Gombe Stream – Mahale Mountains – Katavi Safari

Package Overview

Overview

Gombe Stream National Park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, approximately 16 kilometers north of Kigoma town in western Tanzania, covering only 52 square kilometers of steep forested hills and river valleys. Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, approximately 120 kilometers south of Kigoma and accessible only by boat or charter flight, covering 1,613 square kilometers of mountainous terrain. Katavi National Park is located in western Tanzania, approximately 40 kilometers east of Lake Tanganyika and about 500 kilometers from Kigoma, covering 4,471 square kilometers of miombo woodland, floodplains, and seasonal lakes.

This safari answers the question of how travellers can combine primate conservation, pristine lakeside wilderness, and remote savannah in one extraordinary journey. Gombe is world-famous as the site of Dr. Jane Goodall's groundbreaking research on chimpanzees, which began in 1960 and continues today. Visitors can trek to see habituated chimpanzees in their natural habitat, along with baboons, blue monkeys, and red colobus monkeys. Mahale offers some of the best chimpanzee trekking in Africa, set against the backdrop of the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika and the forested Mahale Mountains. Katavi is renowned for its massive concentrations of hippos and crocodiles during the dry season, along with large herds of buffalo, elephants, and lions.

The best time to visit is during the dry season from May to October, when chimpanzee trekking is most reliable and wildlife concentrations in Katavi are at their peak. The safari is ideal for adventurous travellers, primate enthusiasts, and those seeking solitude and exclusivity. The main challenge is accessibility — all three parks require charter flights or long, difficult drives, making them expensive and time-consuming to reach. This is a safari for travellers who prioritize wilderness, exclusivity, and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters over convenience.

Geographical Location

Key Highlights

What to Expect in Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is one of the smallest and most extraordinary national parks in Africa. Its steep forested hills rise directly from the shores of Lake Tanganyika, creating a dramatic and intimate setting for wildlife encounters. The park is most famous for its chimpanzees, which were made famous by Dr. Jane Goodall's pioneering research that began in 1960 and continues to this day.

Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity in Gombe. Trekking groups are limited in size, and permits are required, ensuring that encounters remain intimate and non-intrusive. The chimpanzees are habituated to human presence, allowing visitors to observe them at close range as they feed, play, groom, and interact. Along the way, you may also encounter other primates, including baboons, blue monkeys, and red colobus monkeys.

The park also offers opportunities for snorkelling and swimming in Lake Tanganyika. The lake's crystal-clear waters are home to hundreds of cichlid fish species found nowhere else on Earth, making it a paradise for snorkellers and nature lovers. Hiking trails lead to waterfalls, viewpoints, and remote forest areas, offering a chance to explore the park's rich biodiversity on foot.