Gombe Stream National Park

Overview

Gombe Stream National Park is a tiny jewel on the western shores of Lake Tanganyika in northwestern Tanzania. Covering only 52 square kilometers, it’s the smallest of Tanzania’s national parks — but one of the most famous in the world thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Jane Goodall, who began her chimpanzee research here in 1960.
This forested park is globally renowned as one of the best places to observe wild chimpanzees, but it also offers stunning natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and deep scientific significance. With no roads in or around the park, Gombe offers a completely immersive wilderness experience that is peaceful, raw, and intimate.

Location and Accessibility

Gombe is located in the Kigoma Region of western Tanzania, directly on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Africa’s second-deepest lake.
Getting There:
By air: Fly to Kigoma Airport from Dar es Salaam or Arusha.
By boat: From Kigoma, it’s a 1- to 2-hour boat ride north along the lake to reach the park. Boats can be chartered privately or arranged through lodges.
There are no roads into the park, and all access is by boat — adding to the sense of adventure and isolation.

Landscape and Ecosystems

Despite its small size, Gombe boasts a diverse and dramatic landscape:

• Steep valleys and forested hills, covered with dense tropical vegetation
• Rivers and waterfalls, such as Kakombe and Mkenke
• Riverine and evergreen forests, mixed with miombo woodlands
• Sandy beaches along Lake Tanganyika

The combination of lake, forest, and hills creates a unique microclimate that supports both lowland and montane species.

Wildlife

Chimpanzees
Gombe’s main attraction is its habituated population of wild chimpanzees. There are around 90 chimpanzees in the park, and visitors have a high chance of encountering them during guided treks.
The chimps here were made world-famous by Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research, which:

• Documented the use of tools by chimps (previously thought unique to humans)
• Revealed complex social structures, communication, and emotional behaviors
• Highlighted both cooperative and aggressive sides of chimp society

You’ll likely see chimps grooming, feeding, vocalizing, and playing — often just meters away from your vantage point.

Other Primates:
Olive baboons (also extensively studied in Gombe), red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys (red and black-and-white).

Other Mammals:
Though less visible, the park is also home to bush pigs, bushbucks, leopards (rare and elusive), civet cats, genets, and small antelope.

Aquatic Wildlife:
Lake Tanganyika itself is incredibly biodiverse, home to cichlid fish (many endemic), crocodiles, and hippos (rarely seen near Gombe’s shores).

Birdlife

Over 200 species of birds make Gombe a birdwatcher’s haven. Notable species include:

• Palm-nut vultures
• Fish eagles
• Peter’s twinspot
• Livingstone’s turaco
• Trumpeter hornbills
• Tropical boubou
• Various sunbirds, kingfishers, and cuckoos

The forested environment supports a rich variety of both forest and lake-associated birds.

Activities

1. Chimpanzee Trekking

The highlight of any visit.
Treks start in the morning and can range from 1 to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located.
Groups are limited in size, and sightings typically last about an hour to minimize disturbance.

2. Forest Walks

Scenic hikes lead to Kakombe Waterfall and Jane’s Peak, offering great views and historical context to Goodall’s early research.

3. Birdwatching

The dense vegetation and lakeside trees are excellent for spotting forest and water birds.

4. Lake Activities

Swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling in Lake Tanganyika (where safe and permitted).
The lake’s waters are famously clear and host unique endemic fish species.

5. Cultural and Research Visits

Learn about the Jane Goodall Institute’s ongoing conservation work.
Visits to nearby fishing villages or Kigoma town can be arranged before or after your park stay.

Best Time to Visit

Dry Season (June to October): Best time for chimpanzee trekking — trails are dry, and chimps are often closer to the base of the hills.
Wet Season (November to April): The forest is lush, birds are abundant, and photography is spectacular. However, chimp sightings can be more difficult due to thick vegetation and longer treks.
Gombe is open year-round, but most visitors come during the dry months for easier hiking.

Accommodation

There are limited accommodation options in or near Gombe, making advance planning essential.

• Inside the Park: Gombe Forest Lodge (luxury, eco-friendly, on the beach with lake views), Park Bandas (basic TANAPA-run guesthouses), Public Campsites (for budget travelers with their own gear)
• In Kigoma: Kigoma Hilltop Hotel, Lake Tanganyika Hotel (ideal for a night before or after visiting Gombe)

Conservation and Legacy

Gombe has global conservation significance due to the work of Jane Goodall, who began studying chimpanzees here in 1960. Her findings transformed our understanding of primates, evolution, and human behavior.
Today, the Jane Goodall Institute continues conservation, education, and community outreach in the region. Threats to the park include habitat loss in surrounding areas, human-chimp conflict, and disease transmission.
Ecotourism plays a vital role in supporting protection of the park and local communities.

Why Visit Gombe Stream National Park?

Gombe is perfect for:
Primatologists and wildlife enthusiasts,
Nature photographers seeking intimate moments with great apes,
Conservation-minded travelers and Goodall admirers,
Those looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations with high emotional impact.
In Gombe, you don’t just go on a safari — you step into the heart of one of science’s most powerful stories and come face-to-face with our closest wild relatives.

Quick Facts

• Location: Kigoma Region, western Tanzania, on Lake Tanganyika
• Size: 52 km²
• Elevation: Variable forest hills and lake shore
• Best Time to Visit: June–October (dry), November–April (wet)
• Famous For: Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research, wild chimpanzees
• Key Wildlife: Chimpanzees, olive baboons, cichlid fish, over 200 bird species
• Activities: Chimp trekking, forest walks, birdwatching, lake activities
• Accessibility: 1-2 hour boat ride from Kigoma, no road access