GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK

Situated in Kigoma District of Kigoma Region in the western boarder of Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo, Gombe stream national park is one of the smallest national parks covering about 52 square kilometers yet one of the most popular in the country. Gombe stream national park was opened for tourism in 1978 after the chimpanzee habituation process but was initially designated in 1943. 

The small protected area lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and was popularized by a prominent primatologist Mr. Jane good all who spent years in the wild of Gombe studying about the endangered species. 

WHAT TO SEE IN GOMBE NATIONAL PARK?

Aside the thrilling tourism activities like birding, hiking safaris and swimming, chimpanzee trekking is yet the most popular tourism activity in Gombe stream national park making chimpanzees the key attraction of the park. However, there are several other primate species sheltered in this park and these include vervet monkeys, blue tailed monkeys, red tailed monkeys and beach comber. There are about 200 different bird species sheltered in Gombe stream national park and the park is dominated woodland, grassland and tropical rain forests. Interestingly, there are no roads going to the park and it can only be accessed by boat through water means of transport.

It should also be noted that Lake Tanganyika where the small park lies on its shores, is the longest and deepest lake on the African continent and therefore home to about 350 endemic fish species.

WHAT TO DO WHILE AT GOMBE STREAM NP?

Chimpanzee trekking

There are about 100 chimpanzee individuals in Gombe stream national park making chimpanzees the major attraction and chimpanzee tracking the most popular tourism activity in the park. The thrilling activity involves diving into the Gombe forest in search of the chimpanzees with the help of the tour guide and park rangers.

During the trekking process, tour guides share vital information about the chimpanzees, history of the park and what to do once the chimpanzees are located    Like gorillas, once the chimpanzees are located, visitors can only spend one full hour with these primate species. Chimpanzees are charismatic in nature and therefore visitors shall be able play, feed and watch them comfortably.  

Bird watching  

While planning for a birding safari in Tanzania, Gombe stream national park is one of the best hotspots for bird viewing in the country. Several bird species can be sighted within the park including migratory bird species, endemic and forest birds.

The magnificent Lake Tanganyika attracts a variety of different bird species that can be mostly seen on its shores. Some of the birds that can be sighted in Gombe include African fish eagle, paradise fly catcher, crowned eagle, double toothed barbet, African broad bill, to mention but a few.

Wildlife viewing 

Aside the primate species that are very common in the park, there are also about 35 different wildlife species sheltered in Gombe stream national park and these include hippos, bush bucks, reed bucks, wild pigs, to mention but a few. Other primate species including baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys can also be sighted in the park.

Guided nature walks 

This is where visitors get such a great opportunity to explore the bigger part of the park on foot with the assistance of the park rangers and tour guides. The cool ambiance, sights and sounds of the stunning bird species in the park are some of the remarkable soothing moments while on nature walks. Some of the nature walking trails in the park include Goodall foundations old feeding station trail and more. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK

Gombe stream national park is an all year tourism destination and can be visited any time of the year even though the dry season remains the best time to visit the park. For ultimate remarkable chimpanzee tracking experience, one can visit the park during the dry period of December to February and July to about October.

Unlike the wet season where the tracking trails can be muddy and slippery making it stressful to track and locate the chimpanzees in their natural habitats, it’s way of a different case during the dry season since the tracking trails are dried up in this period making it easy for visitors to access the location of the primates. The dry period also forces the wildlife of Gombe to gather on the only remaining water sources hence enabling clear spectacular views to the visitors and clear photography shots.