GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK
Covering an area of only 56 km, Gombe National Park is Tanzania’s smallest park. The park’s most attractions are its famous primate inhabitants and its connection to Jane Goodall. First researched in the 60’s by Jane Goodall, Gombe is heaven for chimpanzee lovers.
Many of Gombe’s chimps are well habituated inside the park. Though it is a little difficult, sweaty walking steep hills and valleys, but the experience is so tempting. If you head out early in the morning sightings are nearly guaranteed and incredible. The experience is one that you are unlikely to forget.
Gombe is placed at the shore of Lake Tanganyika. The forest is verdant and 13 streams run down the escarpment to the sandy beach. The view of the forested slopes touching the steep escarpment is the most appealing one.
In addition to the main attraction chimpanzee, the park is also home to a troop of habituated olive baboon that can usually be found on the lakeshore. There are several other monkey species present, including red colobus monkey, while red-tailed, which are sometimes hunted by the chimps.
The park also harbours diverse colourful bird species. The notable are African broadbill, Black saw-wing, Crowned eagle, Double-toothed barbet, Kenya rufous sparrow, Livingstone’s turaco, Palm-nut vulture, Peter’s twinspot, Red-capped robin-chat, Red-chested cuckoo, Ross’s turaco, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird.
Despite chimp tracking, you can take walks along the lakeshore, and go and see Jane’s old chimp-feeding station, the viewpoint on Jane’s Peak and Kakombe Waterfall.
Best time to visit Gombe Stream National Park
The best time to visit the Serengeti is from June to October during the dry season, when wildlife viewing is at its peak, and the Great Migration river crossings occur. This period offers excellent conditions for spotting animals as they gather near water sources. For those interested in the calving season, January to March is ideal, with thousands of baby wildebeest and zebra being born, attracting predators. While April to May brings heavier rains and fewer tourists, the Serengeti’s lush landscape offers a quieter, more affordable experience with abundant wildlife.
