Gombe National Park

Why Gombe Is the Birthplace of Chimp Science

Gombe is the smallest national park in Tanzania — a slender 56-square-kilometre strip of forested hills and valleys running between the rift escarpment and the shore of Lake Tanganyika, just north of Kigoma. Its size belies its importance.

In 1960 a young Jane Goodall arrived here and began the longest-running study of wild chimpanzees in the world. Her discoveries — that chimps make and use tools, hunt, and have distinct personalities — reshaped science’s understanding of our closest relatives. That research continues today, and the chimps of Gombe remain among the best-studied wild animals on Earth.

For visitors, Gombe means trekking forested valleys to spend time with a habituated chimp community, alongside red colobus and other primates, birdlife, and the cobalt backdrop of the lake. It is reached by boat from Kigoma, and pairs naturally with Mahale to the south for travellers building a dedicated chimpanzee journey.

Wildlife Highlights

• Chimpanzee trekking in the forest where Jane Goodall’s research began in 1960
• Habituated chimp communities among the best-studied primates in the world
• Red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and vervets in the valleys
• Forest walks to Kakombe Waterfall and Jane’s Peak viewpoint
• Lake Tanganyika swimming and snorkelling off the park shore

How a Visit Works

Gombe is reached by boat from Kigoma, roughly a one-to-two-hour ride along the lake; there is no road access. Most visitors fly into Kigoma from Arusha or Dar es Salaam and stay one to three nights. Chimp treks set out early with park guides through steep forested terrain. Gombe combines well with Mahale for a deeper western chimpanzee trip.

Standing in the valley where Jane Goodall first watched these chimps, then meeting them ourselves, was deeply moving. A small park with an enormous story. — Guest review, TripAdvisor

Wildlife Highlights

• Chimpanzee trekking in the forest where Jane Goodall's research began in 1960
• Habituated chimp communities among the best-studied primates in the world
• Red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and vervets in the valleys
• Forest walks to Kakombe Waterfall and Jane's Peak viewpoint
• Lake Tanganyika swimming and snorkelling off the park shore

Things to Do

• Chimpanzee trekking with a park guide
• Lake Tanganyika boat and beach time
• Forest walks and birdwatching