One of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, Gombe is situated in the Kigoma region on the untamed beaches of Lake Tanganyika, marking the western border between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The national park is 52 square kilometers in size and is located between 2516 and 5269 feet above sea level. Gombe National Park was initially established in 1943 as a game reserve. It was then converted to a national park in 1968 and made accessible to tourists in 1978 once the chimpanzees become accustomed to hiking.

The primary draw is the Gombe National Park, home of the chimpanzees. Jane Goodall, a primatologist, established the world’s longest-running behavioral research program in 1960, and her research helped make the park famous.

Attractions & activities in Gombe national park.

Chimpanzee trekking.

There are roughly 100 chimps in the park, and some of them have been trained to trek, making chimpanzee trekking the main pastime there.

The amazing activity of chimpanzee trekking involves moving through the jungle in search of habituated groups of chimpanzees and spending an hour in their natural habitat once you find them. In Gombe National Park, chimpanzee trekking is conducted on foot under the guidance of a park guide who will provide you with information about the chimpanzees and point you the trails you should take through the jungle.
Spending time with the chimpanzees and witnessing them eat, play, and rest, among other activities, is an amazing and once-in-a-lifetime experience that is limited to guests above the age of 15. Among the other primate species you can see when chimpanzee trekking are olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and red colobus monkeys.

Bird watching.
One of the greatest places to go bird watching is Gombe National Park, where you can see a variety of bird species, including endemic species that are unique to Tanzania, migratory birds, and forest birds. Birdwatchers can see a variety of bird species in the park, including the palm nut vulture, peters twinspot, African broad bill, black swaw wing, tropical boubou, African fish eagle, rufous sparrow, paradise flycatcher, Ross’s turaco, red-chested cuckoo, crowned eagle, double-toothed barbet, and livingstone’s turaco. Birdwatching is typically conducted along the lake’s edge and in the forest.

Guided nature walk.

This is a fun park activity that gives you the chance to walk around the park with a park ranger or guide. You will take in the crisp air, pleasant surroundings, lovely bird sounds, and a refreshing breeze while on the nature walk. There are several nature walk trails to explore, including the former feeding station trail maintained by the Goodall Foundation. The trail takes you to the location where chimpanzee behavior was being studied or researched by primatologist Jane Goodall. Additionally, there are quick nature hikes around the edges of Lake Tanganyika that offer breathtaking views of the valleys, escarpments of the Rift Valley, and various plant species and landscapes.

Spot fishing.
In the Gombe National Park, sport fishing is a fantastic pastime that requires the acquisition of a permit for guests who wish to partake. Sport fishing is only permitted in certain places with knowledgeable fishing guides who will instruct you on the usage of the catch and release technique to carry out this thrilling pastime.

Game viewing.

About 35 different mammal species may be found at Gombe National Park, so in addition to trekking with chimpanzees, you can go wildlife viewing to see a variety of animals, including hippos, reed bucks, bush pigs, and bushbucks.

Gombe National Park offers additional activities such as swimming, snorkeling, boat rides on Lake Tanganyika while taking in the surrounding sights, and cultural encounters that take you to Mwamgongo village, which is close to the park.

Where to stay in Gombe national park.

You can choose from a variety of lodging options in Gombe National Park, including luxury, moderate, and affordable lodging, for your safari. Among the lodging options are the Jane Goodall Rest House, the Gombe Tented Camp, the Gombe Forest Lodge, the Mbuzui Mawe Serena Camp, the Gombe Forest Lodge, the Gombe Bandas, and the Kasekela Luxury Campsite.

Best time to visit Gombe national park.

Although Gombe National Park is open all year round, July through October is the ideal time to visit during the dry season. Since the park experiences less rainfall at this period, the trails leading to the chimpanzee trek and nature walk will be accessible. Additionally, the forest’s short grass will provide for clear views of the animals.
Gombe National Park is also accessible during the wet season, which runs from February through December. During this time, you can witness migratory bird species and the chimpanzees are easier to trek because they haven’t moved too far into the bush.

The months of February through December are especially ideal for visiting Gombe National Park during the wet season, as this is when you may see migratory bird species and the chimpanzees are easier to walk because they are not as far into the forest.

Getting to Gombe national park.

By water: Gombe National Park may be reached from Kigoma town to the park headquarters. A voyage by public motor boat or lake taxi boat takes approximately four hours, and a private motor boat ride takes less than an hour. The most convenient method of traveling to Gombe National Park is by boat. To get there, simply arrange a flight to either Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, and then take a boat to the park.

The Gombe National Park can also be reached by air thanks to domestic Tanzanian airlines like Air Tanzania, Regional Air, Zan Air, Coastal Aviation, Precision Air, and Air Link, among others, who offer charter flights to the park. If you would like to schedule a domestic flight to the national park, you can get in touch with Adventure in the Wild Safaris. They can also provide you with additional information regarding airlines that can transport you to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport, as well as information about ticket prices.
Gombe National Park in Tanzania is the greatest place to go on safari if you want an amazing and thrilling experience. To learn more about Gombe National Park and its safari packages, visit our website or speak with one of our tour consultants.

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