Gombe National Park (Gombe Stream National Park) is situated 10 miles (16 km) north of Kigoma, the region’s capital. Gombe National Park is one of the East Africa’s best hidden secrets that you should explore while on a Tanzania safari. This hidden gem is comprised of grasslands, woodlands, steep valleys, and tropical rainforest. For those who are in love with primates, Gombe is a perfect place for your safari tour in Tanzania. Gombe is a place area where the monkeys and primates are found is dense jungle, which some may describe as a true Tarzan-like setting.

Covering only 13.5 square miles Gombe National Park is one of Tanzania’s smallest National Parks. The National Park is located in the western part of the country and borders Burundi. The National Park is one of the most inaccessible in Tanzania and can only be accessible by the boat. The mountainous rainforests of Gombe National Park is a home to large troops of habituated chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking is the main draw of tourists to this hidden gem however, there is lot more to experience while on your safari here. There is guaranteed encounters with Chimpanzees in Gombe.

The pioneering research and conservation work of Dr. Jane Goodall is the main source of the fame of Gombe National Park.

Gombe was first gazette as a game reserve in 1943, and following the arrival of a British female primatologist Jane Goodall in 1960 saw Gombe established as a National Park in 1968.  The Gombe Stream Research Center was founded in 1967.  Jane Goodall, a young female resident primatologist who moved to Tanzania at the age of 26, spent several years in the jungles researching the habits chimpanzees.

Dr. Louis Leakey, an anthropologist, provided funding for her research because he thought that studying chimpanzee behavior would provide light on the early hominid species that he was discovering in Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge.

What is known about chimpanzees now is firmly rooted in Dr. Jane Goodall’s studies. After discovering evidence of chimpanzees using twigs to catch termites, she used her research to clarify more about the theory that “humans are the only animal to utilize tools. After seeing chimpanzees hunt and consume smaller primates, she also learned that they are not vegetarians as previously believed. Her work is known for being a key investigation into the complex social and familial dynamics among chimpanzees, demonstrating the emotional and intellectual sophistication of non-human species. Chimpanzees share about 97% of their genes with humans with no necessary scientific expertise needed to distinguish between the individuals.

Wildlife and attractions at Gombe stream National Park in Tanzania

Gombe is famous for primates such as chimpanzees, beachcomber olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys in addition to chimpanzees. The breeding between red-tailed and blue monkeys has also been documented in Gombe Stream National Park. The other occasionally spotted include Bush pigs hippopotamuses and leopards. More than 200 different bird species can be spotted in Gombe. There are several snake species in Gombe that can be spotted during safaris.