Main Attractions:
Gombe National Park has many attractions, these are the highlights you should not miss:
- Wildlife Viewing
- Jane's Station
- Landscape and Vegetation
- Lake Tanganyika
Wildlife Viewing
There are plenty of baboons and wildlife around but the main focus of the park is the chimps. Many of Gombe's 100 plus chimps are well habituated, and though traversing steep hills and valleys can be difficult, if you head out early in the morning sightings are nearly guaranteed. Many other species of primates live in Gombe Stream's tropical forests such as vervet to colobus monkeys, baboons, forest pigs and small antelopes, in addition to a wide variety of tropical birdlife.
Jane's Station
In 1960's Jane Goodall founded the reserve, carrying out research that shows the unique relationship between man and chimpanzee. Go and see Jane's old chimp feeding station. The viewpoint from Jane's peak reveals a stunning view of the entire park, Lake Tanganyika as well as the Kakombe and Mkenke Waterfall.
Landscape and vegetation
The landscape, flora, and fauna are fantastic in and around the reserve. Plant life in the park is a blend of grasslands, open woodlands, semi-deciduous forest as well as evergreen forest.
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is the longest and deepest lake in Africa, which is home to about 350 species of fish, most of them endemic. The lakeshore offers sunbathing and sunset viewing opportunities.
More About Popular Activities
Chimpanzee Tracking
Gombe stream is one of the best places in Africa to track chimpanzees. You just might be fortunate to see the Kasakela Chimpanzee community on your chimp tracking which may take about 12 hours.
Lakeshore Walks
Take short walks along and to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Visit the site of Henry Stanley's famous 'Dr. Livingstone, I presume' at Ujiji near Kigoma, and watch the renowned dhow builders at work.
Hiking to Jane's Peak Viewpoint
The viewpoint offers a spectacular view of the park and Lake Tanganyika. You can hear chimpanzee calling and screaming from the viewpoint. From Kasekela, the hike takes about two hours.
Birding
The Park’s 200 rare bird species range from the iconic fish eagle to the jewel-like Peter's twinspots that hop tamely around the visitor's centre. A remarkable bird is the palm nut vulture, a near-vegetarian common to Lake Tanganyika.
Filming
The Park allows tourists to film their camping activities for a fee as long as they follow the filming guidelines.