The smallest of Tanzania’s national parks, Gombe Stream National Park is a narrow strip of chimpanzee habitat on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, located on the far western border of Tanzania and the Congo. The park is world-famous for Jane Goodall, the resident primatologist who spent many years in its forests studying the behavior of the endangered chimpanzees, contributing to the drive to combine the preservation of primate wildlife habitats with the development of eco-tourism and the beneficial involvement of Indigenous human communities in Tanzania.

Chimpanzees share about 98% of their genes with humans, and no scientific expertise is required to distinguish between the individual repertoires of pants, hoots, and screams that define the celebrities, the powerbrokers, and the supporting characters. Perhaps you will see a flicker of understanding when you look into a chimp’s eyes, assessing you in return – a look of apparent recognition across the narrowest of species barriers.

Why Go On Safari In Gombe National Park Gombe Stream’s main attraction is the chimpanzee families that live protected in the park’s boundaries. Guided walks are available that take visitors deep into the forest to observe and sit with the extraordinary primates for an entire morning — an incredible experience and one that is the highlight of many visitors’ trips to Africa.

Besides chimpanzee viewing, many other species of primates live in Gombe Stream’s tropical forests. Vervet and colobus monkeys, baboons, forest pigs, and small antelopes inhabit the dense forest, in addition to a wide variety of tropical birdlife.

The most visible of Gombe’s other mammals are also primates. A troop of beachcomber olive baboons, under study since the 1960s, is exceptionally habituated, whereas the red-tailed and red colobus monkeys – the latter regularly hunted by chimps – stick to the forest canopy.

The park’s 200-odd bird species range from the iconic fish eagle to the jewel-like Peter’s twinspots that hop tamely around the visitors’ center. After dusk, a dazzling night sky is complemented by the lanterns of hundreds of small wooden boats, bobbing on the lake like a sprawling city.

BEST TIME TO VISIT GOMBE NATIONAL PARK The best time to visit Gombe National Park is during the dry season, from June to October, when the weather is mild and chimpanzee sightings are most likely. However, visitors should be prepared for steep and sometimes challenging terrain, as well as the possibility of encountering other wildlife, such as snakes and baboons.

LOW SEASON March to April

The wet season can make chimpanzee trekking more challenging, but it is still possible to see chimps and other wildlife. The green vegetation also makes it a great time for birdwatching, as migratory species are in the area. This is the quietest period in Gombe, with fewer visitors.

HIGH SEASON May and November

The chimpanzees are still active and visible, though it can be more challenging to track them compared to the dry season. May and November are transitional months, so wildlife sightings are still great, but not as abundant or concentrated as during the peak season.

PEAK SEASON June to October

This is the best time for chimpanzee trekking. The dry season makes it easier to track the chimps, as they are more likely to stay within a smaller area near water sources. Other animals, including monkeys and birds, are also more visible during this time.

HOW TO GET TO GOMBE NATIONAL PARK 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.