Chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania 2025

Gombe Stream National Park is a great chimpanzees reserve located in the western part of Tanzania. The park is the smallest one in the country with a territory of only 52 sqr km. British researcher Jane Goodall arrived there in 1960 to study the wild chimpanzees. It turned the park into a huge reserve for studying and discovering every aspect of the life of chimpanzees.

The park is open for anyone wanting to see these cute chimps in the wild. Chimpanzees mainly feed on plants and meat—forest fruits, ants and termites, and sometimes even smaller animals. They live in communities which consist of around 50 individuals; smaller families are formed with usually 7-8 chimps. They communicate with the help of complex language of sounds. The noise of their shout can always be heard in the park. While seeing one very closely is a matter of luck, hearing them is guaranteed. Still, the guides know where the animals hang out and hide, they will make sure you'll have the best chance to see chimpanzees.

The beautiful natural scenery of the park changes from grassland to bamboo forests and tropical rainforests to a gorgeous waterfall valley. During your walks, you can also see other primates, like beachcomber olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys. You can also meet various snakes, hippos, and leopards together with over 200 different bird species. Visitors can enjoy hiking here as well as swimming and snorkelling in Lake Tanganyika.

The best time to come and see the chimpanzees is July through October. It is a dry season, and chimps stay on the lower slopes, thus it's easier to spot them.