Gombe National park

Gombe Stream National park

Gombe National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure safari destination in East Africa. Gombe is home to the world’s longest-running and most treasured chimpanzee research program, providing a sanctuary for its unique wildlife and an oasis for all who visit. It is also one of Africa’s most remote, authentic, and romantic safari adventures destination.

Much of what we know about chimpanzees today is the result of research conducted at Gombe, which was founded in the 1960s by the extraordinary Jane Goodall. Although the chimps are the main draw, Gombe has much more to offer. Gombe, with its rolling green hills, towering trees, steep valleys, and thriving biodiversity, will take your breath away the moment you enter this wilderness wonderland.

WHAT IS GOMBE NATIONAL PARK’S HISTORY?

Gombe Park has a fascinating history in addition to the exotic inhabitants and activities that would make any intrepid traveler drool. Jane Goodall decided to go out and observe the chimpanzees of Gombe in the 1960s because she was passionate about animals and wanted to travel to Africa. Surprisingly, Jane had previously worked as a secretary and had no formal higher education in science. However, it is Jane’s work that has led to a wealth of chimpanzee-related discoveries, including the groundbreaking understanding that chimpanzees use tools, exhibit emotions, and communicate in a manner that is comparable to that of humans.

It’s nearly impossible to adequately describe Gombe in a blog post. You won’t experience another adventure quite like it. We adore Gombe, so it makes sense that the park has grown to be our absolute favorite Tanzanian excursion. Gombe offer an unforgettable Tanzania safari experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life, from the pan-hoot calls resonating throughout the jungle to being a few meters away from an animal that shares 98% of our DNA.

WHAT IS GOMBE NATIONAL PARK’S HISTORY?

WHY VISIT GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK?

In Gombe National Park, there are just over 100 chimpanzees, many of which are habituated. A chimpanzee trek is never simple, but there is no denying that it is a very rewarding experience as you travel through the park, up and down hills and valleys. In addition to chimpanzees, 200 different species of birds can be found here, along with red-tailed and red colobus monkeys. Mahale and Gombe National Parks have fewer visitors because they are farther away and more expensive to reach. This gives you a more exclusive and off-the-beaten-path safari experience with a dash of pioneering. Here are other reasons of visiting Gombe stream National Park:

The park is famous for its magnificent wilderness, which is ideal for chimpanzee trekking!
Gombe’s abundance of butterflies and different bird species make it a photographer’s paradise as well.
It’s a special park because it lets you swim and hike at the same time, which is something that other parks can’t do.
It is the best place in Africa to find remarkably habituated chimpanzees.

GETTING TO GOMBE NATIONAL PARK

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, is the remote Tanzanian city of Gombe. This national park is extremely remote, so the only way to get there is by boat. Your journey to Gombe starts just after landing at Kigoma Airport. After leaving Kigoma, you’ll be driven to the magnificent Kigoma Hilltop Hotel, where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous lunch while taking in one of the world’s most breathtaking views. After that, you’ll be picked up by our private boat for the hour-long boat ride to Gombe National Park.

You won’t be able to take your eyes off the thriving green vegetation, sparkling still water, and towering mountains around you that make up a small part of the Great Rift Valley. This is one of the most picturesque boat rides in the entire Tanzania. You might be delighted to see a few cheeky baboons playing among the sandy shores as you get closer to Gombe National Park. Don’t worry if you can’t see any baboons; your primate safari has only just begun.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK

It’s important to note right away that the park is open all year. If you don’t like rain, it would be best to visit the park from June to October, when there is a lot of sunshine, since this is the dry season. It’s easy to observe the chimps on the lower slopes due to the warm, muggy weather. They might be wandering around the sandy shores or even close to the camps during the dry season.

What to do in Gombe National park

Hiking with the Chimpanzees

The first activity you must complete is a trek with the chimpanzees, so we advise you to bring your walking shoes. You will journey through the thriving Gombe forest with a local guide until you come across a chimpanzee community. You will have the chance to watch wild chimpanzees in their groups for the next hour, just like Jane Goodall did all those years ago.

Check out the other wildlife.

During your trek, you may also see red colobus, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, beachcomber olive baboons, and other primates. The only location in the world where red-tailed and blue monkeys hybridize (mating with another primate species) is Gombe. If you’re fortunate, you might even see one of these unusual hybrids.

Jungle Trekking

Along with the amazing wildlife you will undoubtedly see, the trek itself is breathtaking! Prepare yourself for a jaw-dropping experience as you trek through some of Tanzania’s most remote jungle and come across wild waterfalls and uninhabited panoramic lookouts over Lake Tanganyika.

It usually takes between three and five hours to find the chimpanzees, and the terrain is steep, so you’ll need to be reasonably fit to complete this trek. If the chimpanzees are not readily visible, you might also need to leave the track and go bushwhacking. This won’t be a problem if you are physically fit but slow (or just very determined). With your own personal guide, you can go at your own pace.

Water sports galore

If you’re more of a water adventurer, Lake Tanganyika offers fantastic sailing, fishing, and snorkeling opportunities that are sure to quench the thirst of any wanderer interested in exploring these ancient waters. For those who feel compelled to follow a waterfall, be ready to find the many cascades that are all ideal for a quick cool-off after your chimpanzee trekking/hike.

A few more relaxed activities are also available in Gombe National Park, such as bird watching or simply taking in the surrounding natural sounds. Alternately, you could hire a private guide and take one of the many nearby nature walks. You may even stumble upon one of the original locations Jane Goodall frequented when she first started studying chimpanzees.

Accommodation in Gombe Stream national park

Even though the number of accommodations in Gombe Stream National Park is limited, they offer varying calibers of safari experiences ranked by essential criteria like location, exclusivity, lodge or camp size, service, cuisine, amenities, eco-awareness, surrounding wildlife, and relationships with local communities, among others.

There are only a few lodging options in Gombe Stream National Park, and they fall into two distinct categories: budget lodging for travelers who want to focus on wildlife experiences but are cost-conscious and prefer to save money on services and lodging; and mid-range scaled camps with high standards of lodging and location but less luxury and opulence.

Mbali-Mbali Gombe Lodge

Also known as Gombe Forest Lodge, is a small, mid-range-priced lodging option in Gombe Stream National Park. It is located just off the shores of Lake Tanganyika in the lush shade of ancient forest trees and offers stunning views of the lake’s deep blue waters and the orange-red sunsets that frame the Congo Mountains to the west.

The lodge has seven forest tents that can be configured as twin or double rooms. Despite being small, the lodge offers total privacy by only taking 14 guests at once. These seven forest tents are named after the chimpanzees that the researchers from the Jane Goodall Institute are familiar with, and each tent has an ensuite bathroom and a furnished private balcony. They are situated on wooden platforms beneath mango groves on the lakeshore and are elegantly furnished for guests to have every comfort while minimizing disturbance and impact on the stunning environment.

There are sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach, a jetty to the lake, fishing, swimming in a lake, snorkeling, going on chimpanzee treks, and boat safaris. The lounge/dining area is built on a raised wooden deck with a large raised porch in front, furnished with African antiques and sofas. Either indoor or outdoor dining is possible. All ages are welcome, but according to Tanzania National Parks regulations, the minimum age to participate in chimpanzee trekking is 15.

Gombe Bandas

Located in Gombe Stream National Park, Gombe Bandas is a government-owned, self-catering, low-cost rest house that is ideal for backpackers and other highly motivated, no-frill adventurers on a primate safari. There are 8 very small, very simple rooms in the Bandas, each with a single or twin bed, a bedside table, a shared bathroom, and a sitting and dining area.

In Gombe Stream National Park, spend the day engaging in truly unforgettable experiences with chimpanzees and the natural world. Hike the trails to see chimpanzees and birds, kayak around the lake, or unwind with sundowners around a campfire on the beach.