Gombe National Park

About Gombe National Park

Gombe is Tanzania's smallest national park, a narrow strip of forest along the shore of Lake Tanganyika, but its significance far outweighs its size. This is where Jane Goodall began her groundbreaking chimpanzee research in 1960, and the troop she studied has now been observed continuously for longer than any wild chimpanzee population anywhere in the world.

What to Expect

Chimp trekking here means a genuine forest hike, often steep, following habituated troops through terrain little changed since Goodall's early years. Because the park has no road access, all visits begin with a boat trip along Lake Tanganyika's clear water, which itself offers excellent swimming and snorkeling once the trekking is done.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season from late May to October offers the easiest trekking conditions, though chimp permits and access should be arranged well in advance regardless of season.

Getting to Gombe National Park

Gombe is reached by boat from Kigoma, typically combined with a Mahale Mountains visit for travelers seeking a dedicated chimpanzee and Lake Tanganyika itinerary in western Tanzania.

Combine With: Gombe pairs naturally with Mahale Mountains for travelers wanting two chances at chimpanzee trekking, or can be visited on its own as a shorter, more accessible option given its smaller size and closer proximity to Kigoma.

More Than Chimpanzees

Beyond the chimp troop itself, Gombe's forest holds red colobus and red-tailed monkeys, along with a rich variety of forest birds. The park's lakeside setting also means most stays include time swimming or relaxing on Lake Tanganyika's shore between trekking outings, balancing the physical demands of the forest hikes.

Researchers still work in the park today, continuing the long-term study Goodall began, and visitors occasionally have the chance to speak with the field teams whose ongoing work has made Gombe's chimpanzees among the best understood wild primates on earth.