Greystoke Mahale
We often recommend including it as part of a wider journey through Tanzania, both for the striking contrast in wildlife encounters and for the chance to slow the rhythm of your trip. Perhaps come to this remote shoreline to relax with sand between your toes at the end of a more classic safari, and to meet your primate cousins in one of the most extraordinary settings on the continent. It’s spellbinding.
Location
The camp is backed by the lush, forested slopes of Mahale Mountains National Park in western Tanzania, where wild chimpanzee families roam. Its setting is a rare blend of beach, forest and freshwater wilderness, offering both adventure and deep relaxation. With no road access and reached only by boat, it feels truly remote — a place where the outside world slips away and the wild takes over.
Accommodation
Tucked into the treeline above the golden sands of Kangwena Beach are eight open‑fronted double bandas, each with an ensuite bathroom and a wonderfully wild, Robinson Crusoe atmosphere. Their shaggy thatch roofs and timber frames – crafted from wood reclaimed from old dhows – give them a treehouse‑like character, while the open design lets in soft breezes and the sounds of the forest. Inside, the décor is natural and understated: cool textiles, hand‑carved details and generous space for relaxing between adventures.
Evenings often end on the rocks of the headland, where sundowners are poured by lamp light and the towering mountains fade into darkness. It’s a serene, atmospheric finale to each day.
Experiences
- Track wild chimpanzees. The main attraction at Greystoke Mahale is, of course, the chimpanzees. Head out on foot with an expert guide to find a wild group and observe their complex social behaviour up close.
- Discover a forest alive with colour. Along the way, you may encounter up to eight other primate species, plus a dazzling array of forest life — from the scarlet flash of a Turaco’s wing to the iridescent sheen of beetles. Your naturalist will help reveal the forest’s many layers.
- Visit Katumbi village. On the edge of the national park, Katumbi offers a glimpse into the positive impact of Nomad, the camp’s parent company. The primary school and clinic are genuinely inspiring.
- Explore by glass‑bottomed kayak. Drift over the crystal‑clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, with the shores of the Democratic Republic of Congo just ten kilometres to the west.
- Sail on a dhow. Watch hippos above and below the water, dive into the lake’s cool depths, and end the outing with sundowners as the sky turns gold.
- Embrace barefoot beach life. Enjoy barbecues on the sand, volleyball, impromptu football matches, or quiet nighttime walks beneath a staggering canopy of stars.
Why We Include Greystoke Mahale in Our Journeys
For the contrast it offers, along with its deep sense of connection and relaxation, it makes the perfect counterpoint to a classic savanna safari, adding soul and variety to make a journey extraordinary.
Talk to us about designing your safari >
From the Team
“Greystoke Mahale is one of my favourite places in Africa — not only for the incredible chimpanzee encounters, but for the deep sense of calm that washes over you the moment you step off the boat. Few things feel more perfect than plunging into a vast freshwater lake straight from a sandy beach, with a teeming forest rising behind you. It’s pure magic.”
Why Plan Your Safari with Journeysmiths
Every journey we design begins with listening. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or across generations, we take time to understand how you want your safari to feel – not just where you want to go. From there, we carefully weave together exceptional places, trusted guides, and seamless logistics to create journeys that flow naturally and feel entirely your own.Every journey we design begins with listening. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or across generations, we take time to understand how you want your safari to feel – not just where you want to go. From there, we carefully weave together exceptional places, trusted guides, and seamless logistics to create journeys that flow naturally and feel entirely your own.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Great Places to Combine with Greystoke Mahale
Greystoke Mahale works beautifully as part of a wider journey in East Africa. We often pair it with contrasting environments to create a sense of flow and variety.Greystoke Mahale works beautifully as part of a wider journey in East Africa. We often pair it with contrasting environments to create a sense of flow and variety.
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Expertise & excellent communication...
We have recently returned from our first trip to Africa as well as our first safari. We spent 10 days in Tanzania where we enjoy an experience of a life time, every single detail of our safari from arrivals, departures, lodge and camp stays, guides and shuttles were planned for us and the entire adventure flowed without a hitch. We are so grateful to Ross for his expertise and excellent communication skills for putting it all together.
A 12–14 day journey linking the Western Serengeti, Chem Chem and either Mahale or Zanzibar, this three-centre trip is a classic African safari experience in places where you’ll have an intimate, personal and slow-paced encounter with the essence of Tanzania.
Spanning a huge array of diverse environments, Tanzania offers an unmatched range of African safari experiences. It’s renowned for the Great Migration of the Serengeti, but that’s just the start of the unforgettable possibilities. Whether you are planning a family safari, seeking seclusion and exclusivity as a couple, or options suited to an individual, Tanzania has locations and seasons perfect for everyone. Luxury safaris in Tanzania, with guaranteed amazing spectacles for all, are more than just feasible: they are a reality.
The best time to visit Tanzania will depend on the activities you are interested in and the wildlife you'd like to spot. Read our month-by-month seasonal guide, and responses to your most popular Tanzania safari questions
At Journeysmiths we take you out into the wilds to enjoy all kinds of activities with expert, personable guides. Read our top ten Tanzania family safari experiences.
We’ve collated a list of our ten favourite Tanzanian experiences to show you what’s possible in this incredible country.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are truly spectacular settings filled with great herds and big cats. We take you far from the crowds and minibuses with your own private guide, staying in exclusive accommodation. Families with older teenagers will love the wildly remote Selous, Ruaha and Mahale, where you can walk, canoe and even track chimpanzees. Round it off on exotic Zanzibar.
Create memories of a lifetime together on an epic family safari in Tanzania. Witness the endless, game-filled plains of the Serengeti, explore the natural wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater and experience the magnificent wildlife in Tarangire.