Greystoke Mahale, Nomad Tanzania. What We Think. There is really nowhere else in Africa that is as good as Greystoke. The game viewing is also very different; you can go hiking in the Mahale Mountains to see chimpanzees. Lake Tanganyika is the second biggest lake in the world by volume and is very old. The main wooden building is right on the white sand beach, and the six bandas are tucked away along the edge of the bushes, but they have great views of the water. Even though it’s not cheap, you have to stay at this lodge if you’ve come all this way.

What We Know About Greystoke Mahale

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania, in Mahale Mountain National Park, you can find Greystoke. There are only two flights a week from either Ruaha in the south of Tanzania or Arusha in the north of Tanzania to this faraway game park. Katavi National Park is the other game park in the far west, and Mahale works well with it. Flights go through both parks at the same time.

The main lodge area is a famous picture: a big wooden roof over the beach, with a lush rain forest in the background. People eat most of their meals in the main house or on the beach. On the edge of the beach, there is also a cute sunset bar made out of an old fishing boat.

There are six bandas, each with the same pattern as the main area. They are tucked into the bushes at the base of nearby mountains. There are wooden paths to the bathroom and to the top deck, which has a sitting area with great views of the lake. The rooms are very open, which makes them feel like “barefoot luxury.”

Popular in the National Park are the chimpanzees that can be seen in the woods. Visitors can spend an hour a day with the chimps. The chimps eat at different mountain heights during different times of the year, so at some times of the year the days can be very long to get to the chimps. Many people come here to see the chimpanzees, but that’s not the only thing you can do.

You can also explore the beautiful lake by kayak or follow streams up into the hills to find secret waterfalls. There are lots of beautiful birds in the area, and it’s a great idea to go for a walk with a guide through the bush tracks. You can swim and dive in the lake, which is great. When it comes to Tanzania adventure vacations, this is about as unique and off the beaten path as it gets.

It makes sense to combine Mahale and Katavi, but if you are coming from the south of Tanzania, a stop in Ruaha is also a great addition to the trip. Because Ruaha is wild and not tamed, it is a great place to see wildlife, especially big lion groups and huge elephant herds.

Nomad Tanzania owns Greystoke Mahale and can offer great deals when booked with Chada Katavi and any of their other camps, such as Kigelia in Ruaha or Sand Rivers in Selous. Talk to one of our Tanzania experts to find out what deals are available and when the best time is to go.

Even more remote than the south of Tanzania, the west of the country is a great place to visit. If you want to keep feeling “remote,” Fanjove Private Island is the best place to end your vacation. Fanjove is a great place to go on vacation because it is only a short flight from Dar es Salaam and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Indian Ocean. It would be the perfect way to end a trip of a lifetime.