Set deep in the heart of the African interior on a stretch of secluded golden beach, Kungwe Beach Lodge is the perfect blend of comfort and luxury in a romantic setting.
With the chain of wild, jungle-draped Mountains rising high up behind, the lodge is ideally positioned along the beach under the tropical shade of the Mahale forest with breathtaking views over the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.
The raised thatched mess, built in the shape of a Dhow boat, is where most meals are served and also offers a cosy lounge area, with a small selection of books and board games for lazy afternoons.
Guests enjoy sundowners and share their adventures of the day around a crackling fire whilst the sun slowly slips over the mountains of Congo.
Barbeque candlelit dinners are served on the beach, to the unique sounds of Africa – beetles, crickets and the night calls of chimpanzees, the only way to relax after a perfect day.
Accommodation
There are ten light, airy and spacious tents, scattered along the beach on raised platforms with thatched roofs. Each tent is furnished in the traditional ‘safari’ style and with a secluded patio offering lovely views over the Lake.
Tents have twin or double four-poster beds with mosquito nets, a dressing table, chair and electrical charging point as well as en-suite facilities with open-feel showers, flush toilets and hot and cold running water throughout the day.
Activities
Mahale is a pristine, natural experience with various exciting walking trails. There are birds, monkeys, small predators and butterflies – but the main attraction is the chimpanzees.
Each day you can venture out into this wonderland to observe a habituated group as they groom, squabble noisily, or bound into the trees to swing effortlessly between the vines.
Other activities include swimming and snorkelling, boat safaris, kayaking, fishing excursions – this part of Lake Tanganyika offers some of the best fresh water fishing in Tanzania.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Accessible only by boat or by air, Mahale Mountains National Park is known to be among the most isolated and beautiful parks on the African continent. With dots of isolated, golden sandy beaches framed by jungle-covered peaks, Mahale covers 1613 square kilometres of rugged terrain along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Famous for containing some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees in Africa, Mahale is home to a population of approximately 800 to 1000 chimpanzees. Successive teams of Japanese researchers have quietly conducted some of the most important scientific work on these primates from as early as 1961, habituating what is known as the ‘M’ group, thus allowing for excellent encounters with this group of about 60 individuals.
Although the chimpanzees are the main attraction, and among some of the most studied primates in Africa, the rest of the region’s natural environment has remained relatively hidden from the outside world. The park protects at least 50 other mammalian species, many of which are primates but also leopard and different types of antelope.
During a morning walk in the forest it is not unusual to come across signs of other wildlife, such as troops of Red Colobus, Red-tailed and Blue monkeys. Warthog and bushbuck wander along the fringes of the forest and are often spotted on the sandy beaches.
The birdlife in Mahale, although prolific, is more often heard than seen. A moment of stillness in the forest will reveal the calls of numerous bird species above the general hum. Birds include the Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Purple-crested Turaco and Narina Trogon. Fish eagles and Palm-nut Vultures are often spotted along the shoreline, special sightings include the elusive Pel’s Fishing-owl.
The warm, clear blue waters of Lake Tanganyika, the world’s longest and second-deepest lake, contains over 250 cyclid species found nowhere else on earth, as well as numerous fish species.
