8-Day Gombe NP Chimp and Culture Tour from Bujumbura

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts cannot be arranged by this operator.

Arrival in Bujumbura, Burundi

Welcome to Burundi! Upon arrival at Bujumbura International Airport, you will be met by your professional local guide and transferred privately to your hotel near the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
After check-in, take time to relax following your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy views of the lake, unwind at the hotel or take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront.
Your first evening provides a gentle introduction to Burundi's welcoming atmosphere and beautiful lakeside setting.

Main Destination:

Bujumbura (City, Burundi)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

• Mid-range hotel in Bujumbura (City, Burundi)

+8 Photos

+7 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bujumbura City Tour & Boat Cruise in Rusizi NP

After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of Bujumbura, Burundi's largest city, to discover its history, culture and everyday life. Visit the Independence Monument, explore the lively Central Market and stop at the Livingstone–Stanley Memorial, associated with the history of European exploration in the region.
In the afternoon, travel to Rusizi National Park for a relaxing boat excursion along the Rusizi River. This wetland ecosystem provides opportunities to spot hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles and a variety of waterbirds along the riverbanks.
Enjoy the contrasting landscapes of the city, river and surrounding wetlands before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Main Destination:

Bujumbura (City, Burundi)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

• Mid-range hotel in Bujumbura (City, Burundi)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Gitega and Cultural Exploration

Following breakfast, travel inland to Gitega, Burundi's political capital and an important centre of the country's cultural heritage. The scenic drive passes through rolling hills, rural communities and picturesque countryside.
Upon arrival, visit the National Museum of Gitega to learn about Burundi's history, traditional customs and cultural identity through its collection of historical objects and exhibits.
Continue to the renowned Gishora Drum Sanctuary, one of Burundi's most significant cultural sites. Here, experience the powerful rhythms and coordinated movements of traditional Burundian drummers performing in ceremonial dress. The royal drumming tradition holds an important place in Burundi's cultural identity and is an unforgettable highlight of the visit.
After the cultural experience, transfer to your hotel for dinner and relaxation.

Main Destination:

Gitega (City, Burundi)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

Tropitel Hotel

• Mid-range hotel in Gitega (City, Burundi)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Karera Falls and Cross-Border Transfer to Kigoma, Tanzania

After breakfast, depart for Karera Falls, a beautiful series of waterfalls surrounded by green vegetation and natural scenery. Enjoy time to admire the cascading water, take photographs and appreciate the peaceful atmosphere of Burundi's countryside.
Later, continue towards the Burundi–Tanzania border for immigration formalities before travelling to Kigoma, a lakeside town on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Kigoma serves as the gateway to Gombe Stream National Park and the chimpanzee trekking experience awaiting you.

Main Destination:

Kigoma (Town, Tanzania)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

Kigoma Hilltop Hotel

• Mid-range hotel in Kigoma (Town, Tanzania)

+9 Photos

+8 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ujiji Historical Tour and Boat Transfer to Gombe Stream National Park

Begin the day with a visit to Ujiji, one of the region's historically significant settlements on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The town is associated with the famous 1871 meeting between explorer Henry Morton Stanley and Dr David Livingstone, a moment widely remembered in the history of African exploration.
Visit the Livingstone Memorial and learn about the area's historical importance before returning to Kigoma.
Later, board a boat for the scenic journey across Lake Tanganyika to Gombe Stream National Park. Established in 1968, Gombe is one of Tanzania's smallest national parks but is internationally renowned for its wild chimpanzees, forested hillsides and groundbreaking primate research.
On arrival, settle into your accommodation and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of this remote lakeside wilderness.

Main Destination:

Gombe National Park (Chimps)

Best Time To Visit July to October (Best time to find chimps)

High Season July to October (Gombe never gets crowded)

Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Wildlife in Gombe NP

ChimpanzeeCommon

HippoOccasional

LeopardRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

ElephantNone

GiraffeNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

TANAPA Gombe Rest House

• Budget guest house located inside Gombe NP (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpanzee Trekking in Gombe Stream National Park

Today is the highlight of your Tanzania wildlife adventure: chimpanzee trekking in Gombe Stream National Park. After an early breakfast, meet your park ranger and explore the forest trails in search of wild chimpanzees. Famous for Dr Jane Goodall’s pioneering research, Gombe offers a remarkable opportunity to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat and learn about their behaviour, social interactions and conservation.
Along the way, look out for other primates, colourful forest birds, butterflies and diverse vegetation. Once the chimpanzees are located, enjoy a memorable viewing experience in accordance with park regulations and permit conditions. Trekking times and difficulty vary depending on the chimpanzees’ movements, terrain and weather, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
In the afternoon, weather and park arrangements permitting, visit Kakombe Waterfall or relax along the shores of Lake Tanganyika before returning to camp.

Main Destination:

Gombe National Park (Chimps)

Activities:

• Early morning chimpanzee tracking

Accommodation:

TANAPA Gombe Rest House

• Budget guest house located inside Gombe NP (Tanzania)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Return to Kigoma and Transfer to Bujumbura

After breakfast, board a boat for the return journey from Gombe Stream National Park to Kigoma.
Upon arrival, continue with the cross-border journey back to Burundi, stopping for lunch and immigration formalities as required. The drive offers another opportunity to appreciate the landscapes and rural communities of this part of East Africa.
On arrival in Bujumbura, check in at your hotel and enjoy a relaxing final evening. Depending on your arrival time, unwind by Lake Tanganyika or enjoy a farewell dinner reflecting on your cultural discoveries and chimpanzee trekking experience.

Main Destination:

Bujumbura (City, Burundi)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

• Mid-range hotel in Bujumbura (City, Burundi)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Departure from Bujumbura

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your private transfer to Bujumbura International Airport for your onward flight.
If your flight schedule permits, you may have time for a little last-minute shopping or relaxation before departure.
Your 8-day Burundi and Tanzania adventure concludes with lasting memories of Burundi's cultural traditions, Lake Tanganyika's beautiful scenery and the remarkable chimpanzees of Gombe Stream National Park.

Main Destination:

Bujumbura International Airport (Bujumbura, Burundi)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation cannot be arranged by this operator.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.