Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is well known for Jane Goodall’s famous work and research about chimpanzees and other primates.
The park is located on the stunning wild shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is an untamed place of naturally lush forests with a clear lake view.

Why visit Gombe Stream National Park?

  • The park is well-known for its superb wilderness, best for chimpanzee trekking!
  • Gombe is also a photographer’s delight for its butterflies and various bird species.
  • It is a unique park where you can go hiking and swimming—two things other parks don’t offer simultaneously.
  • It is Africa’s best destination for tracking down remarkably habituated chimpanzees.

Getting to Gombe Stream National Park

By Road

Kigoma can be reached by road from Arusha. The journey from Arusha takes around 1070km/16 hours. It’s best to know that the only way to get to Gombe Stream National Park is by boat. Upon reaching Kogoma, the only choices you have is to take a ‘lake taxi’ to the park, which takes 4 hours, or a speed boat, which takes 2 hours.

By Air

Daily scheduled flights to Kigoma are available from Arusha and Dar es Salaam with Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, and Precision Air.

Best Time to visit Gombe Stream National Park

First, it’s best to know that the park is visitable year-round.
However, if you’re not a fan of rain, it would be best to visit the park during the dry season from June to October, when there is plenty of sunshine.
The humid and warm weather makes viewing the chimps on lower slopes easy. During the dry season, you may also see them roaming around the sandy shores or even close to the camps.
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Things to do in Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is a popular tourist attraction in Tanzania, known for its wide array of exciting activities and stunning natural scenery.

Wildlife in Gombe Stream National Park

Whether you’re an avid nature lover or simply looking for a unique adventure, check out the wildlife in Gombe!

Birds in Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is a true paradise for bird lovers, with over 200 bird species residing at the park.

Landscape in Gombe Stream National Park

This stunning natural setting provides the perfect backdrop for adventure and exploration.

Where to stay in Gombe Stream National Park

From upscale luxury lodges with all the amenities to rustic eco-camps set deep in the jungle, there is something for everyone.

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Reviews of Gombe Stream National Park

Top questions answered for Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe is unlike anywhere you’ve been before. So, you have questions. We’ve been visiting for decades. So, we have answers.
Gombe Stream is famous for the dedicated work of Jane Goodall, the resident pathologist who spent most of her years in Gombe’s forests studying the endangered chimpanzees’ behaviors.
The park is surrounded by the beautiful waters of Lake Tanganyika, where you can snorkel or swim. Hence, you won’t get bored in this small paradise, rich in chimp inhabitants.
It is safe to visit Gombe. No dangerous animals are roaming around, and no known disease looms in the park. But it’s still best to apply some insect repellent with DEET content just to be assured.
Besides the main activity in the park, which is chimpanzee trekking, there are other activities that you can enjoy in Gombe. This includes swimming and snorkeling. These experiences are not offered in other parks, so your visit here is worth it.
It’s best to note that Gombe Park is the smallest park in Tanzania. It only covers an area of 35 square kilometers in the Kigoma Region, northwestern Tanzania.
Gombe National Park was established in 1968, located 15 kilometers north of the Town of Kigoma, particularly on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.
You can see vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, small antelopes, occasional leopards and hippos, and more at the park.
Absolutely! You can both swim and snorkel in the surrounding waters of Gombe Park.
You can find Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania’s Kigoma District of the Kigoma Region. In particular, you can find the park 15 kilometers away north of Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika’s eastern shore.

Most of the chimpanzees in the parks are habituated. This means that they are used to human presence. However, we may have to point out that these animals are still wild and can potentially get aggressive when taunted. So, as much as possible, don’t try something that will get on their nerves.

Also, make sure to always be with your guide and never stray away from the group.

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