The forest where Jane Goodall began
Gombe is a narrow strip of steep forested valleys running down to the shore of Lake Tanganyika, north of Kigoma. It is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania, and the place where Jane Goodall began studying wild chimpanzees in 1960. That research is still running, which makes Gombe’s chimpanzees among the most closely known wild animals on earth.
Both parks sit on Lake Tanganyika and both offer habituated chimpanzees, and the choice between them is mostly about time and money. Gombe is closer to Kigoma, smaller, simpler and usually cheaper, and a two night visit is realistic. Mahale is further, larger, wilder and more expensive, with a stronger sense of remoteness and more room to walk.
For a traveller whose main aim is chimpanzees on a tighter budget, Gombe is usually the answer. For someone who wants the chimpanzees as part of a longer western Tanzania trip with Katavi, Mahale fits better.
Access is by boat from Kigoma, which takes roughly one to three hours depending on the boat. Accommodation inside the park is limited and simple. Trackers locate the chimpanzees in the morning, and time with them is capped, typically at about an hour, with rules on distance and on not visiting when unwell.
Beyond the chimpanzees, the Kakombe waterfall is a short walk from the lakeshore, and the climb to Jane’s Peak gives a view down the valleys to the lake. Olive baboons, red colobus and red tailed monkeys are common.
Seasons shift year to year. Treat these as a guide and confirm with your operator.
Dry season. Easier walking, though chimpanzees may range higher up the valleys.
Wetter and slippery, but chimpanzees are often lower on the slopes and easier to reach.
Two nights, which allows a second tracking morning if the first is unsuccessful.
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