GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK

GOMBE NATIONAL PARK

Gombe Stream National Park this is the smallest national park in Tanzania established in 1968, with only 20 square miles of forest running along the hills of the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, and is primarily for those who want to get a little off the beaten track and see chimpanzees.is located in western Kigoma Region, Tanzania, 10 miles north of Kigoma, the capital of Kigoma Region.

British researcher arrived in 1960 to study the wild chimpanzees and her work turned into what would become the longest running behavioral research program of its kind in the world. Guided walks take visitors into the forest to observe chimps in the wild. Many species of primates and mammals live in the park and Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the tropical forest, including barbets, starlings, sunbirds, crowned eagle, kingfishers and the palm-nut vulture.

Also besides chimpanzees, primates inhabiting Gombe Stream include beachcomber olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys and vervet monkeys. The park is also home to over 200 bird species and bushpigs. There are also 11 species of snakes, and occasional hippopotamus and leopards. Visitors to the park can trek into the forest to view the chimpanzees, as well as swim and snorkel in Lake Tanganyika with almost 100 kinds of colorful cichlid fish.