3 Days Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Safari

Overview

What makes this journey special

Two chimpanzee treks with park rangersBoat transfers on Lake TanganyikaJane Goodall’s research forestLakeshore swimming and sunsets

Track wild chimpanzees in the forest made famous by Jane Goodall, reached only by boat along the shore of Lake Tanganyika.

Covering only 56 km², Gombe Stream is Tanzania’s smallest national park – a strip of steep forested valleys running down to the clear water of Lake Tanganyika. It is home to the chimpanzee communities studied by Jane Goodall since 1960, the longest-running study of any wild animal population.

Chimpanzee trekking is on foot with a park ranger. Walks take from one to several hours depending on where the chimps are feeding, and once the group is found you spend up to an hour with them. The forest also holds olive baboons, red-tailed and red colobus monkeys and more than 200 bird species.

Gombe is reached by boat from Kigoma, a lakeside town with flights from Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Three days gives two chances to see the chimpanzees and time to swim from the beach in front of camp.

See the journey

Destinations you will visit on this safari

Gombe Stream National Park Explore destination →

Lake Tanganyika Explore destination →

Day by day

Your itinerary

Day 1

Kigoma – boat to Gombe Stream

Kigoma · Lake Tanganyika · Gombe

Meet your Wild Gaze guide at Kigoma airport and transfer to the harbour for the boat ride north along Lake Tanganyika – about 1.5–2 hours, passing fishing villages and forested hills. Check in at your camp by the beach. In the afternoon walk to Jane Goodall’s old feeding station and the Kakombe waterfall, then watch the sun set over the lake.

Lakeshore campFull board

Day 2

Chimpanzee trekking in Gombe

Gombe Stream National Park

After an early breakfast, head into the forest with a park ranger to find the chimpanzees. Trackers are out from dawn, so your ranger follows their updates. Once you reach the group you spend up to an hour watching them groom, feed and play. Return for lunch, then swim in the lake or take a shorter walk to see baboons and colobus monkeys near camp.

Chimp trekFull board

Day 3

Morning trek – return to Kigoma

Gombe · Kigoma

A second early chimpanzee trek for those who want another encounter, or a relaxed breakfast on the beach. Late-morning boat back to Kigoma and, if time allows before your flight, a visit to the Livingstone memorial at Ujiji, where Stanley met Livingstone in 1871.

BreakfastLunch

Getting there

Arrival & transfers

Fly to Kigoma (TKQ) from Dar es Salaam or Arusha – Wild Gaze can book the domestic flights with your quote. The boat to Gombe leaves from Kigoma harbour.

Inclusions