Gombe National Park I Tanzania Parks

Gombe Stream National Park, located on the western border of Tanzania and the Congo, is most famous for Jane Goodall, the resident primatologist who spent many years in its forests studying the behavior of the endangered chimpanzees. Gombe was designated as a game reserve in 1943, was upgraded into a national park status in 1968. The park is located 16 km north of Kigoma town on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. It covers an area of 56 square kilometers and is a fragile habitat for chimpanzee.

Excellent time is: July, August, September and October! For fair views you may visit in: May and June.  However we do not recommend that you travel in November, December, January, February, March and April. Tracking chimpanzees within Gombe National Park may be conducted all year round, however the chances of finding them easily is better close to the finish of the dry season starting in July up to October. During this time the chimpanzees usually stay on the lower slopes of the park. During the wet season it you may have to trek for about three or even four hours before finding the chimpanzees.

Gombe National Park is not among the easiest or even cheapest wildlife destinations to visit. The only possible way to arrive in the park is using a boat from the town of Kigoma. Basing on your itinerary, visitors might reserve their international flight into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) situated in Arusha town or into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) found in the capital city of Usually, your tour operator will receive you at the airport and then make all ongoing arrangements, as well as the charter flight into the park as per your arrangements, if not, you may take a taxi. Also your tour operator will reserve your domestic flight into Kigoma Airport (TKQ) and also arrange for a private motorboat directly to Gombe National Park. This boat ride will not take more than an hour to get you into Gombe Park.Dar es Salaam.

Gombe Stream National Park features a similar environment to Mahale – a sandy beach backed by the steep slopes and river valleys of vegetated mountains. Despite its size, there is still a good mix of landscapes, with rolling grasslands, evergreen and steep slopes covered in semi-deciduous forest. Bordered by Lake Tanganyika to the west and the high rift escarpment to the east, it has become a small isolated ecosystem and prime chimpanzee habitat. Gazetted as a game reserve in 1943, it was not until Goodall’s research began that it became a national park in 1968. 

You don’t have to stay overnight in Gombe Most visitors leave Kigoma early in the morning and come back at night. You can buy food at Tanapa Guesthouse. If you want to stay overnight in Gombe, “Kasekela special camp” with luxury tents (50 $) might be a better option than rooms in the hostel (6 beds)  or in the Rest house (4 beds) . Let us know if you want us to help you with the booking.

Are you looking for a friendly community to talk travel with? You’ve found the right place. This is free forums are non-commercial, independent and home to expert travellers who will be more than happy to help you plan your perfect trip. Best Travel and Safaris Questions and Answers (Q&A) forum with millions of wisdom seekers collaborating to ask questions and get best answers. Explore a wide variety of topics about Safari to Serengeti and Tanzania in general. Click below to access Questions and answers about safari to Serengeti, feel free to Join, browse Questions and answers, ask Questions  and post your travel Experience in Serengeti.