Gombe National Park

Best Time To Visit

Gombe Chimp Tours

Expert

By Philip Briggs

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

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Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Chimpanzee trekking can be done in Gombe National Park throughout the year. The odds of finding chimps quickly are better toward the end of the Dry season, from July to October, when they tend to stick to the lower slopes. In the Wet season, it might take three to four hours to locate the chimps. The only private lodge in the park is closed from March to May.

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

High Season July to October (Gombe doesn't get crowded at any time of the year)

Low Season November to mid-December and March to May (The only private lodge is closed from March to May)

Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Worst Weather November to April (Wet season)

May to October –Dry Season

Chimpanzees are easiest to track from July to October
Lots of sunshine and it seldom rains
Fewer mosquitoes mean less risk of malaria
You might see other people tracking chimps, but the park never gets really crowded

Wildlife Photos

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+18 Photos Want To Visit

November to April –Wet Season

The air is clear and has no haze
Presence of migratory birds makes bird watching great
Butterflies are abundant
The forest tracks will be difficult and slippery to walk on
Chimpanzees might be difficult to find as they move away from the lake
It gets very hot and humid