Gombe is the smallest of Tanzania's National Parks, stretching across a mere 52km square. The thin strip of ancient forest is set among mountains and steep valleys, to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Renowned for it's chimpanzee population Gombe became a household name in the west as a result of the pioneering research conducted by Jane Goodall. Famous as it may be Gombe, remains a surprisingly little-visited and low-key park, largely due to it's remote location and high entrance fees.
Gombe was gazetted as a game reserve in 1943, receiving it's conservation upgrade to national park in 1965. The lakeshore has an altitude of 773m, extending up to over 1500m at the top of the rift escarpment, which means the climate in the park is quite pleasant and cools in the evenings. The rugged topography is covered in thick brachystegia woodland that gives way to belts of lush riparian forest along the steep river valleys.
Chimpanzees are the main attraction in Gombe. As individually unique as humans, the chance to see any of the 100 or so resident chimps going about their daily lives is a rare and special experience. Your days in the park can be spent chimp trekking with the experienced guides, and visiting many areas of spectacular beauty such as Kakombe and Mkenke Waterfalls.
In addition to the famous chimpanzees you may also see olive baboons, vervet, blue and red-tailed monkeys. Bushbuck and elusive leopards also live in the forest, and fish eagles and palm-nut vultures are often seen along the lake shore. As well as trekking you can swim or snorkel in the lake or one of the many streams, or relax with a good book on the pristine beach.
For more information, contact us.
Thanks to Kirsten Skinner for the use of her photographs on this page.
