Gombe National Park

🐒 Gombe National Park – The Home of Wild Chimpanzees

Location: Western Tanzania, along the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika
Size: 52 sq km (20 sq miles)
Established: 1968
Famous for: Chimpanzee tracking and Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research

🌿 Overview

Gombe National Park is the smallest national park in Tanzania but globally renowned due to Dr. Jane Goodall’s long-term research on wild chimpanzees. The park offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the social lives of our closest relatives in their natural forest habitat.

Accessible only by boat from the lakeside town of Kigoma, Gombe is remote, lush, and brimming with biodiversity. The park’s terrain features steep valleys, tropical forests, and grass-covered ridges that slope down to the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika.

🦧 Major Attractions & Activities

1. Chimpanzee Trekking

• The highlight of any visit.

• Guided treks lead you deep into the forest to observe chimpanzees in their natural environment.

• Chances of sightings are high, and the experience is unforgettable.

2. Other Primates & Wildlife

• Olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and colobus monkeys.

• Bush pigs, duikers, and over 200 bird species, including palm-nut vultures, fish eagles, and Peters’s twinspots.

3. Lake Tanganyika

• Ideal for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and relaxing on the beach.

• One of the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lakes, rich in cichlid fish.

4. Kakombe and Mkenke Waterfalls

• Scenic forest hikes lead to these beautiful waterfalls within the park.

5. Jane Goodall Research Centre (optional visit from Kigoma)

• Learn more about the historic work of Jane Goodall, who began her research here in 1960.

🛬 Access

• By Air: Flights from Dar es Salaam or Arusha to Kigoma Airport.

• By Boat: From Kigoma, it’s a 1 to 2-hour boat ride (motorized or traditional dhow) to the park.

📅 Best Time to Visit

• Dry Season (June to October): Best for chimpanzee tracking and hiking.

• Wet Season (November to April): Lush vegetation, fewer tourists, good birdwatching — but trails can be slippery.

📌 Travel Tips

• Chimpanzee trekking can be physically demanding; good hiking shoes are essential.

• Group size for trekking is limited; permits should be booked in advance.

• Bring binoculars, insect repellent, and a good camera (no flash photography with chimps).