Chimpanzee safari guide to Tanzania’s Gombe stream National Park: Tanzania is one of the best places in Africa to go chimpanzee trekking, even though it isn’t as well known for the pastime as Uganda and Rwanda are. Tanzania is mostly recognized for its wildlife watching opportunities, including the great wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park, the big five in the Ngorongoro Crater, safari hikes up Mount Kilimanjaro, and beach activities on Zanzibar Island. The best safari destination is to go chimp trekking in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park. Gombe Stream National Park is famous for the Kasakela community of wild chimpanzees that Dr. Jane Goodall studied for more than 50 years. This study helped fuel the movement in Tanzania to combine the protection of primate wildlife habitats with the growth of ecotourism and the advantageous involvement of indigenous human communities.
Gombe is a dream Focus East Africa Tours chimp safari destination pioneered by Dame Jane Goodall’s work. It is located in a fringe of tropical rainforest on the outskirts of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, and there, visitors can take guided forest treks to observe the chimps playing and interacting socially. Jane produced numerous new discoveries regarding chimpanzees during her time conducting research at Gombe, describing their social structure, cries, and previously unknown behavior. They engaged in intentional communication with one another, hunted other primates like red colobus monkeys for meat, manufactured basic tools, and utilized them.
When she was 26 years old in 1960, she noticed a man she had named David Greybeard poking in a termite mound with a few grass straws to extract it, which was full of termites, which he then consumed. Later, she observed him working with a male companion to prepare twigs for use as fishing lures for termites.
Gombe Park features numerous other attractions in addition to the chimpanzees. One of the most beautiful places to unwind and enjoy sailing, snorkeling, fishing, and simply relaxing in the atmosphere of this incredibly beautiful East African holiday wilderness venue are the tanned sandy beaches of Lake Tanganyika, one of Africa’s oldest, largest, and deepest lakes, at the end of an arm of the Great African Rift Valley.
Gombe waterfalls, which are extraordinarily beautiful, cascade hundreds of feet down rock cliffs covered in rich vegetation on the steeply wooded Rift Valley escarpment. There are two further chimpanzee colonies within the small park’s 56 square kilometers (22 square meters), as well as numerous other primates and mammals, over 200 kinds of birds, and 250 species of butterflies, Chimpanzee safari guide to Tanzania’s Gombe stream National Park.
The park can only be reached by boat, a distance of 10 miles (16 km) from Kigoma, which can occasionally be a choppy aquatic journey lasting two hours by private speedboat or more on water taxis, after a long, difficult road drive taking several days or a small aircraft flight of three to five hours from Dar es Salaam or Arusha.
Stanley is credited with greeting Dr. Livingstone in history at the location of Ujiji, which is close to Kigoma. There have also been explorations by John Speke and Richard Burton. The region gained notoriety as an ivory and slave trade route in the 19th century. A Tanzania chimpanzee safari is expensive and time-consuming, but it is an experience you won’t soon forget.
The time Jane Goodall spent with chimpanzees, who are the closest relatives of humans and share 98% of our genetic code, enriched both her personal life and her understanding of our own behavior and our place in our tiny corner of the natural world within a larger, boundless universe, as she explained in her research, books, and countless talks, including TED.
WHY VISIT GOMBE NATIONAL PARK? WHY GOING IN GOMBE SAFARI TOUR?
- The face-to-face interactions with the local chimpanzees—of which there are thought to be around 95 left—make safari vacations here special.
- One of Tanzania’s smallest national parks, Gombe, is a popular destination for tourists who spend a single day there and are frequently scheduled on 3-day chimpanzee trekking excursions.
- Intimate beach outings, boat rides, and swimming are popular activities among guests in the virgin woodland on the lake’s eastern coast.
- Gombe is generally less crowded than other parks, and the majority of animal watching there is done on foot, which is a distinct method from most wildlife parks’ vehicle safaris.
- Excellent lodging options include anything from posh resorts to tent camping, among others, Chimpanzee safari guide to Tanzania’s Gombe stream National Park.
ACTIVITIES ON YOUR GOMBE SAFARI
The chimpanzee families that live in safety within the park’s limits are without a doubt Gombe Stream’s major draw. The highlight of many people’s journeys to Africa, and an astonishing experience, are guided excursions that take guests deep into the forest where they can view and sit with the magnificent monkeys for a whole morning. In addition to chimpanzees, beachcomber olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys also inhabit Gombe Stream. In the region, hybridization between blue- and red-tailed monkeys has also been documented. There are 11 different species of snakes, leopards, and hippopotamuses. Over 200 different bird species live in the park, along with bush pigs.
But you may also go swimming, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, or just lounging on the pristine sand at Lake Tanganyika. Visitors can swim in the lake without worrying about sharing the water with wild creatures because hippos and crocodiles typically stay away from Gombe. The former feeding station of the Goodall Foundation should be visited while in Gombe, and Henry Stanley and Dr. Livingstone first met in the nearby settlement of Ujiji in 1871. Other activities at Gombe National Park includes:
Walking safaris are just one of the many excursions and things to do in Tanzania that can be added to your vacation. Here are some other things guests can do while they’re here:
- Chimpanzee trekking tour: a breathtaking hike through woodland and lakeshore areas that explores the habitats of chimpanzees and other animals.
- Walking safaris are a real and affordable way to experience the wildlife. Explore the wildlife on foot with a local safari company or tour operator.
- Viewing the Kakombe and Mkenke waterfalls: In addition to the amazing animal encounter, tourists can visit the Kakombe trail and the Mkenke valley to observe the stunning natural Kakombe and Mkenke waterfalls.
- Select a speedboat or a luxury boat for your boat ride, and enjoy the breeze of Lake Tanganyika while taking in the scenery of the Great Rift Valley.
- Mountain safari: Climb the majestic mountain for stunning views of the rift valley plunging into the lake to the west.
WHEN TO VISIT GOMBE: WHEN TO GO ON GOMBE SAFARI TOUR
The best time to travel to Gombe is during the dry season, which lasts from June to October. There is a lot of sunshine and little to no rain throughout the dry season, yet later in the year, a fine haze can make visibility difficult. Mosquitoes are few, especially during the day. During the dry season, chimps typically stay on the lower slopes, where they are easier to spot. They occasionally even wander near the campers or down the sandy shore. Because of these additional motivations, conditions during intermediate times are often bearable and very valuable, Chimpanzee safari guide to Tanzania’s Gombe stream National Park.
Rain during the wet season, which lasts from November to April, presents issues. The trek is treacherous, and the access is challenging. Lodges and other lodging facilities close for repairs throughout March and April. Off-season trips don’t provide much in the way of financial benefits. Travel is expensive, and as access grows more challenging, the logistics costs rise as well. The Gombe park entrance charge is the same throughout the year and is about twice as expensive as entrance fees to other Tanzania National parks like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, etc.
HOW TO GET TO GOMBE NATIONAL PARK
The national park can be reached by boat from the Kigoma airport, from which visitors can fly domestically. Flights are available from Arusha twice a week on a shared charter flight or from Dar es Salaam (daily). Make at least 4 days available (1 to get there, 1 to return, and at least 2 full days actually in the park). Gombe can be added to our selection of safari vacations in Tanzania, but it will account for the majority of most journeys. Many people believe that this is well worth it given how unique the chimpanzee population is in this area.
Conclusion: To go on a chimpanzee safari in Tanzania requires a lot of planning and money, but once you do, you won’t forget it or regret it. The time Jane Goodall spent with the chimpanzees—who, as mankind’s closest relatives, share 98% of our genetic code—enriched not only her personal life but also her understanding of our own behavior and our place in the natural world among a larger, boundless universe, as she explained in her research, books, and talks.
Please get in touch with us at Focus East Africa Tours if you’d like to begin organizing your Gombe safari vacation. If you have specific requests or needs, we will be happy to design an itinerary just for you. Why are you holding out? Your trip to the Gombe National Park is ready!
