Gombe National Park sits on the forested shore of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania and is one of Africa’s smallest national parks, yet one of its most significant. It was here that Jane Goodall began her long-term study of wild chimpanzees in 1960, work that transformed scientific understanding of primate behaviour and continues today.

The park’s steep, forested hills are home to several habituated chimpanzee communities, and guided treks give visitors the chance to observe chimpanzees at close range in their natural forest habitat. Beyond the chimps, Gombe supports red colobus and other monkeys, forest birds and a lakeshore setting that adds a further layer to the experience.

Reaching Gombe involves a flight or boat transfer to this remote corner of western Tanzania, and most visits are arranged as a dedicated few days rather than a stopover. For travellers with a specific interest in primates or conservation history, Gombe offers an experience unlike anywhere else on the northern or southern safari circuits.