Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is Tanzania’s smallest national park, covering just 52 square kilometers. It is a long, narrow strip of land where chimpanzees are often seen perched on steep slopes and in low-lying valleys, with Lake Tanganyika’s northern shore wrapping around the valley.

The chimpanzees have long been accustomed to human visitors, and the pioneering efforts of Dr. Jane Goodall’s team have made the chimpanzees living here world-famous. This research initiative began in 1960 with a behavioral study program and continues to be at the forefront of such research worldwide. Chimpanzees share 98% of their DNA with humans, and amid their “calling out” vocalizations, one can distinguish who are the celebrities, who are adept at wielding power, and who are the inconspicuous bit players. Perhaps when you gaze into a chimpanzee’s eyes, you may see a glint of understanding — and in turn, it studies you as well. Such expressions can transcend species barriers, conveying a sense of kinship with humans.

The most commonly seen other mammals in Gombe Stream National Park are primates, which have been studied since the 1960s. Olive baboons are the most frequently encountered, often seen in groups along the shoreline, while red-tailed monkeys and colobus monkeys use the forest as their natural canopy. Colobus monkeys are often hunted by chimpanzees.

Gombe Stream National Park

Must-visit reason: Tanzania’s most famous chimpanzee park

Continent where the attraction is located: Africa【Africa】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Tanzania[Tanzania]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Kigoma Region [Kigoma Region]