Mount Mahale Magic

Africa has many beautiful places in it to visit that many people know about. Yet there are a few places in Africa that are extremely beautiful and offer brilliant wildlife encounters. Recently Shem Compion led a group of photographers into the Mahale Mountains to find wild chimpanzees in the forests and discovered a magical beach called Greystoke.

Situated on the shores of lake Tanganyika, Greystoke beach makes you feel as if you have found a lost treasure island. Clean white sand, deep blue water in the worlds second deepest freshwater lake and palm trees above instantly turn the hardest safari goers into a beach lover. The fact that there are chimps in the forests above you makes for a Jurassic park feel- their pant hoots booming through the foliage in the course of a day. It all adds to a tremendous sense of excitement when you have settled in and waiting to go trekking.

Once you are amongst the chimps the magic becomes a reality. These animals, totally habituated to humans move through the jungle forest with a grace and speed akin to a fish in water. Their expressions endear and their antics fill you with laughter. They are exceptionally charismatic and photogenic. The experience is 100% a natural history experience as well as being a 100% photographically rich one. There are very few places like that in the world.

Mahale has become my new favourite location in Africa. A 4-hour plane flight and 90 minutes boat cruise are now a joy to head towards to as I know that I am heading very far away from the rest of the tourist circuit and very close to the heart of Africa!

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Guest Image Gallery, Serengeti and Mahale Mountains: By Randall Bacon

 

Recently returned from the Serengeti and the Mahale Mountains is guest traveller Randall Bacon. Randall along with fellow travellers and photographers, where guided and hosted by top wildlife photographer Greg du Toit. The group’s first stop on the trip was the Serengeti, in search of the large migrating herds of wildebeest who at this time of year have begun their calving process. Unfortunately, the group didn’t catch the migration but where still treated to fantastic predator sightings on a daily basis.  Thereafter, the group continued to a remote destination on the eastern banks of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountain. The area offers a unique experience, of exploring the pristine indigenous forests in search of the shy Mahale chimps. The team where extremely successful in capture some incredible shots from both of these Tanzanian wilderness areas, thank you to Randall for sharing a few of your top shots from the trip.

 

 

 

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More Mahale

Mahale and Selous was an awesome trip, an experience that no one should miss. Highlights for me were most definitely the chimps, the whole experience of trekking after them and the excitement when you get to see them. The trip down to Mahale in its self was an experience. Fly camping in Selous, next to a river in the bush was another highlight, not often one gets to hear the sounds of the wild and at the same time see the stars. The accommodation was top class.
Thanks to Gregg for being a great host, and thanks to Shem and Minette for putting such a great trip together. Text and images by Margaret Olivier.

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Magnificent Mahale

C4 Images and Safaris recently returned from our first photo tour to Mahale in Tanzania to photograph the chimpanzees. Led by C4 guide, Greg du Toit, the tour exceeded everyone's expectations. Below is some feedback and images by c4 client, Anne Lecuire.

"Our group was wonderful, nice and easy and we had fun. The chimps was everything I had dream for and even more, Greg was fantastic and very patient to help me with my setting in the challenging forest, so I managed to bring home the souvenir of the baby chimps of my dream. I feel so lucky to have been part of this experience. I wanted to meet the chimps for a long time and will never forget them. Thank you."

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