Gombe (Lake Tanganyika): seeing the chimpanzees, permit, prices and how to get there from Kigoma (2026)
Gombe Stream National Park, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, is the country's smallest park and the place where Jane Goodall began studying chimpanzees in 1960. You can only reach it by boat from Kigoma; there is no road. According to safari sellers (October 2026, no official tariff published), the trek permit costs about 100 dollars per person; the day trip from Kigoma starts around 395 dollars, and the 2-day stay with boat, night and meals around 1,300 dollars on GetYourGuide.
Highlights
Lake Tanganyika
The park runs down to the water; the boat ride is already part of the adventure.
The park entrance and the walk
A park guide leads the group into the forest, sometimes for 30 minutes, sometimes several hours depending on where the troop is that day. No guarantee of seeing the animals, but the chances are good.
The distance rules
The guide requires you to keep a safe distance and not to approach if you are ill; chimpanzees can catch our infections.
Practical info
Tips
- Compare Gombe with Mahale. Gombe is smaller, closer to Kigoma and cheaper: it is the right choice for 1 to 2 days. Mahale needs more time and a much larger budget (see the Mahale page). Choose between: the day trip from about 395 dollars (10 hours, very tiring by boat), or 2 days with a night on site, more comfortable. Check what the price covers: permit, boat, meals, lodging. Children under 12 are excluded from the 2-day offer we saw. To combine with Zanzibar you must go through Dar es Salaam or Arusha then Kigoma (we did not check flights); see safari or Zanzibar and visa, vaccines and formalities.
How to get there
Flight to Kigoma, then boat to the park (no road). A 2024 operator lists 100 dollars per person by public boat and 500 dollars for a private boat; these rates may have changed, confirm before booking.
Opening hours
Nearby
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