Size

52 sq km (about 32 sq miles), Tanzania’s Smallest park

Location

16 km (about 10 miles) north of Kigoma on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania.

To Do

Chimpanzee trekking; hiking, swimming/snorkelling; visit the site of Henry Stanley’s famous “ Dr Livingstone I presume" at Ujiji near Kigoma and watch the renowned dhow Builders

Best Time

The chimps don’t roam as far in the wet (February-June, November- mid December)> so may be easier to find; better picture opportunities in the dry (July – October and late December).

Gombe, the smallest of Tanzania’s National parks, is a fragile remnant of chimpanzee habitat, a thin strip of ancient forest set in mountains cut with steep valleys clinging to the shores of Lake Tanganyika.  The chimps sip the streams tumbling into the lake while, at night; the lanterns of hundreds of small wooden boats light the horizon like a sprawling city.  You can meters of the world’s most famous chimpanzee community, made famous by the pioneering British researcher, Jane good all, whose years of constant observation since 1960 have made this the longest study of its kind.

Gombe is a place personality.  Chimpanzee are as individually unique as humans and no scientific expertise is required to distinguish the different characters in this cast – their repertoire of pans, hoots, grunts and screams defining the celebrities, the powerbrokers, the supporting roles.

Perhaps you will see a flicker of understanding when you look into chimps eyes, assessing you in return.  Sharing more than 95% of our genes, it’s a look of recognition from our closest animal relative.

The majority of the parks mammals are primates – most of them forest species.  Likely to be seen, in addition to the famous chimpanzees, are the colourful red-tail and blue monkeys.  Carnivores are a rarity in the forests, making Gombe a haven for walking safaris.

NOTE: Strict rules are in place to safeguard you and Chimps. Allow at least 2 days to see them – This is not a zoo so there are no guarantees where, and when they’ll be each day.