Overview–tanzania

Gombe National Park

Set on the shore of scenic Lake Tanganyika, forested Gombe National Park is one of the best places in Africa to track chimpanzees. Originally habituated by Jane Goodall in the 1960s, the chimps of Gombe now form the subject of the world’s longest-running study of a wild animal population. Observing these fascinating apes, which are our closest living genetic cousins, in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.

Scenery

Gombe lies on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, which is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by volume and the longest on the planet at 675km/420 mi. Within the park, 13 streams run down from the forested escarpment to the sandy beach. Swim out into the lake to look back at how the forested slopes climb the steep Rift Valley escarpment.

Activities

The main reason most people visit Gombe is to track chimpanzees in their natural habitat, and this is far and away the most popular activity in the park. Chimp tracking aside, guided walks along the forest paths offer an opportunity to see other primates and birds, and to enjoy the lovely tropical scenery.

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Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: July to October (Best time to find chimps)

High Season

From: July to October (Gombe never gets crowded)

Size

From: 52km² / 20mi²

Wildlife & Animals

The main wildlife attraction in Gombe National Park is tracking chimpanzees on foot. The park actually supports two chimp communities, totaling about 100 individuals, and you will be taken to look for the same one that was habituated by Jane Goodall in the 1960s. Once you’ve found the chimps, you can observe them for one hour, whether they’re feeding, resting, or walking, before you return to camp.

Wildlife Highlights

Aside from the chimps, other primates are often encountered. A beach-loving troop of olive baboons, also under study since the 1960s, is exceptionally habituated, while red-tailed monkeys stick to the forest canopy. Gombe is one of only five protected areas worldwide inhabited by Ugandan red colobus, which is the most common monkey here but is often hunted by chimps. One of the more secretive inhabitants of the forest is the bushpig.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The middle and end of the Dry season (July to October) is the best time for chimpanzee trekking. At this time, the chimps tend to stay close to the lakeshore and are easier to find. The park stays open throughout the year, but in heavy rain, the trails might be difficult to walk.

General Wheather

The climate in Gombe National Park is warm to hot and humid. Daytime temperatures are around 26°C/79°F, and it cools down at night to around 18°C/64°F. The Dry season is from May to October. Unlike the coastal areas and northern parks (which have a Wet season consisting of two rainy periods with a dry spell in between), Gombe has one continuous Wet season from November to April. It rarely rains all day, but afternoon thundershowers can be expected.

Dry Season –May to October

May – The Dry season usually starts in May, but it will most likely still rain a bit, especially early in the month.
June, July & August – Afternoon temperatures are usually around 25°C/77°F. It is mostly sunny and cloud-free. It seldom rains over these months. June has the coldest nights but is still moderate with minimum temperatures of about 16°C/61°F on average.
September & October – September is slightly warmer with daytime temperatures of around 27°C/81°F. October is the end of the Dry season. Rain can be expected some days and humidity will increase.

Wet Season –November to April

November, December, January, February, March & April – Afternoon temperatures are usually about 27°C/81°F and nighttime temperatures are about 17°C/63°F. It will rain on many days, but it rarely lasts all day. The humidity can be oppressive.

Prons

A chance to come face-to-face with chimps
Pristine forest rising from the shore of the world’s longest and second-deepest lake
Watching wildlife on a hike is a nice change from vehicle safaris
Very exclusive and not crowded

Cons

Remote from Tanzania’s other parks and relatively difficult to get to
Accommodation options are limited

How To Get There

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.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and what tickets would cost.