Gombe National Park

Introducing

Gombe National Park

Spanning just over 14 square miles on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe Stream is Tanzania's smallest national park. It is one of three places where you can see chimpanzees in Tanzania. The park's diverse topography comprises vast grasslands, dense woodland areas and tropical rain forest, bisected by steep valleys, rivers and streams of water. Famously, this is the site where Jane Goodall completed most of her pioneering chimpanzee research. The resident primatologist spent many years in Gombe observing the behaviour of Chimpanzees, an endangered species.

Thanks to Jane Goodall, Many of the chimpanzee troops here are habituated (used to humans), meaning you can trek to see them up-close in their natural forest habitat. Gombe is home to many rare primates alongside chimpanzees. There are olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys. Birds, butterflies, and a wide variety of rare forest flora can be spotted during forest walks and chimpanzee treks. There are no large predators in Gombe Stream, apart from the occasional leopard sighting.

Experience the Gombe National Park

Set on the shore of scenic Lake Tanganyika, forested Gombe National Park is one of the best places in Africa to track chimpanzees. Originally habituated by Jane Goodall in the 1960s, the chimps of Gombe now form the subject of the world’s longest-running study of a wild animal population. Observing these fascinating apes, which are our closest living genetic cousins, in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.

Gombe lies on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, which is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by volume and the longest on the planet at 675km/420mi. Within the park, 13 streams run down from the forested escarpment to the sandy beach. Swim out into the lake to look back at how the forested slopes climb the steep Rift Valley escarpment.

Locate the Gombe National Park

Discover: Gombe National Park

Gombe National Park is an incredibly rare adventure opportunity. Providing sanctuary to its unique wildlife and an oasis to all who visit, Gombe is home to the longest standing and most treasured chimpanzee research program in the world. It is also one of the most remote, authentic and romantic adventures in Africa. Founded by the extraordinary Jane Goodall in the 1960s, much of what we know about chimpanzees today is a result of the research completed at Gombe. While the chimps are the main attraction, Gombe has much more to offer. Home to rolling green hills, towering trees, steep valleys and a thriving range of biodiversity – Gombe will leave you in awe from the moment you enter this wilderness wonderland.

Getting There

The only way to get to Gombe National Park is by boat from Kigoma town. Depending on your itinerary, you might book your international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha town or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport or, if not, you can take a taxi. Your tour operator will also book your onward domestic flight to Kigoma Airport (TKQ) and will charter a private motorboat to Gombe. The boat trip takes 1 to 2 hours. It is also possible to take a public motorboat (known as a lake taxi) from Kigoma to the park. This trip takes about 4 hours.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Gombe Stream National Park is from June to September, during the dry season. Trekking through the forest is easier at this time of year, and the likelihood of seeing the chimps increases. Gombe has one continuous wet season from November to April, and we advise you to avoid this time, as nature walks are less enjoyable in the mud and rain and likely lead to cancellation.

Wildlife Experience

The main wildlife attraction in Gombe National Park is tracking chimpanzees on foot. The park actually supports two chimp communities, totaling about 100 individuals, and you will be taken to look for the same one that was habituated by Jane Goodall in the 1960s. Once you’ve found the chimps, you can observe them for one hour, whether they’re feeding, resting or walking, before you return to camp.

Birdlife

Gombe National Park has a bird checklist of 287 species. Many of these are forest birds, which are quite difficult to spot, particularly since walking unguided is not allowed and guided walks tend to focus on chimps. The lakeshore is a good place to see African fish eagles and palm-nut vultures perched in the palm trees. Peters’s twinspot, a normally elusive forest bird, is quite tame and easily spotted in the camp. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Where to go in Tanzania