Chimpanzee Trekking
Follow expert trackers through the forest to spend time with habituated chimpanzees in their natural home.
Tanzania National Parks
Gombe Stream National Park
Lush forest rising from the shores of Lake Tanganyika, home to the chimpanzees made famous by Jane Goodall, makes Gombe one of the most intimate wildlife experiences in Africa.
- Location
- 16 km north of Kigoma
- Known For
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Size
- About 56 km²
- Best Time
- June – October
Discover Gombe
An untamed place of lush forest and clear lake views.
Set at an altitude of 68 to 1,524 metres, Gombe Stream National Park is one of the smallest parks in Tanzania, with an area of about 56 km². Established in 1968, it lies about 16 km north of Kigoma town in the northwestern corner of the country and can only be reached by boat.
This world-famous park, known for its population of chimpanzees, was gazetted to protect the Gombe ecosystem, its habitats, its biodiversity and its chimpanzees. It lies within the Rift Valley and borders Lake Tanganyika to the west, offering a rare combination of forest trekking and lakeside relaxation.
Why Gombe
Where the study of chimpanzees began.
Remote and less visited, Gombe offers plenty of attractions in a very small, beautiful space.
Jane Goodall's Legacy
Walk in the footsteps of the world's longest-running study of wild chimpanzees, begun by Jane Goodall in 1960.
Lake Tanganyika
Swim and snorkel in the clear waters of Africa's oldest, deepest and longest lake, home to hundreds of colourful cichlid fish.
Forest Waterfalls
Hike forest trails to the Kakombe and Mkenke waterfalls, cooling off in streams along the way.
Location
Where is Gombe Stream National Park?
Gombe lies on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, about 16 km north of Kigoma town in western Tanzania. Visitors fly or travel overland to Kigoma, then take a boat along the lakeshore to the park, a journey of about one to two hours depending on the boat.
Kigoma is also a historic town: at nearby Ujiji, Henry Morton Stanley famously met Dr David Livingstone in 1871, greeting him with the words Dr Livingstone, I presume? Lake Tanganyika straddles the borders of Tanzania, the DRC, Zambia and Burundi.
When to visit
Every season tells a different Gombe story.
Chimpanzee trekking is possible all year, but conditions vary with the rains.
Dry Season
Drier trails and easier trekking, with clear lake views. A popular time to visit.
Short Rains
Chimpanzees often stay lower on the slopes, which can make them easier to find.
Green Season
Lush forest, fewer visitors and good chimpanzee sightings.
Long Rains
The wettest months, with slippery trails but beautiful green scenery.
What is the best month to visit Gombe?
Each month brings different trekking conditions in the forest.
Lush and green, with chimpanzees often lower on the slopes.
Good trekking conditions between the rains, with few visitors.
Rains increase and trails can be slippery.
Wet and green; trekking is still possible but more challenging.
Rains ease and the forest is at its lushest.
Dry season begins, with easier trails and clear lake views.
Dry and pleasant, a great month for trekking and swimming.
Good trekking, although chimpanzees may range higher in the forest.
Dry conditions and beautiful sunsets over the lake.
Warm days and good trekking before the short rains.
Short rains; chimpanzees often move to lower slopes.
Green forest and good sightings, with festive-season visitors.
Explore the area
Discover the different faces of Gombe.
Gombe is divided into four zones, each with its own character.
InlandWilderness ZoneSteep forested valleys and ridges where the chimpanzee communities live and trekking takes place.
LakeshoreBeach ZoneA strip of beach about 16 km along the lakeshore, where visitors stay and relax between treks.
Lake TanganyikaLake ZoneThe clear waters stretching about 1 km into the lake, perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
Forest valleysKakombe & Mkenke ValleysForest streams and waterfalls, rich in primates, birds and butterflies.
Wildlife
A primate paradise on the lakeshore.
The chimpanzees are Gombe's star attraction, but the park is home to many other primates, including olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys. Mixed woodland, miombo and grassland support a wealth of plants and wildlife.
More than 200 bird species have been recorded, from palm-nut vultures and fish eagles over the lake to colourful forest birds. Bushpigs, bushbuck and the occasional leopard also live in the forest.
8 animals to look for
Chimpanzee
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Forest valleys of the wilderness zone
Habituated chimpanzees made famous by Jane Goodall, studied here continuously since 1960.
1 / 8
Olive baboon
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Beach and forest edges
A habituated troop of baboons is also studied here and often seen near the beach.
2 / 8
Red colobus
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Forest canopy
A favourite prey of chimpanzees, often seen high in the trees.
3 / 8
Red-tailed monkey
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Forest canopy
A small, lively monkey with a bright red tail.
4 / 8
Blue monkey
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Forest
A gentle forest monkey often seen near the trails.
5 / 8
Vervet monkey
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Lakeshore woodland
Common near the lakeshore and open woodland.
6 / 8
Bushbuck
Chance of seeingOccasional
Where to look: Forest edges
A shy antelope of the forest edge.
7 / 8
Palm-nut vulture
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Lakeshore and oil palms
An unusual vulture that feeds mainly on oil palm fruit.
8 / 8
Chimpanzee Trekking
An hour with our closest relatives.
Trekking begins in the morning with an experienced guide, following forest trails as trackers locate the chimpanzees. Once found, you spend up to an hour watching them feed, groom, play and call through the forest.
Gombe's chimpanzees are among the most studied animals on Earth, and many have names and family histories going back decades. Watching them in their forest home is a profound and unforgettable experience.
Safaris to 中文
Gombe & Western Tanzania safaris
Itineraries that include Gombe, often combined with Mahale and Katavi.
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Western Circuit: Gombe, Mahale & Kigoma
Kigoma · Gombe · Mahale Mountains
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Western Circuit: Gombe, Mahale & Katavi
Kigoma · Mahale Mountains · Gombe · Katavi
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 12 days
12-Day Western Circuit: Saanane, Rubondo, Gombe & Mahale
Rubondo Island · Kigoma · Gombe · Mahale Mountains
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 8 days
8-Day Western Circuit: Saanane, Rubondo & Gombe Stream
Rubondo Island · Gombe
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Western Circuit: Rubondo, Gombe & Mahale
Rubondo Island · Mahale Mountains · Gombe
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Stay in 中文
Where to stay in Gombe
Intimate lakeside accommodation inside the park, just steps from the forest.
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The story behind Gombe.
In 1960, a young Jane Goodall arrived at Gombe to study chimpanzees. Her discoveries, that chimpanzees make and use tools, hunt and have complex social lives, changed the way the world understands animals and ourselves.
Gombe was established as a national park in 1968, and the research Jane Goodall began continues today as the longest-running study of any wild animal population. The nearby town of Kigoma and the historic site at Ujiji add rich history to any visit.
Is Gombe worth visiting?
Yes. Gombe offers intimate chimpanzee trekking in the place where Jane Goodall began her famous research, along with beautiful forest and lake scenery.
How do I get to Gombe?
Fly or travel overland to Kigoma, then take a boat along Lake Tanganyika to the park.
How fit do I need to be?
Trails can be steep and slippery, so a reasonable level of fitness is helpful.
When is the best time to see chimpanzees?
Trekking is possible year-round. The dry season offers easier trails, while in the wet season chimpanzees are often lower on the slopes.
Can I swim in Lake Tanganyika?
Yes, swimming and snorkelling are popular activities in the clear lake water near the beach.
Can Gombe be combined with other parks?
Yes. Gombe is often combined with Mahale and Katavi for a western Tanzania adventure.
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