In Tanzania GOMBE National Park (often, but incorrectly, called “Gombe Stream National Park”), is located in western Kigoma Region, Tanzania, 10 miles (20 km) north of Kigoma, the capital of Kigoma Region.
The terrain is distinguished by steep valleys, and the forest vegetation ranges from grassland to woodland to tropical rainforest. Accessible only by boat, the park is most famous as the location where Jane Goodall pioneered her behavioral research conducted on the chimpanzee populations. The Kasekela chimpanzee community, featured in several books and documentaries, lives in Gombe Stream National Park.
Gombe’s high levels of diversity make it an increasingly popular tourist destination. Besides chimpanzees, primates inhabiting Gombe include beachcomber olive baboons, red colobus, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys.
Red-tailed monkeys and blue monkeys have also been known to hybridize in the area. The park is also home to over 200 bird species [2] and bushpigs. There are also many species of snakes, and occasional hippopotami 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. Jane Goodall first traveled to Tanzania in 1960 at the age of 26 with no formal college training.
At the time, it was accepted that humans were undoubtedly similar to chimpanzees— we share over 98 per cent of the same genetic code. However, little was known about chimpanzee behavior or community structure. At the time she began her research, she says “it was not permissible, at least not in ethological circles, to talk about an animal’s mind. Only humans had minds.
Karibu Tanzania!!!
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