Joshua and Naombael (Directors)
Gombe Wild Chimp Safari
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Budget & mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $350 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
PK
Email Omar Parvez Khan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was all we hoped for and better!
My wife and I decided to go to Tanzania for our honeymoon; mainly for the beautiful beaches in Zanzibar but also for a safari in the 'mainland'. Gombe interested us right off the bat because the price seemed the most reasonable.
The company turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. We landed in Dar and two people were there to receive us. And from then on till the end of the safari everything was taken care of. our transport, our meals, our rooms, our game drives. Everything.
The accommodation was inside Mikumi National Park. nice, neat rooms close to the wildlife. We had regular visits in the room area from animals such as baboons and even a hhuge elephant. It was awesome.
Some people are saying that they didnt like the food. But we had no issue. Our guide, Alfons (a great guy, btw), took us to some good places and we ordered whatever we wanted ti eat; no limitations. Tried a couple of local dishes as well and they were great. Do try their fish and a sauce called 'chachando sauce', which is rare but if you find it, its amazing.
The safari itself was great. We saw a lot of animals. Zebras, giraffes, wildebeasts, warthogs, alligators, hippos and even a couple of lions at the end! And these aren't all that we saw!
A final word about our guide, Alfons. Amazing guy. Really knows what he does, knows the parks, the animals and even other parts of tanzania and tells some great stories. Also has a good sense of humour. Even when we drove for hours looking for lions we didn't feel bored for a single second. It was an awesome experience. Thank you, Alfons! We willn request the same guide of we go again.
Email Brian and Patricia | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
African and awesome
Excellent all round, all went to plan.
The chimps were seen every day. Unbelievable really. Great guide, average food and accommodation in Gombe , as expected.
But
We think a trip to Kigoma Station would perhaps have been more interesting than the museum.
IL
Email Monique | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Punctual, reliable and well organized tour in a paradise like place. Excellent guide. Recommended+++
Everything went as expected: the planning, the car, the boat, the accomodation (could improve a bit maybe).
Even the two short Thunderstorms and heavy rain stopped on time to allow us, with the help of our excellent guide, to climb and meet with the Chimps. Marvelous, thrilling, and upsetting experience!
This Tour is highly recommended.
IT
Email giuseppe | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not recommended
Cominciamo col dire che il rispetto dell'orario non è il punto forte di questo tour operator. Il nostro piano prevedeva che appena arrivati all'aeroporto di Dar Es Salaam alle 6.45 dovessimo partire subito per il Selus Reserve. Invece abbiamo dovuto aspettare un'altra turista alle 7.30. Poi fino alle 9.00 in dar Es Salaam perche il driver doveva ritirare il cibo che serviva al cuoco all'interno del camp. Poi finalmente partenza e a metà starada abbiamo aspettato per circa 1 ora e mezza un altro driver che dava il cambio al nostro. In tutto questo, siamo arrivati all'Hippo camp alle 4.30 p.m. e come pranzo ci è stato servito una coscia di pollo fredda e nera, un piatto di patatine fritte fredde e un pò di insalata. A cena, un piatto di spaghetti alla bolognese immangiabili. il giorno dopo il safari è andato bene anche se il pranzo prevedeva un'altra coscia di pollo fredda e nera, un sandwich, uno yogurt e una banana. L'ultimo giorno, dopo colazione, una breve passeggiata di mezz'ora nei paraggi nel camp, altro viaggio di 5 ore per l'aeroporto. Non consiglio assolutamente questo tour operator.
Let's start by saying that respect for time is not the strong point of this tour operator. Our plan provided that we just arrived at Dar Es Salaam at 6:45 pm and we should leave for Selus Reserve. Instead we had to wait for another tourist at 7.30am. Then until 9:00 am in Es Salaam, because the driver had to pick up the food he needed for the cook inside the camp. Then we finally got off and half starada waited for about 1 and a half hour another driver who changed the way to ours. In all of this, we arrived at Hoppo Camp at 4.30pm. And as a lunch we were served a cold and black chicken thigh, a plate of cold fries and a bit of salad. At dinner, a dish of spaghetti with Bolognese inedible. The next day the safari went well even though the lunch provided another cold and black chicken thigh, a sandwich, a yogurt and a banana. On the last day, after breakfast, a short half-hour walk around the camp, another 5-hour trip to the airport. I absolutely do not recommend this tour operator.
Email Trudie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Timing was very good and everyone was friendly and helpful. Last accom a bit noisy, but comfortable.
Everything happened very smoothly, timing with each step of the tour was really good. People friendly and helpful. The accommodation in Kigoma was just a bit noisy, but otherwise good.
US
Email Michael Rubenstein | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An amazing adventure to Gombe Stream National Park and trekking with the chimpanzees of Gombe
I have been traveling to Tanzania for the last nine years, twice a year for a month each time to work and have been on dozens of safaris, having driven many of my own, and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I have experienced much of what Tanzania has to offer and now relish in being able to introduce others to this wonderful country, so when I have the opportunity to discover something new in this amazing country, it is a real plus for me. Discovering Gombe Stream National Park and Gombe Track Safaris & Tours was just that! A colleague had used their services last April and had spoken very highly of them, but I had not completely expected the wonderful care and service that Joshua and his team provided to us all along the way. We had booked four nights at Gombe with them and absolutely everything was arranged and went off without a hitch. That included our airport transfers from Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport, Dar airport to our hotel in Dar and back again, Kigoma airport to our boat to Gombe. The return trip was equally smooth. Our captain, Juma, took wonderful care of us the camp at Gombe (We chose to stay in the tents). Juma cooked all of our meals for us and gave us more food than we could eat. He was flexible on times for meal and was always there checking on us. We were there in the dry season, so the chimps were much higher in the hills, but we were able to see them on the three days we trekked. The beach at the Gombe camp was lovely and the sunsets were to die for. It rained several days, but life went on as usual. I brought several friends with me who were first timers in Tanzania and they couldn't say enough about the trip with Gombe Track Safaris. It was everything we had hoped for and more. I will be referring other friends to them without question. They were just totally awesome.
IE
Email Ewa and Arek | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized experience
We were both really happy with the whole experience.
From the start where we were collected from the airport, to the excellent safari camp in Selous (Ngalawa) and drop off to our next destination in Dar Es Salaam we had a brilliant time. We could not recommend these places highly enough. On Driving safari we were able to see lots of wildlife and our driver and guide Charles did what he could to make it exceptional. The game drives were excellent. February was a great time to visit - there was some rain but it did not detract from the experience and it was uncrowded.
We havevspent 2 nights in Ngalawa tented camp. Very clean and comfortable accommodation. Private outdoors pool. Staff really polite and helpful. Food was bland and every day almost the same with instant coffee for breakfasts.
Gombe safari did a superb job for us. Worth the price.
Thanks again.
US
Email Katie | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gombe Chimp Trek - Adventure for only the Most Adventurous
We had no idea what to expect and could never have expected our simple desire to see chimpanzees in the wild to end up being perhaps the most remote place we've ever been. Gombe Tours was very responsive and did everything within their control to ensure a smooth trip for us. Again, it is isn't there fault that there just isn't a lot out there on the internet about what is all entailed in getting to Gombe and what accommodations are like. Let me summarize. Getting to Gombe is about a 6-7 hour ordeal. You start from Dar es Salaam with a pick up from your hotel at 5:30AM and take a 2 hour domestic flight to Kigoma Airport which is a bush airport if you've ever seen one. Maybe a flight or two in or out the whole day. Car ride with brief detour at a tourist spot to a boat where you spend 2+ hours on a small boat getting to the park by water. The day we traveled was very wavy and our boat ride was longer than two hours and we arrived soaked. We received a warm welcome from a park ranger/tour host upon arrival at the park and shown to our tent, which was nicer than expected given how remote we were, but not the full "glamping" level that some may have come to expect on safaris. Meals were provided in a dining hall. And, of course, the highlight were the chimp treks. It's everything we could have wanted. Certainly one must be in good health to participate in the treks. At the end of your final trek, you are provided boat ride and car transfer to a hotel for a stay until your flight. There were lots of pieces, but Gombe Tours ensured that the pieces all occurred smoothly. In fact, there was a miscommunication at our hotel regarding what was included and both Joshua and our driver went over and above immediately to take care of it. If I had to be very picky, I'd say the one thing we understood was occurring was a car transfer upon arrival back in Dar, which didn't occur, but we're talking the difference of a $10 taxi trip.
If you choose to embark on a Gombe chimp trek, have reasonable expectations of your location, but trust that Gombe Tours will take the stress out of the planning and execution.
US
Email William and Sammantha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Chimp Trekking Beyond Wildest Expectations
My husband and I were blown away with the chimp trekking at Gombe. The guide was fantastic and it was clear that he had such a passion for the chimps and respecting their space. We were able to see the chimps hunting, playing, fighting with baboons, and so much more. We will never forget feeling so lucky to be experiencing their human like behaviors in person! Our accommodations were as expected and a step up from camping, but we knew that going in and it was fine. Our cabin had everything we needed for the night. Our boat operator, chef, and the man who provided our transport throughout the trip were all top notch!
CZ
Email Jan Pekarek | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good price, beautiful private safari experiences
3 days package from Dar Es Salaam to Selous
Everything was great, our driver was a cool guy with professional driving skills :).
Lot of water during whole three days.. boat, driving and walking safari were very interesting and nice.
Accommodation in Ngalawa Selous Camp was also 5/5, great food, room and pool.
- We did not see lions, because it was really hot and they were hidden. Maybe next time!
I recommend.
