Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0713-620154;
www.mbalimbali.com
;
per person all-inclusive except drinks US$465;
May-Feb) Gombe's only private lodge has a shady, waterside location with just seven
tents. And though it's well managed and reportedly serves good food, both the facilities are
far too plain for the prices.
INFORMATION
Entry fees are US$100/20 adult/child aged five to 15 per 24 hours. If you arrive late in the
afternoon, park officials generously don't start the clock on your visit until the following
morning, which means that for a two-night stay and one day of chimp tracking, you'll only
be charged one 24-hour entry; if you leave for Kigoma early in the morning. While this
policy has been in place for some time, it's always possible it will change, so confirm be-
fore you go. Children aged under 16 are not permitted to enter the forest, though they can
stay at the resthouse.
All tourism activities are organised and paid for at Kasekela, on the beach near the centre of
the park, and this is where lake taxis drop you. Accommodation rarely fills up completely,
but it's still best to book rooms in advance through the park office in Kigoma (
Click here
)
.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Gombe is 16km north of Kigoma, and the only way there is by boat. Tanapa boats travel to
Kigoma three or four times per week and if they have space available you can ride for free.
Inquire at the park office in Kigoma (
Click here
)
.
At least one lake taxi (
Click here
) to the park (Tsh4000, 2½ to three hours) departs from
Kibirizi Monday to Saturday around 2pm. Returning, it passes Kasekela as early as 7.30am.
You can also hire boats at Kibirizi; but don't believe the owners who tell you there are no
lake taxis in an effort to get business. Hiring here requires hard bargaining, but the price
will be cheaper than any of the charter options following. You may have to pay an advance
for petrol, but don't pay the full amount until you've arrived back in Kigoma.
It's safer and more comfortable (in part because there will be a sun shade) to arrange a
charter with one of the established companies. Maji Makubwa (
Click here
) is the cheapest
option with their little boat (holding three to four people, who are likely to get wet) costing
US$150 day-return and a regular boat costing US$250. The overnight charge is US$20 per
night. Other options are
Mkuzi Hotel
( 0755-914231; US$300, no overnight charge) at
Kibirizi, Lake Tanganyika Hotel (US$400, US$50 per night overnight charge) in Kigoma
and Mbali Mbali (US$655, no overnight charge) in Kigoma. These boats take 1½ to two
hours. Mbali Mbali's speedboat (US$650) makes the trip in 45 minutes.
With a chartered boat day trips are possible, but leave very early because late starts reduce
your chances of meeting the chimps.
