Gombe Stream National Park, the smallest national park in Tanzania with 35sq miles. The park is a narrow strip of chimpanzee habitat on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, located on the far western border of Tanzania and the Congo (DRC). The park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, 15 km north of Kigoma town, and is accessible only by boat. Dr Jane Goodall, the primatologist made the park famous for her chimpanzee research. She spent many years in its forests studying the behavior of the endangered chimpanzees contributing to the drive to combine the preservation of primate wildlife habitats with the development of eco-tourism, now the longest-running study of its kind in the world. Chimpanzees are classed as one of the world’s endangered species, habituated to human visitors, and is the primary attraction in Gombe. Chimpanzees share about 98% of their genes with humans.

The landscape of the park is made up of steep valleys, streams and rivers. The vegetation changes from tropical rainforests and alpine bamboo to grasslands which is similar to that of neighboring Mahale Mountains National Park. Gombe National Park in general, is less crowded compared to other parks and most wildlife viewing is completed on a hike. The park is home to other primates like red tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, animals like bush pigs, small antelopes, leopards and hippos which are rarely seen. The park’s 200-odd bird species range from the iconic fish eagle to the jewel-like Peter’s twin spots that can be spotted during forest walks and chimpanzee treks.