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lake tanganyika, tanzania
Chances are that you’ve sat on a train and thought, “I wish I was lying on a remote beach staring at the world’s largest chimpanzee colony playing in lush tropical forest instead of on this outmoded form of transportation.” We know we certainly have. Well, deep inside Tanzania lies Lake Tanganyika, the solution to all your commuting woes. Africa’s biggest pool of fresh water is home to some of the worlds most picturesque and isolated tourist spots – not to mention that chimpanzee colony you were fantasising about.
Hemmed in by stunning Mahale Mountains, the 418-mile stretch is the perfect retreat for those looking to disappear for week. Taking a flight from the city of Arusha, you’ll be greeted with little more than a grass landing strip before being transported by boat to your destination.
what it’s like
The Greystoke Mahale camp, located on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, is a collection of six thatched bandas, a type of open-air cabin. Made from recycled timber, each has its own balcony and a view of the lake thanks to the no-door policy (although toilets and showers are tucked away out of sight).A beach bar is also perched at the end of the exclusive row of huts on a rocky outcrop if you’re in need of refreshment.
With the nearest road some 100 miles away, the surrounding area has remained largely untouched, meaning you have a chance to encounter some of Africa’s flora and fauna without jeeps full of snapping tourists blacking your view. The lush rainforest encircling the lake houses eight different species of primate, the major draw being the chimpanzees, who like nothing better than playing around in the plethora of waterfalls surrounding the camp.
If land-based flora isn’t for you, there are numerous snorkelling spots and secluded bays to explore, or, alternatively, you can take a picnic and cruise round the lake to visit the hippos as they lounge lazily in the shallows. After all, this is a holiday that can be as demanding or as relaxing as you choose. Bill Gates described it as his favourite place in the world and CS Forester wrote an award winning book on it that became the Oscar-winning film - The African Queen. And while we can’t guarantee it will launch a literary career or help you dominate the IT landscape, but Greystone Mahale will definitely take your mind off the dreaded commute.
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