Gombe Stream National Park lies 16 km north of the town of Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika. This is where Jane Goodall did her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees, and the 52 square km park is still a major research area. It consists of well-forested mountainous terrain and supports approximately 200 habituated chimpanzees.

The forested stream lines flow from the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley into the waters of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world at 1 500 metres, which swarms with tropical fish. The ridges between the stream lines are miombo woodland. Many species of trees and butterflies (over 250 species) are relict populations of the West African rainforest, isolated by the formation of the Rift. Tanzania smallest park is home to one of the last remaining wild populations of Chimpanzee in Africa. Gombe is famous for its 200 chimpanzees and their many other species of monkeys that make the forested shores their home including red colobus, red-tail and blue monkeys.

The dense vegetation makes it unsuitable habitat for carnivores so the park is safe for walking safaris. There are rewarding sightings for birdwatchers. Plan to stay 2 days to see the chimps as there is no guarantee of daily sightings. To increase your chances of seeing the Chimps be sure to tour the research station, which rewards the chimps for dropping by with a banana. Often you will see one there and the researcher on duty may be able to steer you to a nearby group.The beauty of Gombe National Park is unique. It is a park without roads where you can walk and experience nature with all your senses.

All Game Viewing at the Park is done on foot. The biggest attraction of the Park is the highly habituated chimpanzees but there is a large number of Olive Baboons and different species of Monkeys, Blue monkeys etc. The Park has roughly 200 Chimpanzees. The birdlife is extraordinary and more than 200 species of birds have been recorded at the Park. Be warned that Gombe charges the highest fees of any park anywhere in Africa but nothing can prepare you for an encounter with chimps. The best times to visit is during the dry season which is between May to October and during the short rains of January and February.

The park can be visited as a day trip from Kigoma by speedboat or it is also possible to spend the night there at Gombe Luxury Tented Camp. Upon entering Gombe, first time guests are surprised to the see that Gombe has a combination of wildlife and beach experience that they did not know of. The rocks and soil at the beach are beige-white with fine granular size and the sands being a little coarse than what would normally be found on the Indian Ocean beaches but this would be understandable because of a lack on attrition process, normally strong tidal waves that would break them down faster.

The rocks found on the hills and valleys are ancient genesis being worn out gradually over the centuries by the flowing streams that run through the park. The hardened rocks on high parts of the park have been determined to be quartzite. Lake Tanganyika embraces Gombe National Park. It is the second deepest lake (1400 meters) in the world created by faulting and tectonic processes in the earth's surface. It is home to over 250 endemic species of fish, who are found close to the water surface giving guests who are interested in snorkeling an awesome opportunity to view some of the species.

Lake Tanganyika has one drainage outlet in the Congo, and several inlets coming from Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi and Congo. Guest visiting Gombe will have the opportunity to experience the park through sight and sound. Although Chimpanzee Safari is normally the focus of attention when visiting Gombe, keen clients will be able to hear the sounds of the birds such as turacos and cuckoos or watch the fish eagle perched on the branches of tree sprouting out to the shore keeping eyes out for ripples and agitations in the water. Commonly seen on the shores are butterflies with beautiful dark brown bordering around the wings with a large white uneven circle in the center by the name of pansies. Accommodation

Chimpanzee Safaris
Chimpanzees are man’s closest relatives and tracking these primates from the shores of Lake Tanganyika is a memorable experience. Tracking chimpanzees is exciting, patience sapping, exhilarating, tiring, emotionally draining and ultimately extremely rewarding. The chimpanzees move so to find them you do literally have to track them, take time to appreciate the sounds of the forest and this unique environment then pinch yourself when you return home to believe it was all real. Tanzania offers the finest primate viewing opportunities in Africa.

There are habituated troops of chimpanzees at Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream in Tanzania and habituated groups of mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. Neither Mahale nor Gombe are easy to reach and both are relatively expensive safari choices; however the experience of tracking chimpanzees truly in the heart of Africa is very hard to put a price on. For those with the budget a chimpanzee safari is one of the most rewarding experiences you will have in Tanzania and the stunning location of Mahale Mountains N.P. is worth the journey in itself.

Chimpanzee tracking safari is the main attraction at Gombe and Mahale, and is always given a high priority. Chimp trekking safaris usually begins early in the morning, with the Guides usually starting at the area where the Chimpanzees nested the previous night and tracking from there. Tracking Chimpanzees safari in Gombe can take from half an hour to about three hours depending on where the Chimpanzees are located. In Mahale tracking can take up to four hours. Chimpanzees move in search of fruit, and are never far away if there’s an abundance of fruit nearby.