Six bandas built from reclaimed dhow wood on a white-sand beach at the foot of the Mahale Mountains — arguably the finest wild chimpanzee experience anywhere in Africa.
01 / 09
Overview
A Robinson Crusoe Chimp Encounter
Founded in the 1990s by safari legend Zoe Purcell, Greystoke Mahale channels an unrestrained castaway spirit — elegant luxury meets simple outdoorsiness, an hour's boat ride from the nearest road.
The Mahale Mountains rise to nearly 8,000 feet above Lake Tanganyika, the world's second-deepest lake, their dense sub-tropical forest home to around 1,000 chimpanzees among nine other primate species. A single habituated community, studied by Japanese researchers for over 50 years, is the focus of Greystoke's guided treks — hikes ranging from fifteen minutes to three hours, always accompanied by guides whose own families have tracked these chimps for generations. The camp's six bandas are built from reclaimed dhow wood and old fishing canoes, tucked into the treeline so as to remain nearly invisible from the water.
6
Dhow-Wood Bandas
~1,000
Chimpanzees in Mahale
2nd
Deepest Lake on Earth
50+
Years of Chimp Research
Bandas
Built From Reclaimed Dhows
Six open-fronted bandas built from salvaged dhow timber, each with a dressing area, en-suite bathroom, and an upstairs chill-out deck facing Lake Tanganyika.
Banda — Facing Lake Tanganyika
01
Reclaimed dhow-wood constructionEvery banda is built from timber and canoes salvaged from wrecked or retired dhows bought from lakeshore villages.
02
Open-fronted with canvas drapesGreat canvas drapes can be closed against a storm, but otherwise the banda is left open to the forest and lake air.
03
Upstairs chill-out deckA private upper-level lounge looks out across the white sand to the vastness of Lake Tanganyika beyond.
04
En-suite bathroomRunning water, a boiler lit on request and a flush loo sit behind a dressing area accessed by a short boardwalk.
Experiences
Chimps, Kayaks and the Lake
The chimpanzees are the headline draw, but Lake Tanganyika's clear, geothermal-warmed water offers an entirely different kind of adventure between treks.
Signature
Chimpanzee Trekking
Hike into the forest each morning with an experienced guide and park scout — encounters typically last up to an hour, with the clock paused as the chimps come and go.
On the Water
Kayaking
Paddle out at dawn toward the middle of the lake for coffee and sunrise, or explore the shoreline at your own pace.
Swim
Lake Tanganyika Swimming
Warmed by geothermal springs at depth, the lake stays a uniform, swimmable temperature from top to bottom.
On Foot
Forest Hikes
Hike the forest paths beyond the chimp trek in search of birds, butterflies and other shy mammals.
Waterfall
Mountain Pool Swimming
Swim in ice-cold pools at mountain waterfalls further up the slopes of the Mahale range.
Sunset
Dhow Sundowners
Cruise the shoreline on an old wooden dhow at sunset, stopping to fish along the way.
Dining
Dinner at the Sunset Bar
A long table flanked by campaign-style chairs hosts buffet breakfasts and light lunches, with three-course dinners following drinks at the lamp-lit Sunset Bar on the rocks.
01The Mess, buffet breakfast & dinner
02The Sunset Bar, on the headland rocks
03A private beach dinner, by candlelight
04The reading room, for a quiet drink
05A dhow cruise, for sundowners
Sundowners — At the Sunset Bar
Location
The Shores of Lake Tanganyika
Greystoke Mahale sits on a white-sand beach at the foot of the Mahale Mountains, reached only by light aircraft and boat in one of Tanzania's most remote corners.
Mahale Mountains National Park protects one of the last large, wild chimpanzee populations left on the continent.
The camp is closed annually from 17 March to the end of May, when heavy rains make forest tracks impassable.
Greystoke welcomes children aged 12 and over — the remote location and forest trekking make it unsuitable for younger children.
Chimpanzee sightings are relatively reliable year-round, though trekking conditions are most favourable in the June–October dry season.
Fly
A multi-stop light aircraft journey of 2-3 hours connects Arusha or other Tanzanian parks to the regional airstrip.
Boat
An hour-long motorboat transfer down Lake Tanganyika brings guests to the beach in front of camp.
Arrive
Check-in from 12:00, checkout by 10:00 — the camp is closed 17 March through end of May annually.
Bonus Night
Stay 4, Pay 3
Book three nights at Greystoke Mahale and receive a fourth free on selected 2026 dates.