Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe is a narrow band of forest and steep valleys running from the shore of Lake Tanganyika up an escarpment, and at about 35 square kilometres, established in 1968, it is one of the smallest of Tanzania's national parks. Jane Goodall arrived here in 1960 and the chimpanzee study she started has run continuously since, making it the longest continuous study of any wild animal population. Chimpanzee trekking is the reason people come; the same forest holds red colobus, olive baboons and red-tailed monkeys.

What's there

• The chimpanzees - habituated groups followed on foot from the shore up the valleys.
• The Goodall research - the longest continuous study of a wild animal population.
• Kakombe Falls - a waterfall in the forest above the lakeshore.
• The lake shore - clear water and beaches at the foot of the escarpment.

When to go

The dry months from June to October give the easiest walking, though chimps range higher then. The wet season brings them lower but the trails are slippery. Trekking permits are limited daily.

Before you go

Access is by boat only and the crossing from Kigoma takes hours. Trekking is steep and hot with no guarantee of finding the chimps. Permits, park fees and boat charter make it expensive for a small park.

Nearby

Kigoma is south, and Ujiji is beyond it.

Key facts