An exceptionally unspoilt wildlife sanctuary

The Mahale Mountains National Park lies two hundred miles down the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika. Lake Tanganyika is part of the Western Rift Valley and a large link in the chain of Lakes Edward, Kibu and to the south, Lake Malawi. Mahale is an exceptionally unspoilt wildlife sanctuary, which is reserved entirely for walking and chimpanzee trekking. The second most voluminous freshwater lake on the planet, Tanganyika’s crystal-clear waters are said to be among the world’s cleanest and provide a haven for a myriad of fish, including many colourful cichlid species.

What makes Mahale so extraordinary?

The best chimpanzee viewing in the world

Seeing primates in the wild is always a grounding and utterly entrancing experience. At Greystoke Mahale it is an education. With guides who have been with the chimpanzees for years, you really get to know the unique characters of each individual chimp. Watch as they nuzzle, play and leap – chimpanzees are among the most captivating creatures in the world. There is nowhere better to see them than at Mahale; 99% of people who trek will find them and get the rare opportunity to spend an hour with these magnificent animals.

An isolated paradise

Mahale is this most spectacular and isolated of settings, home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees, with approximately 1000 individuals inhabiting the Mahale Mountains National Park. Walks beneath the canopy, passing by giant vines and waterfalls, yield glimpses of some of the forest’s other primate occupants and special sightings of the shyer forest mammals, birds, flotillas of butterflies, otters in the streambeds and bushbuck along the paths.

Greystoke Mahale is the place to stay here and is set on the beautiful beach with glistening crystal-clear waters in front, and a leafy labyrinth backdrop. It has everything: a primate hotspot, a relaxing beach getaway, and a forest maze for intrepid adventure.  It is authentic, wild Africa and holidays do not get much more special than this.

Explore Tanzania

Tanzania is home to some of the best wildlife viewing areas on the continent. With the Great Wildebeest Migration and the greatest predator concentrations on the planet in the Serengeti National Park, to the serene, authentic southern parks and the wild primitive west; Tanzania is truly a phenomenal destination.