GOMBE NATIONAL PARK

Nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe National Park is a verdant haven renowned for its exceptional chimpanzee tracking experiences. Originally made famous by Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research in the 1960s, the chimpanzee population in Gombe continues to be the focus of the world’s most extensive study of a wild animal community. Witnessing these captivating primates, our closest genetic relatives, in their natural habitat offers an unforgettable and enriching encounter with nature.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN GOMBE NATIONAL PARK

1. WILDLIFE

The primary draw of Gombe National Park lies in the exhilarating experience of tracking chimpanzees on foot. Within the park, two distinct chimpanzee communities thrive, boasting a combined population of approximately 100 individuals. Visitors have the opportunity to seek out the very same community that Jane Goodall habituated during the 1960s. Upon locating the chimpanzees, guests are afforded a precious hour to observe these remarkable creatures in their natural habitat, whether they’re feeding, resting, or meandering about, before retracing their steps back to camp.

2. BIRDS

Gombe National Park boasts a diverse avian population, with a bird checklist encompassing 287 species. Among these are numerous forest-dwelling birds, presenting a challenge to spot given the restriction on unguided walks and the predominant focus on guided excursions centered around chimpanzee encounters. Along the lakeshore, however, visitors have the opportunity to observe majestic African fish eagles and palm-nut vultures gracefully perched amidst the palm trees. Remarkably, the elusive Peters’s twinspot, typically shy in forest environments, proves to be quite approachable and readily observable within the camp vicinity. Additionally, migratory birds grace the park’s skies from November to April, adding further diversity to the avian spectacle.

GETTING THERE 

The only way to get to Gombe National Park is by boat from Kigoma town. Depending on your itinerary, you might book your international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha town or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.

In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport or, if not, you can take a taxi. Your tour operator will also book your onward domestic flight to Kigoma Airport (TKQ) and will charter a private motorboat to Gombe. The boat trip takes 1 to 2 hours.

It is also possible to take a public motorboat (known as a lake taxi) from Kigoma to the park. This trip takes about 4 hours.