​Best Time To Visit – Gombe NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Tanzania.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

Chimpanzee trekking can be done in Gombe National Park throughout the year. The odds of finding chimps quickly are better toward the end of the Dry season, from July to October, when they tend to stick to the lower slopes. In the Wet season, it might take three to four hours to locate the chimps. The only private lodge in the park is closed from March to May.


Gombe Chimp Tours
Best Time July to October (Best time to find chimps)
High Season July to October (Gombe doesn't get crowded at any time of the year)
Low Season November to mid-December and March to May (The only private lodge is closed from March to May)
Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)
Worst Weather November to April (Wet season)

May to October –Dry Season

  • Chimpanzees are easiest to track from July to October
  • Lots of sunshine and it seldom rains
  • Fewer mosquitoes mean less risk of malaria
  • You might see other people tracking chimps, but the park never gets really crowded

Wildlife Photos

View Photos (20)
+18 Photos Want To Visit

November to April –Wet Season

  • The air is clear and has no haze
  • Presence of migratory birds makes bird watching great
  • Butterflies are abundant
  • The forest tracks will be difficult and slippery to walk on
  • Chimpanzees might be difficult to find as they move away from the lake
  • It gets very hot and humid

Wildlife Photos
+18 Photos

Best Time To Go by Major Park

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

Want To Visit Gombe NP?

Gombe Chimp Tours