Gombe National Park

Why visit Gombe National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is one of Tanzania's smallest national parks, just over 50 square kilometres, but one of the most famous in the world. It was here, in 1960, that Jane Goodall began her pioneering study of wild chimpanzees — research that continues today and is one of the longest-running studies of any wild animal. The park is a narrow strip of steep, forested valleys running down to the shore of Lake Tanganyika.

Seeing the chimpanzees is the reason to come. The study communities are habituated to people, and guides track them through the forest each day; once found, visitors can spend a limited time watching them feed, groom, play and interact. The terrain is steep and the walks can be demanding. Gombe is also home to olive baboons, red colobus and red-tailed monkeys, and between treks you can swim in the clear lake, relax on the beach and visit the Kakombe waterfall.

When to go

The chimpanzees can be seen all year. The dry season, from July to October, makes the trails easier, while in the wet season the chimps often feed lower down, closer to the lake.

Gombe is reached by flying to Kigoma and then taking a boat of one to two hours along the lake. It suits travellers with a strong interest in primates and conservation, and can be combined with Mahale for a deeper chimpanzee-focused trip. Ask us to plan a western Tanzania journey.