity to see so many chimpanzees and to walk alongside. Our guide Buttati was fantastic, so funny, passionate and kind. We loved to listen to him explaining us the behaviours of the chimpanzes and sharing so many anecdotes. We had the chance to see the chimps grooming, resting, walking,... The first day we had to walk long hours before to meet them as they had the idea to go far in the bush but the second day we met them only 30 min far from the camp.
We highly enjoyed too our trip to Katumbi, a nearby village, for which we had raised funds and supplies. We went to visit the school and the clinic which we wanted to support through the Nomad Trust and Packforapurpose. It was a great opportunity to meet the community and to discover their way of life.
We would definitely come back.
Unique.... The best.....
Ah.... Mahale..... Of our five weeks in the bush, it was the best, but it is difficult to compare with the others because of its uniqueness. Aesthetically, the buildings (and much of the furniture and fitments) are made of old dhows and are exquisite. Cam and Kate were consulate hosts and went above and beyond to make our stay perfect--including setting the entire dining table for the 12 of us on the beach on the final night. Happy hour at the bar on the point was divine.
Butate, our guide, was one of the most caring and lovely people I've ever met, to say nothing of his knowledge and guiding skills. He loves the chimps, that is clear. He also took us through his village, which was a wonderful experience. He is also a very, very funny man, and we spent an inordinate amount of time falling over with laughter.
Chimp trekking was fabulous, though my camera struggled with the light and shadow, and with the focus, because the jungle can be very dense. We had one very easy trek to see them, and one very tough one.
And then there's Big Bird, the tame pelican who, if truth be told, rules the camp. We guests had to fish for him, rescue him from a boat that threatened to cart him to the nearby village--where he would have ended up in the pot, and generally ensure that his life was bliss. He was the most wonderful bird I've met, and I miss him and worry for him. He is too friendly for his own good. Long Live Big Bird!
Amazing Greystoke Mahale
I had high expectations for Greystoke Mahale. I've been dreaming of going there for years, and I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the amazing things I've heard and read about it. It turned out to be even better than I could have possibly imagined! This is a truly magical place, and there's no place like it anywhere in the world.
We spent four days trekking and interacting with chimps and monkeys, relaxing on the white-sand beach, swimming in the amazingly clear water, fishing off the wooden dhow, playing with Big Bird the Pelican, kayaking from the beach, and hiking the gorgeous forest trails. The thatched-roof bandas are whimsical and luxurious at the same time. They're made entirely from reclaimed dhows (boats), and they are completely open to the environment (there's just a mosquito net around the bed at night), and yet it feels safe, secure, and a little adventurous. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the service was flawless.
Kate and Cameron, the managers, created a very relaxed and easy vibe, where nothing is a problem and everything is possible. I had been concerned about whether we would want to swim in the lake.. I had heard about crocs, hippos, water cobras, bilharzia, etc. Once we got there, we realized that there was nothing to worry about. The water is slightly alkaline, which keeps it crystal clear and makes it feel very silky and soft on your skin - we didn't want to get out of the water once we were in it! The worrisome creatures only hang out near the rocky shoreline areas, so all you have to do is stay well away from the rocks and there's nothing to worry about.
I really can't say enough good things about Greystoke Mahale. If you have a chance to go there, don't hesitate - just go!
A special place to stay
A very relaxing stay in a fantastic setting - the rooms were magnificent. Chimp trekking was exciting and we have hundreds of photos to prove it. Guides were excellent and hugely knowledgable on all the chimp families.
The lunches were great but less so the evening meals
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
