The Chimps of Greystoke Mahale: A World of Mystery Awaits You
 Far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Greystoke Mahale camp, located at the edge of western Tanzania, is the embodiment of a distant paradise. Removed from the main tourist attractions of Tanzania, Greystoke Mahale is for travelers looking for the epitome of luxury, authenticity, and intimacy.
With a phenomenal location nestled between the Mahale Mountains within the privacy of towering trees and shady palms, each of Greystoke’s six bandas overlooks the gleaming Lake Tanganyika. Here, visitors can enjoy relaxing days on the beach and in the water, spectacular sunsets off the horizon of this regal lake, and elegant dinners beneath the stars. The possibilities are truly endless.
 But arguably, Greystoke’s most captivating and famous feature is its nearby chimpanzee population. With the largest concentration of chimps in the world, the slopes of the Mahale Mountains offer visitors to Greystoke spectacular opportunities to observe these highly-intelligent creatures in the wild.
What you’ll see on a chimpanzee trekking excursion . . .
Chimp trekking is an absolute must when visiting Greystoke Mahale and is one of the most rewarding experiences.
 As you enjoy a delightful walk through the lush forest behind Greystoke, a surprising mystery awaits you on the soft green slopes of the Mahale Mountains. With nearly 1,000 chimps living in the surrounding Gombe National Park, you’ll see a variety of chimp families playing, foraging, and socializing.
One such family, known as The M Group, is comprised of individuals that live close to Greystoke and each have very specific character traits. For example, Pimu, the alpha male, is known for his dominant and aggressive behavior with females and the other males, while other chimps are famous for their high intelligence.
After just a few minutes with these magnificent creatures, you’ll begin to see unique characteristics that separate each chimp from the next. You’ll also immediately notice distinct correlations between the behavior of these chimps and that of humans.
 In fact, the local tribe of Mahale believes that these beautiful creatures were once humans who moved into the woods and have now evolved into what we see today.
Whether you want to partake in chimp trekking each day of your vacation or one or two days of your trip, the staff at Greystoke can accommodate for all your needs and desires. For each trekking expedition, you’ll be able to sit and observe the chimps for one hour at a time—observing their everyday interactions and social behavior.
In addition to the impressive chimps, you’ll also encounter eight other species of primates, leopard, buchbuck, bushpigs, and a wide spectrum of exotic bird and insect species, while on your tropical forest hike. |
The interactions between our two young children this week reminds me that their actions are very fitting for this weeks Hills Of Africa newsletter. Of course my siblings and I never fought or argued when we were their age! It is quite remarkable how they can destroy a house, fight like it’s the end of the world over the most minor things, and yet be so endearing and lovable a few minutes later.
There are some remote forests on the shores of Lake Tanganyika that are home to Africa’s largest chimpanzee populations. Can you imagine the experience of spending time with some of our closest relatives, behaving as we might have done not too long ago and apparently some of us still do, Alexandra and Max.
See the best of the best within South Africa by visiting 2 excellent safari lodges which are nestled in some of the best game viewing territory in the world. Enjoy a full 7 nights on safari, and then move on to picture perfect, glorious Cape Town.
Trip Name: Kruger Safari and Beaches of Mozambique
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