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Lemala Safaris: honey badger crossing golden hills
Four-poster canopy bed in a guest tent at Mbali Mbali Gombe Tented Camp

Trail collection · Gombe Stream National Park

Mbalimbali Gombe Tented Camp

Small camp on the Lake Tanganyika shore for chimpanzee trekking

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Collection
Trail · Great value
Destination
Gombe Stream National Park
Style
Lakeshore tented camp
Best months
Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

About Mbalimbali Gombe Tented Camp

Mbalimbali Gombe Tented Camp is a compact, small-scale camp on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, within Gombe Stream National Park in western Tanzania. It is a practical and comfortable base for treks to wild chimpanzees, in the forest where Jane Goodall began her research in 1960.

The mood is quiet and tucked away. Sun loungers sit beneath shade trees at the water's edge, a forest-shaded deck is decorated with African wood carvings, and a wood-panelled dining room offers a warm place to gather. It is a gentle setting after a morning on forest trails.

Four-poster canopy beds in the tents add a touch of old-fashioned comfort. In the evening, a bonfire on the beach at dusk invites guests to sit by the lake and talk over the day. The camp is part of the Trail collection, with honest value and a rare location.

  • Right on the Lake Tanganyika shoreline in Gombe Stream National Park
  • Practical base for guided chimpanzee treks
  • Four-poster canopy beds inside en-suite guest tents
  • Sun loungers shaded by trees at the water's edge
  • Beach bonfires at dusk beside the lake
  • Wood-panelled dining room and forest-shaded seating deck

Setting

Gombe is a narrow strip of forested hills falling steeply to Lake Tanganyika, and the camp sits on the shoreline where the forest meets the water. There are no roads in the usual sense, so the atmosphere is hushed and remote. Expect warm, humid air, birdsong from the trees and the sound of lapping water through the night.

Rooms and tents

The guest tents have en-suite facilities and a four-poster canopy bed draped in netting, giving the rooms a classic, slightly romantic look. Tents are modest in scale, in keeping with the small size of the camp. Ask us to confirm tent layouts, bed configurations and anything specific to the lakeshore setting, such as how hot water is provided.

Dining

Meals are served in a wood-panelled dining room where staff wait on guests, and the photographs also show a forest-shaded deck for sitting between courses. Fish from the lake often features on menus in this region, though ask us to confirm. Let us know about dietary requirements in advance, since supplies for this remote park are limited.

Things to do from here

  • Guided chimpanzee treks in the forest
  • Swimming and snorkelling in Lake Tanganyika
  • Sunbathing on the shoreline loungers
  • Forest walks to spot monkeys and baboons
  • Evening bonfire on the beach

When to stay

August to November is the period we recommend, when conditions in the forest are generally more comfortable for trekking, with drier trails. The wetter months, roughly the long rains from March to May, can make paths slippery and travel harder, while the short rains arrive around November and December. Chimpanzees move through the forest, so sightings vary day to day.

Good to know

  • Chimpanzee treks are on foot over steep, sometimes muddy forest paths, so reasonable fitness and sturdy shoes help.
  • Park rules govern trekking permits and group sizes; Lemala arranges these, and chimp sightings cannot be guaranteed.
  • Access is usually by boat or a combination of flight and boat, arranged by Lemala.
  • Expect limited connectivity and power in this remote location; ask us to confirm details.

Gallery

Inside Mbalimbali Gombe Tented Camp

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