What You Need to Know: Gombe National Park is about 1–2 hours by boat from Kigoma, which has flights from Dar es Salaam. You trek with a ranger to the habituated Kasekela community and spend up to an hour with them. The best time is July to October. The conservation fee is high, about US$118 per adult per day. Trips are quoted for your dates.
Why Visit Gombe?
Gombe covers only about 35 km², but it holds one of the longest-running wildlife studies in the world: Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research, begun in 1960 and continued today. The chimps of the Kasekela community are used to people, and many of them descend from individuals she named and studied.
What Is a Chimpanzee Trek at Gombe Like?
Trackers locate the chimps in the morning, and you follow a ranger up steep forest paths. When you find them, you spend up to one hour watching them feed, groom and play. Treks can be short or take several hours; the valleys are steep, hot and humid. Masks are worn near the chimps, and visitors with a cold or fever cannot trek.
- Jane Goodall's former feeding station and the Kakombe waterfall
- Olive baboons, red colobus and red-tailed monkeys
- Swimming and snorkeling in Lake Tanganyika
Watching chimpanzees in Gombe is fascinating because their behavior is so close to ours. You may see them grooming each other, a social activity that builds bonds; youngsters playing and chasing; mothers carrying infants on their backs; and adults using tools, such as stripped sticks to fish termites from a mound, the behavior Jane Goodall first recorded here.
Chimpanzee groups have a clear hierarchy, with an alpha male at the top, and displays of charging and branch-shaking are part of how they maintain it. Your ranger explains who is who in the community and keeps you at a safe distance.
Combine Gombe with Mahale or Katavi for a longer western trip; see our western Tanzania safaris.
Getting to Gombe
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam or Arusha | Flight to Kigoma | About 2–3 hours |
| Kigoma | Boat along Lake Tanganyika | About 1–2 hours |
We book the flights to Kigoma and the boat transfer; charters with Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, ZanAir and Rainbow Air Charter are possible for combined western trips.
Gombe, Mahale or Rubondo?
| Park | Best for | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Gombe | History, easy access from Kigoma, a smaller park | Flight to Kigoma, then boat |
| Mahale | Wilderness, a larger community, the lake | Light aircraft, then boat |
| Rubondo | Island wildlife and birds; chimps are not reliably seen | Light aircraft or road and boat from Mwanza |
Gombe Park Fees
| Fee | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| Gombe conservation fee | About US$118 per adult per 24 hours (incl. VAT); confirmed in your quotation |
When to Visit Gombe, and How Long to Stay
July to October, the dry season, gives the easiest trekking. Plan two or three nights for at least two chances to find the chimps.
How We Run a Gombe Trip
We run our southern and western safaris ourselves, with our own team, and book the light-aircraft flights for you. Jaynevy Tours is a licensed Tanzanian tour operator (TALA licence 014271), based in Moshi.
A 30% deposit confirms your safari and the balance is paid on arrival. Refunds: 100% if you cancel 60 days or more before arrival, 90% at 30–59 days, 60% at 15–29 days, 25% at 10–14 days, and nothing under 10 days.
Practical Tips for Gombe
- Wear long pants and sturdy shoes: the valleys are steep and the paths slippery
- Carry water and a light rain jacket
- Children must meet the park's minimum age for chimp trekking, which we check when we book
- Leave time to swim in Lake Tanganyika after the trek
Jane Goodall's Research at Gombe
When Jane Goodall arrived at Gombe in 1960, she saw chimpanzees making and using tools to fish for termites, a discovery that changed how scientists thought about animals and humans. The research she began is now one of the longest-running wildlife studies in the world, and the chimpanzee families of Gombe are known by name.
A Sample Stay at Gombe
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fly to Kigoma, boat to Gombe, afternoon walk to Kakombe waterfall |
| 2 | Morning chimp trek, afternoon swim in Lake Tanganyika |
| 3 | Second chimp trek or a forest walk, boat back to Kigoma |
Where to Stay at Gombe
Accommodation at Gombe is limited to a small number of simple rest houses and a tented camp on the lake shore, close to the trailheads. Kigoma town, a boat ride away, has more hotels. Book early, as rooms are few.
Kigoma and Lake Tanganyika
Kigoma, the gateway to Gombe, is a lakeside town with markets, a busy harbor and sunset views over Lake Tanganyika. Nearby Ujiji is where Stanley is said to have met Livingstone in 1871; a small museum marks the spot. Many visitors spend a night in Kigoma before or after Gombe.
Common Questions About Gombe
Is Gombe where Jane Goodall worked?
Yes. She began her chimpanzee research here in 1960, and the study continues today.
How do I get to Gombe?
Fly to Kigoma, then take a boat for about 1–2 hours along Lake Tanganyika.
Can I combine Gombe with gorillas?
Yes, with a flight to Rwanda or Uganda; see our Uganda safaris.
How many chimpanzees live in Gombe?
Around a hundred, in a few communities; the Kasekela community is the one visitors usually see.
Is there a minimum age for chimp trekking in Gombe?
Yes; age limits apply, and we confirm the current rule when we book.
Can I see chimpanzees every day in Gombe?
Sightings are very likely, but chimps move freely, so two treks give the best chance.
Is there electricity at Gombe?
Limited, from generators or solar power; bring a power bank.
The Bottom Line
Gombe is a small park with a huge story: the chimpanzees of Jane Goodall's research. Plan two or three nights between July and October.
Send us your dates, the number of travelers and the parks you are interested in through the booking form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and our team will reply with a written quotation.