2-Day Chimpanzee Trekking in Gombe Stream National Park

Chimpanzee sightings cannot be guaranteed, as these are wild animals in a forest environment. However, Gombe has habituated chimpanzee communities that rangers track daily, and sighting rates are generally high. Your ranger guide will locate the group each morning before the visitor trek begins.

Park regulations allow a maximum of one hour of observation per session with a chimpanzee group, at a minimum distance of 10 metres. This distance is strictly enforced to prevent disease transmission between humans and chimpanzees, who share approximately 98% of human DNA and are similarly susceptible to respiratory illnesses.

Gombe's terrain is steep and forested, and tracking requires walking on uneven trails that can be slippery after rain. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended. The trek does not involve technical terrain but can be physically demanding depending on where the chimpanzees are located on a given day.

Pick-up and drop-off in Kigoma, private boat transfers between Kigoma and Gombe, all park entry fees and chimpanzee tracking permits, accommodation inside Gombe National Park, professional guide and ranger fees, and meals as specified in the itinerary. International flights, Kigoma hotel accommodation before or after the tour, and personal expenses are not included.

Gombe can be visited year-round. The dry season (June to October) generally makes for easier trekking as forest trails are less muddy, and the chimpanzees tend to remain at lower elevations. The wet season brings lush vegetation but muddier conditions. Chimpanzees are active and visible in both seasons.

Children are welcome, though the steep forest terrain and the requirement to maintain quiet and distance from the chimpanzees means a minimum age of around 12 is generally recommended. Please discuss the ages of any children when booking.

Most nationalities require a tourist visa for Tanzania, available as an e-visa before travel or on arrival. Yellow fever documentation may be required. Kigoma is reached by domestic flight from Dar es Salaam or other Tanzania airports. Consult a travel health clinic well in advance.

Yes. Gombe can be combined with a Mahale Mountains chimpanzee trek further south along Lake Tanganyika, or with a northern circuit safari. Contact us to discuss a multi-destination Kigoma itinerary.