Greystoke Mahale

If it's remote you're after, this should do the trick as there are no roads within 40 miles of the camp and access is by plane and then boat, with the airstrip an hour and a half from the camp by dhow or 20 minutes by speedboat.

The slopes of the Mahale Mountains, which rise up behind the camp, are home to the world’s largest known population of wild chimpanzees. It doesn’t take long to see why the chimps love it; few natural environments are more seductive than Mahale National Park, with rivers tumbling down waterfalls to the shoreline through lush forest valleys. As a result, there is no place on Earth better to watch wild chimpanzees.

These special creatures are a true wonder to behold, with their natural grace and anthropomorphic features. In addition to the chimps, you may also encounter eight other species of primates, including leopard, buchbuck and bushpigs, and a wide spectrum of exotic bird and insect species.

The area of lake in front of the National park is a reserve where no commercial fishing is permitted so the snorkelling and fishing are excellent. In the evening the bar on the rocks is the perfect place to enjoy sundowners over the lake before a barefoot dinner on the beach.

Nestled at the foot of these misty forests lies the tiny sanctuary of Greystoke Mahale. Not many settings have a more enchanted feel with the bandas (cabins) looking out across a soft white beach and the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, while the mountains loom behind.

There are six bandas in total, all of which are open-fronted and furnished from seasoned dhow timber. Each has an adjoining dressing room and the bathrooms are accessible via a short boardwalk with flush loos and powerful showers. The ‘upstairs’ chill-out decks, or the winged waterfront dining pavilion are perfect for drinking in this fairytale place.