New Greystoke dinner tradition.

Dinner under the stars is always special at Greystoke. The sand is soft and the stars are bright. Sometimes the sand is too soft and even after a warning not to lean back to far, guests have toppled off backwards. Well, last night nearly everyone decided not to leave it to chance, so the guests fell backwards on purpose, the night sky view was better on our backs. After we found out that Helen had never seen a shooting star nobody move until she had seen one. It took half an hour and the waiters had already moved the tables but finally Helen got her shooter.

Another camp visitor

The Red Tail Monkey is one of several species of primates living in Mahale and maybe the most striking. We often see a family of Red Tails in the trees surrounding the bandas. Listen for their distinct call which sounds like a bird chirping.

 This fine fellow is sitting in the tree outside my office.

Who will be the next Alpha male?

Pimu the current Alpha male of the M community still has a firm grip on his leadership. But those who visit Mahale know that he rules by force and is not liked by the other Chimps.

When you see the two young 20 year old Chimp's especially Primus the Number 3 we know that it is only a matter time before there is a challenge for the leadership.

Jodi McQueen and Glen Martin gave me these photos of the two young Chimps when they spent an hour watching them yesterday.

Look at the size of Primus here as he watches his friend take a drink.

Orion watches Glen as Glen watches Orion.

Pel's fishing-owl

We were behind the bandas looking at the yellow baboons feeding in the palms when I noticed this camp visitor. The birders amongst us got very excited.

Close encounters

When we are in the forest with the Chimps we try to give them plenty of space so that they can carry on with their normal daily routine. However, the Mahale M community often act is if we are not even there and can stop on the path right next to a guest and sit down. In the photo Teddy a young male who is 10 has heard another Chimp calling, he stops, sits and listens oblivious to the human standing next to him.

The lush Mahale forest.

Mahale’s rich tropical forest makes Mahale National Park the perfect haven for Chimpanzees. With thousands of verities of plants and many still unclassified the Chimpanzees have over 200 favorite plants which produce food for them to eat. Did you know that we can eat almost all the same plants that the Chimpanzees eat! Watch out though, Chimpanzees use some plants as a medicine.

 The small trails that zig zag through the forest turn any walk into an adventure.

Dining on the Beach

Another magic guest experience at Greystoke Mahale is having dinner under the stars.