Gombe National Park
Gombe Park was established in 1968, and is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania
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 behaviour of the endangered chimpanzees. It has become unique after the pioneering work of Jane Goodall who started her research (on chimpanzees’ life and behaviour) in 1960.
The best National Park in Tanzania to spot the chimps, one of Africa’s immense primates. The great concentrations of Chimpanzees in this park available are well visible in a walking safari, they are dozens of voices that can be heard during the walking safari through the ancient forests of Gombe Stream. Other wildlife is Olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys are the common attraction of the national park. Is the UNESCO World Heritage site that is a protected area hosting a large concentration of Chimpanzees!
Park gives an enchanting feeling by watching them expressing human-like gestures such as kissing, patting, hugging, shaking fists and holding as these chimpanzees share 99% of the human DNA.
The Park is also a home to more than 200 bird species with odd bird species range from the iconic fish eagle to the jewel-like Peter
Exploring the wildlife and Impeccable Forest on foot at the shore of Lake Tanganyika, after dusk, a dazzling night sky is complemented by the lanterns of hundreds of small wooden boats, bobbing on the lake like a sprawling city.
GETTING THERE
Kigoma is connected to Dar es Salaam airport and Arusha by scheduled flights or chartered flight, to Dar es Salaam and Mwanza by a slow rail service, to Mwanza, Dar es Salaam and Mbeya by rough dirty roads, and to Mpulungu in Zambia by a weekly ferry (MV LIEMBA) from Kigoma, local lake-taxis take up to three hours to reach Gombe, or motorboats can be chartered, taking less than one hour
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Trekking chimpanzees can be done throughout the year,
- July to October and late December, as dry season, the odds of finding them quickly
- February-June, November-mid December, wet season, the chimps don’t roam very far
- March-April, private lodge in the park is closed only Tanapa bandas operate
WHAT TO DO
Chimps Trekking chimps, Snorkelling, Swimming and roaming in the forest, MV LIEMBA tour, fishing, outdoor activities, Kigoma city tour “Livingstone trail”,
ACCOMMODATION
The Gombe National Park offers three ranks of accommodation which include luxury budget, mid-range, budget, and a pocket-friendly lower budget