Gombe National Park
Overview
Tanzania Parks
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Tanzania.
Gombe Stream is one of the best places in Africa to track chimpanzees. First researched in the 60's by Jane Goodall, the primates are remarkably habituated. The project now ranks as the world's longest running study of any wild animal population. The experience is one that you are unlikely to forget.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
Gombe's chimps are the main attraction, but the park is also home to a troop of habituated olive baboon that can usually be found on the lakeshore. There are several other monkey species present, including red colobus monkey, which are sometimes hunted by the chimps.
Scenery
Gombe lies at the shore of Lake Tanganyika. The forest is lush and divided by 13 streams that run down the escarpment to the sandy beach. To swim out and look back at the way the forested slopes climb up the steep escarpment is an unforgettable experience.
Weather & Climate
Gombe has a pleasant, relatively cloudless Dry season (May to October) and a humid, stormy Wet season (November to April). One of the best things about the drier months is the absence of cold nights. The coolest it gets is around 15°C/59°F, which isn't bad. A lot of water can get dumped on the park when the rains come, but these usually arrive late in the day and don't last long.
Best Time To Visit
The chimps tend to stick to the lower slopes of the escarpment during the drier months (May to October), so this is the best time to track them. And hiking through the forest is certainly easier when the tracks are firm and dry. By contrast, in the Wet season (November to April) you're more likely to slip, and the chimps require a lot more effort to find.
Want To Visit Gombe NP?
Safari Tours to Gombe NP
-
![3-Day Dar Es Salaam to Kigoma Transfer to Gombe Stream]()
3-Day Dar Es Salaam to Kigoma Transfer to Gombe Stream
$968 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Gombe NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Selous Ngalawa Camp
4.8/5 – 83 Reviews
-
![4-Day Chimpanzee Trekking at the Gombe National Park]()
4-Day Chimpanzee Trekking at the Gombe National Park
$2,057 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Dar Es Salaam (Start), Kigoma (Town), Gombe NP, Dar Es Salaam (End)
Tanzania Roadside Expeditions
5.0/5 – 232 Reviews
-
![17-Day Wildlife Safari with Chimps and Beaches]()
17-Day Wildlife Safari with Chimps and Beaches
$4,235 to $4,257 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Materuni (Highlight), Gombe NP, Stone Town (Zanzibar), Zanzibar (End)
Colours Africa Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 146 Reviews
