Gombe is small, steep and green: a strip of forested valleys running down from the hills to the clear water of Lake Tanganyika. There are no roads — you arrive by boat and explore on foot.
Discover Gombe Stream National Park
This is where Jane Goodall began studying wild chimpanzees in 1960, work that changed how the world understands our closest relatives. Research continues today, and the chimpanzee families here are among the most closely studied wild animals on Earth.
A day at Gombe means trekking with a park guide to find a chimp group, then spending time quietly watching them feed, groom, play and call through the forest. It is one of the most moving wildlife encounters in Africa.
Between treks you can swim in the lake, walk to forest waterfalls and watch baboons and monkeys on the beach. Gombe is remote and works best as part of a western Tanzania journey, often with Mahale or Katavi.
Wildlife in Gombe Stream National Park
- Wild chimpanzees
- Olive baboons
- Red colobus and red-tailed monkeys
- Blue monkeys
- Forest birds, including crowned eagles
- Colourful cichlid fish in Lake Tanganyika
Every drive is different — sightings are never guaranteed, and your guide reads the bush as you go.
Excursions and activities in Gombe Stream National Park
Chimpanzee trekking
Walk with a park guide through the forest to find a chimp family, then spend time quietly watching them. Treks can be short or several hours, depending on where the chimps are.
Jane Goodall history
Visit the places linked to the early research, including the feeding station area and the peak where Goodall watched the valleys.
Waterfall walks
Short hikes to forest streams and waterfalls such as Kakombe Falls.
Lake Tanganyika
Swim, snorkel or relax on the beach by one of the world's longest and deepest freshwater lakes.
Travel time to Gombe Stream National Park
- Kigoma → Gombe: ~1–2 hours by boat along Lake Tanganyika (Kigoma is reached by flight).
Travel tip from our guides about Gombe Stream National Park
Chimp treks follow strict park rules — keep your distance, keep your voice low and stay home if you have a cold, because chimps catch human illnesses easily.
How long to stay? Two nights gives you at least one full day of chimpanzee trekking. Three nights for a second trek and time on the lake.
Best time to visit Gombe Stream National Park
Jul–Oct for drier forest trails; chimps can be seen all year.
- Jul–Oct: the dry season, with easier forest paths.
- Nov–Jun: wetter and slippery, but the forest is lush and chimps are often found lower down the valleys.
Would you like to add Gombe Stream National Park to your itinerary? Browse our Tanzania safaris for inspiration, or contact us for personal advice.