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Best Time To Visit Gombe National Park (Month by Month)

Gombe Chimp Tours Gombe National Park
  1. January: Fair
  2. February: Fair
  3. March: Fair
  4. April: Poor
  5. May: Fair
  6. June: Good
  7. July: Excellent
  8. August: Excellent
  9. September: Excellent
  10. October: Excellent
  11. November: Good
  12. December: Fair
  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Fair
  4. 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.


12 Gombe Chimp Tours
calendar Best Time
July to October (Best time to find chimps)
clock High Season
July to October (Gombe doesn't get crowded at any time of the year)
percentage Low Season
November to mid-December and March to May (The only private lodge is closed from March to May)
sun Best Weather
June to October (Little to no rainfall)
raincloud 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

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

Wildlife Photos

Best Time To Go by Major Park

  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Fair
  4. Poor
  1. Gombe National Park
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Fair
    4. April: Poor
    5. May: Fair
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Fair
  2. Katavi National Park
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Poor
    4. April: Poor
    5. May: Poor
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Fair
    12. December: Fair
  3. Lake Manyara National Park
    1. January: Good
    2. February: Good
    3. March: Fair
    4. April: Fair
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Excellent
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  4. Ngorongoro Crater
    1. January: Excellent
    2. February: Excellent
    3. March: Good
    4. April: Good
    5. May: Excellent
    6. June: Excellent
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Excellent
    12. December: Excellent
  5. Nyerere National Park
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Poor
    4. April: Poor
    5. May: Fair
    6. June: Excellent
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  6. Ruaha National Park
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Poor
    4. April: Poor
    5. May: Fair
    6. June: Excellent
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  7. Serengeti National Park
    1. January: Excellent
    2. February: Excellent
    3. March: Fair
    4. April: Fair
    5. May: Fair
    6. June: Excellent
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  8. Tarangire National Park
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Fair
    4. April: Fair
    5. May: Fair
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Excellent
    12. December: Good

Want To Visit Gombe NP?

12 Gombe Chimp Tours