Beach Timber Rooms Room Camp

"In June 2004 , Greystoke Camp was transformed from the wacky tented camp it had been up to now, to a sprawling castaway dream of antique timber and Tongwe thatch. Think the Tarzan Family's hotel at the foot of a jungled mountain range on a million dollar beach. We have moved on with the styley deluxe hippy theme we've always had, but taken a few careful steps into the civilized world, giving guests real floors to walk on, real roofs to shelter under, and real taps to turn on, while retaining the essential story-book fantasy feel.

Each bedroom has been given more geographic space so quarters are well spread down the beach both north and south and have plenty of space around them. There will be three rooms on the north side (as opposed to five) and three/four on the south side. All are set back in the forest that edges the beach, so though hardly visible from the beach, will afford fabulous lake views and breezes for every room. The rooms, or should we say suites, are very open, beach style, with roofs flying upwards to a high thatched peak. Underneath these roofs will be two floors, a “ground” bed floor and above - a generous attic chill-out floor. Each room has an adjoining bathroom by the main bedroom, and accessed by a short timber walkway. Space, light and air in abundance.

All rooms and bathrooms are timber floored with plantation red eucalyptus hardwood. Steps sweep down the front onto the beach. We have recycled nearly every ship-wreck from the length of Lake Tanganyika and used their old mahogany timbers to panel parts of the rooms - cabin style - and create wonderful driftwood furnishings - giant beds, camp armchairs and sturdy tables. Imagine an eccentric Irish adventurer was shipwrecked in a Tanganyika storm onto the Greystoke beach , and built a camp only from what he had available. Luckily, beautiful cotton sheets, fluffy bath towels and a state of the art solar lighting system survived the shipwreck.

Each room is basically open with canvas blinds and curtains that can be drawn at night to keep the goolies out. The beds will be covered with giant cotton mosquito nets which you can see out of, but not into. Bedcovers are made from traditional kitenge cloth with bold designs. On the floors around the beds lie simple coconut mats. At the front, on the verandahs, are easy chairs and tables.

Behind the beds, a timber panel divides the main room from a small dressing room with mirrors, shipwreck vanity units and cupboards. Most rooms can be twin or double. A walkway from the dressing rooms leads to the bathrooms with copper fittings and unique old timber shower booths for the ultimate shipboard feel. All bathrooms have full plumbing , providing gushing water for showers, basins and flush toilets. The water is heated by eco-friendly exterior kerosene burners on demand, and each evening for high pressure showers.

On the first floor, at tree level, guests have a private chimp bed/ yoga deck, simply furnished, with views across the lake and peaks into the forest for midday retreat and sedentary primate and bird watching in the heat of the day. On the northern headland, right on the rocky lakeside but hidden in the forested sides of the hill we have built a cosy little timber bar with stepped decks that fall down to the waters edge. This will be a perfect afternoon hideaway, ideal for launching little snorkeling expeditions , and at night will turn into a pre-dinner social hub, with decent sound system, proper bar and little tables . It will also be a great place for an intimate breakfasts and private dinners.

Behind the bar, we're putting a little shop - and tucked in the back, a toilet. The bar deck will eventually connect with a beautiful timber jetty which will be built later this year. The mess still stands where it always has, out on the beach. A thatch and canvas Tongwe chief's hut, now extended with two soaring prow-like wings. This has increased the area within, with more room for simply lounging around, - and a more spacious buffet area. The upstairs, with its cushioned rare books and specialist primate library, now has four decks that look out to every point of the compass.

Wish you were there?

Love Zoe"

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Greystoke Camp - in Zoe's words