The Gombe Stream National Park is located on Tanzania’s western boarder to Congo, it is the smallest National park with just around 35 square kilometers. Its highly placed on the Great Rift Valley’s escarpment with Lake Tanganyika flanking the park on its west side. The mountainous rainforest National Park is famous for its chimpanzees and Dr. Jane Goodall detailed study of the highlands primate natives. The landscape of the area is dominated by valleys and vegetation ranges from grassland to thickets to woodlands to thick tropical rainforest making a hike along the Gombe treks in retrospect a very rich experience.

In 1960, British primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall arrived in Gombe area hell-bent on studying the ways of the chimpanzees, human’s distant cousins. she was financed by another renowned scientist Dr. Louis Leaky. Records state that Dr. Jane Goodall is the only human to get accepted by the chimpanzee community and was able to closely monitor and come up with interesting findings on how this primates are more similar to humans than not. Her studies opened the world’s eyes on the life of chimpanzees which was used to help solidify Dr. Leaky’s evolution theory. Walk in he path of this great scientist on Dr.Goodall’s trail and learn a lot more fascinating facts on the Park’s pioneer’s journey.

Reaching Gombe National Park is not as easy as the others, it is on the other side of Arusha and Dar (Tanzania’s major tourist entry points) and once you get closer the last stretch of your journey is done by boat (one might argue that this is actually very epic) however if you hold on it is a very unique destination and a satisfying experience. A trip to Gombe can be coupled with a visit to the nearby Mahale Mountains. Flights from Arusha and Dar-es-salaam to Kigoma (park’s connecting town) are available every day and the boat ride is usually only a couple of hours.

Comfortable accommodations are available in Gombe National park that have the capacity to cater for travelers providing necessary relaxation amenities to shed the tires of the hike.

Activities

Take hikes off the beaten path with expert local guides who will take you to where this intelligent creatures troops are found. Chimpanzees are said to have the as close as 98% genetic similarity to human beings. Sit close to this primates and enjoy the drama and antics as they unfold.

Visitors of Gombe National park can also enjoy Lake Tanganyika. Snorkeling scuba diving and fishing are some of the remarkable experience done in Lake Tanganyika.

Time to visit & Climate

The best time to visit the chimps in Gombe is between August to November, however with a guides leading your trek you are bound to experience the park’s glory anytime of the year.

A beautiful cool atmosphere is associated with the highlands of this great National park. You might want to pack a jacket though as the chills can be unforgiving sometimes.

Gombe wildlife

Chimpanzees are the parks major draw but it is also home to beach comber, red colobus, blue monkey, velvet monkey, diadems and sometimes leopards can be spotted in the rich woodlands. The Park is also famous for the bird-life it nesting in its thick rain-forests.