*** Greystoke Mahale blog - updates on the chimpanzees and other animals of the Mahale mountains ***
THE ORIGINAL GREYSTOKE MAHALE
LIFE, LOVE AND THE PURSUIT OF WILDERNESS
Mahale is an evolutionary triumph, where the clock seems to have stopped early, at the right time. For man - part fish, part forest animal - it couldn't be more sublime.
There are few places left on earth that might rightfully be called Eden, and the Mahale Mountains, on the edge of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, is one of them. On a far-flung beach along the eastern shores of the lake, below a huge story-book tropical forest, is the tiny sanctuary of Greystoke Mahale. The water is as clear as gin, the air scented, and the living very easy indeed.
The slopes of the Mahale Mountains rise behind camp, home to the world's largest known population of chimpanzees. Within hiking distance is one such group of 60. Every day you can venture out into the forest to observe them, our closest relatives, as they groom, wrestle and forage across the leafy floor.
The forest itself is special, with eight other species of primate, shyer forest mammals, birds, butterflies, giant vines and waterfalls. And if a day’s ‘chimping’ isn’t enough, you can take a gentle forest hike, go fishing or kayak along the lake shore.
Mahale is a physical place, but strangely undemanding. Perhaps because it seems to have been created for Great Apes; figs, flowers, sun, shade, water.
Chada Katavi is Greystoke's 'wild brother' camp. It's located in Katavi National Park, south of the Mahale Mountain. We call a combination of both these camps...
The Beast Retreat
This 7-night safari departs from Arusha on Mondays and Thursdays
Monday departures - 3 nights Chada Katavi/4 nights Greystoke Mahale
Thursday departures - 4 nights Chada Katavi/3 nights Greystoke Mahale
Morning departures from Arusha to the west, with return flights landing back in Arusha early evening.
Please note that these are not always direct flights, as there will often be a pick-up or drop-off in northern airstrips, plus a stop for re-fuelling.