Gombe National Park is a small but profoundly significant strip of wilderness, a place of rugged valleys and ancient forests that descend steeply to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is a world-renowned sanctuary, not for vast herds of big game, but for its populations of habituated chimpanzees and the groundbreaking research that has taken place here. The name “Gombe” is derived from the local word for the area.

The park is Tanzania’s smallest national park, covering just 52 square kilometers. It was established as a game reserve in 1943 and was upgraded to a National Park in 1968. Its global fame is inextricably linked to the work of primatologist Jane Goodall, who began her revolutionary study of chimpanzees here in 1960.

Climate
Gombe has a tropical lakeshore climate. The best time for chimpanzee tracking is during the dry season, from July to October and again in December, when paths are less muddy and the chimpanzees are more likely to be found in the lower valleys. The long rainy season from February to June and the short rains in November can make tracking challenging but transform the forest into a lush, green paradise. The park is hot and humid year-round.

Getting There
Gombe’s remote location makes it accessible only by boat. The journey typically begins with a flight from Dar es Salaam or Arusha to Kigoma town. From Kigoma, a 1.5 to 2-hour boat ride along the scenic shoreline of Lake Tanganyika brings visitors to the park’s entrance. There are no roads into the park itself.

Attractions
Gombe National Park offers an intimate and unique wildlife experience centered on its famous primate inhabitants. The park’s primary attraction is the unparalleled opportunity to observe and track habituated communities of chimpanzees in their natural forest habitat. Beyond chimpanzees, the park is home to other primates, including troops of olive baboons, red colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. The beautiful, clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake, provide a stunning backdrop for swimming and snorkeling, with a chance to see hundreds of unique cichlid fish species. The park’s network of forest trails offers breathtaking views of the lake and valleys, and the chance to follow in the footsteps of Jane Goodall makes a visit to Gombe a deeply moving and unforgettable journey into our own evolutionary heritage.