A Tanzania Safari in Gombe Stream National Park
Our comprehensive Guide to Gombe National Park in Tanzania provides everything you need to know about this stunning national park. Here you’ll find up-to-date information on the must-see attractions, activities, best time, location and accommodation facilities around the park.
We also offer advice on how to plan your safari effectively and provide sample packages with free quote to help you plan your Classic Safari, including Chimpanzee tracking, and other primate species to Gombe National Park. Gombe National Park, also known as Gombe Stream National Park, is situated in the western Kigoma Region, about 10 miles north of Kigoma, which is the region’s capital. Established in 1968, Gombe National Park, it is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania, covering only 35 square kilometers of protected land protected land along the scenic hills by Lake Tanganyika. The park features a variety of landscape, including steep valleys and diverse vegetation that ranges from grasslands to woodlands and tropical rainforests.
Gombe is unique in that it can only be reached by boat, and it gained fame as the site where Jane Goodall conducted her groundbreaking research on chimpanzee behavior. The park is home to the well-known Kasekela chimpanzee community, which has been featured in numerous documentaries and books.
With such a rich diversity of wildlife, Gombe is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists. In addition to the chimpanzees, you can also spot beachcomber, olive baboon, Anubis baboon, red colobus, vervet monkey, diadems. Interestingly, red-tailed and blue monkeys have been known to interbreed in this region. Gombe is also home to over 200 bird species, snakes, hippos, leopards and bushpigs can also be spotted here. Visitors can trek through the forest to see the chimpanzees up close and enjoy swimming and snorkeling in Lake Tanganyika, where you can encounter nearly 100 colorful species of cichlid fish.
Climate
The park experiences bi-modal rainfall pattern with short rains starting from November to December and long rains from march to may. The dry season is from lake June to October and then January to early March.
Attractions
Chimpanzee which shares 98% of human genes are easly seen living in social communities of several dozens. They communicate with each other using hugs, playful hits, and kisses, similar to how people interact. These animals are a big draw at the park, making it a perfect spot for anyone who loves chimps. is legendary for the Kasekela community of endangered wild chimpanzees which were studied by Dr. Jane Goodall for over 50 years during her study into primate behavior and featured in several books and documentaries and it is also home to two other chimpanzee families which bring the total population to currently 150 endangered chimpanzees that have been habituated and living in the protected park boundaries and thus featuring the prime tourist attractions in Gombe National Park. The chimpanzee’s instantly recognizable pant-hoot calls build the excitement as you are likely to come within meters of these incredible animals.
Waterfalls
Gombe Stream National Park is home to about two or three waterfalls, with the stunning Kakombe waterfalls being the most well-known. These falls drop impressively down the steep, forest-covered cliffs of the Rift Valley, creating a breathtaking sight as they cascade hundreds of feet over vibrant green rocks.
Wildlife
Gombe is a true primatology marvel with 8 primate species found in the park. The species include olive baboons, blue monkey, red tailed monkey, vervet monkeys, red colobus monkeys and bush babies. It also protects 35 mammal species including the bushbuck, bush pigs, duiker, civets, white tailed mongoose, snakes, hippos, leopards and checkered elephant shrew making it a superb place to travel.
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is the longest and deepest lake in Africa, reaching a depth of 1,447 meters and stretching 70 kilometers wide from east to west. It holds the title of the world’s longest freshwater lake, extending 675 kilometers in length. If you’re planning a trip, make sure to visit this incredible lake, which is home to over 300 species of fish, many of which can only be found here, including the beautiful cichlids.
Tourism activities while on a Tanzania Safari in Gombe Stream National Park
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular tourist activity in Gombe Stream National Park. The park is a great place to see chimpanzees up close and personal, as many family groups are habituated to humans. Walking up the hilly forested slopes to the primate territories is unquestionably the highlight of any visitor to the park, with instant pant-hoot calls of chimps as you get closer to these incredible primates.
This amazing activity is typically beginning early morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where tourists are introduced to the chimps tracking procedures ad the expectations during the trek and their after you will be allocated experienced guide who will take you through the park’s lush forest to hunt for these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. During the chimpanzee tracking safari, you will also have the chance to encounter with other forest dwellers such as beachcomber, olive baboon, Anubis baboon, red colobus, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, vervet monkey, diadems, snakes, leopards, bushpigs and various colorful birds and flowering plants. Once these fascinating creatures’ area is allocated, you will have the chance to observe how they do with their daily activities such as playing, grooming, foraging for food and playing among others. you will also have a chance to have captivating photographs and many more in the wild.
Boat trips
Boat trips offer amazing views of the park’s lush greenery and blue waters. You can take these rides on Lake Tanganyika and along the park’s rivers, with options that fit different budgets. They can be arranged whenever you ask for them and are offered in the mornings and afternoons. As you ride, you’ll feel the refreshing breeze from Lake Tanganyika while enjoying sights of the Great Rift Valley and a variety of birds and animals.
Bird watching
Enjoy bird watching safaris in Gombe Stream National Park. Gombe National Park offers over 200 recorded species of birds, including a cross-section of East African grassland birds and West African forest species. A birding safari in Gombe allows you to see birds like the Marabou, Red-eyed Dove, African Green Pigeon, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, African Palm Swift, Yellowbill, Jacobin Cuckoo, White-browed Scrub Robin, Pied Kingfisher, Common Hoopoe, Speckled Mousebird, Crowned Hornbill, Common Barn Owl, African Fish Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Little Sparrowhawk, African Harrier Hawk, Palm-nut Vulture, White-browed Robin Chat, Red-capped Robin Chat, Collared Palm Thrush and Willow Warbler among others.
Guided nature walks
Guided nature walks in Gombe National Park are truly amazing. The park features steep hills, rivers, and streams, along with a range of plants, including alpine bamboo, lush rainforests, and open grasslands. These stunning landscapes make for a fantastic experience during the walks. Walking safaris typically offers tourist with the chance to navigate through varied landscapes including forest, riverbanks and grasslands. During your walking safari, you will have the chance to spot a variety of wildlife up close such as monkeys, birds, animals, butterflies as well as flowering plants and astonishing plants species among others. More so walking safari promotes a sense of awareness and mindfulness, encountering visitors to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the details among others. Along the way, you’ll also get the chance to see an old feeding station from the Goodall Foundation, where Dr. Goodall studied chimpanzee behavior. It’s also the historic spot where Henry Stanley met Dr. Livingstone back in 1871.
Hiking Safaris
Hiking safaris in Gombe National Park offer amazing encounters with the park’s green vegetation and scenic views of the surrounding area. Hiking is an adventurous safari activity as it not only treats you to spectacular scenery but also tests your physical ability. Hiking Jane’s Peak is a highlight of any visit to Gombe Stream National Park. The hikes itself is challenging, it takes hikers through dense rainforests and steep, rugged terrains, demanding both physical stamina and a sense of adventure. Upon reaching to the summit, you’ll enjoy the heavily forested green hills and tropical forests with abundant sights of unique wildlife species including plants species, animals such as chimpanzees, elephants, monkeys, and baboons as well as a variety of bird species including trumpeter hornbills, kingfishers, and palm nut vultures among others.
Best time to go for a Tanzania Safari in Gombe Stream National Park
You can visit Gombe National Park anytime since it’s a great safari spot in Tanzania. The main attraction here is the chimpanzees, and you’ll have an easier time spotting them during the wet months from February to June and from November to mid-December, as they tend to stay close to their home. In contrast, during the dry months of July to October and from December to January, the chimps roam further to find food and water. Additionally, the dry season is great for getting clear, sharp photos.
Accommodation in Gombe National Park
The park has a variety of accommodation facilities which includes self-catering accommodations and lodging to luxury lodges and hotels such as Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge, Kigoma Hilltop Hotel, Triple J Resort, Lake Tanganyika Hotel and Green View Resort among others
