See More Tanzania #6:

Gombe Stream National Park

Facts:

• Departing from: Dar es Salaam, Southern Tanzania
• Transport: by air and boat
• Accommodation: lodge
• Adventure meter: high
• Suitable for: everyone; physical fitness is required for chimpanzee tracking.
• When to go: The lodge is closed 15th February to 15th May due to the rainy season. High season is May through December, leaving a very short low season of January.

Summary:

Gombe Stream National Park, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika but to Mahale National Park's north, is the site of Dr Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research dating back to the 60s and one of the world's longest continuous animal studies. For a long while there were few facilities for visitors. Now there is the Gombe Forest Lodge. Getting there requires flying to the town of Kigoma with Precision Airways and taking a boat to the park from there. Ideally, you will need to set aside two days for travel; a day to sightsee around Kigoma (the nearby village of Ujiji is where the famous meeting between Stanley the explorer and Livingston the missionary took place); and at least two days, preferably three, in the park.

Price: Gombe Forest Lodge: $445 USD pp per night; single supplement is $100 USD pp pn: rate includes full board accommodation; chimp tracking; forest walks; laundry; soft drinks and non- alcoholic beverages; professional guide fees; camp fees. Excludes: park entrance fees of 100 USD pp pd; airfare to Kigoma; hotel and airport transfers in Kigoma; boat hire from Kigoma; tips; items of a personal nature.