GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK

Gombe Stream National Park is situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika , near the border with Burundi . Gombe was created to protect the chimpanzees that are native to the area. The park is set against the backdrop of the stunning Mahale Mountains . It is renowned for fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika and Eastern Zaire which makes it an essential stop for the keen photographer. The habitat combines rain forest, grasslands, alpine bamboo and Woodland . The best time to visit is between May and October.

Gombe Stream National Park was the site of Jane Goodall’s famous account of the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. It is the smallest of Tanzania ’s national parks occupying an area of only 52 sq km and is currently home to just over 150 chimpanzees. The other primates found in the park include: baboon, red colobus, red-tail, vervet monkey and blue monkey. Other animals you are likely to encounter are bushbuck, baboons, bush pigs and a variety of birdlife including the pied and giant kingfishers, the crowned eagle, the African broadbill, Ross's turaco and the trumpeter hornbill. . It is recommended that one spends a minimum of 2 days in the park to allow for adequate time to observe the chimpanzees, another day to enjoy the birdlife and other wildlife as well as time to enjoy the spectacle of the beautiful landscape.

BEST TIME TO VISIT
From May to October

HOW TO GET THERE
2 hour charter flight from Dar-Es-Salaam or Arusha. Or from Kigoma 4 to 9 hours boat trip (depending on the boat).

ACCOMMODATION IN GOMBE
GOMBE FOREST LODGE
This is the only tented lodge inside Gombe Stream National Park. The camp is situated beside the peaceful Mitumba stream offering the perfect combination of luxury and access to the wildlife in the area.
The dining area is situated a couple of metres from the shore of Lake Tanganyika , set on a raised wooden deck above ground. Spend the evening sitting beside a campfire on the beach, enjoying sundowners and regaling the day’s adventures.

ACTIVITIES
CHIMPANZEE TRACKING
Tracking Chimpanzees at 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.

CLIMBING TO KAKOMBE & MKENKE WATERFALLS
Kakombe and Mkenke are two spectacular waterfalls found within Gombe National Park. Kakombe is approximately a 30-minute walk from camp, and Mkenke around a one-hour climb. You will often pass these falls when tracking Chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking usually begins after breakfast in the mornings returning to the camp for lunch. In the afternoon there are many optional excursions, depending on how energetic you feel. Choose between further Chimpanzee tracking, walking on the beach, swimming, fishing and snorkelling. It is also possible to visit local fishing villages close to the park and get first hand experience of life in a typical African village.

ACCESS
Travel from Kigoma to Gombe on expeditious boats. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes to an hour depending on the type of boat used and weather and lake conditions. The boat journey is most exhilarating, passing through fishing villages and scenic hills before reaching the park. During morning departures you have the opportunity to see fishermen returning in their boats after a night of fishing.