Gombe Stream National Park
Where Jane Goodall changed our understanding of primates forever ÔÇö a tiny, legendary park where wild chimpanzees still roam the forested valleys.
Gombe Stream National Park is one of the most famous wildlife research sites on Earth. This tiny park ÔÇö just 52 square kilometres of steep forested valleys dropping to Lake Tanganyika's shore ÔÇö is where Dr. Jane Goodall began her groundbreaking chimpanzee research in 1960, forever changing our understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Despite its small size, Gombe protects a community of approximately 100 chimpanzees, many descended from the individuals Goodall first studied over six decades ago. Trekking into the forest to observe these chimps ÔÇö Fifi's and Frodo's descendants ÔÇö is a pilgrimage for anyone passionate about wildlife and conservation.
The park's steep valleys, cascading streams, and lakeshore forests create a remarkably diverse habitat. The trek to find the chimps can be challenging ÔÇö scrambling up steep slopes and pushing through thick vegetation ÔÇö but the reward of sitting quietly with a wild chimpanzee family is beyond compare.
Gombe is more than a safari destination; it is a living monument to the power of patience, observation, and one woman's determination to understand the natural world.
Safari Tours in Gombe Stream National Park
Custom Safari Available
Gombe Stream National Park can be included in any of our tailor-made safari itineraries. Tell us your dates and interests, and our team will design the perfect trip.
Request a Custom Itinerary →Wildlife & What You'll See
Gombe is home to approximately 100 chimpanzees in several communities. The Kasekela community is habituated and can be visited by researchers and tourists. The chimps' behaviours ÔÇö tool use, social hierarchy, grooming rituals ÔÇö are the same ones Goodall first documented.
The park also shelters olive baboons (a large troop is resident near the lakeshore), red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and blue monkeys. Bushbuck and bushpig inhabit the forests. Lake Tanganyika supports diverse fish species and the park's waterfront attracts African fish eagles, Peter's twinspot, and other forest birds.
How to Get There
Gombe is accessed from Kigoma town, which has scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam (approximately 2 hours). From Kigoma, a motorboat ride along Lake Tanganyika takes 1-2 hours to reach the park. There are no roads within the park ÔÇö all exploration is on foot.
Park Fees & Regulations
Park entry fees are $82.60 per adult per 24 hours (non-resident). Chimpanzee trekking is included in the entry fee. Guided walks are compulsory. Boat transfer from Kigoma is arranged separately, typically included in your tour package.