Kigoma and Lake Tanganyika Guide: Gateway to Gombe, Mahale and Tanzania's Western Shore

Far from the northern circuit, Kigoma feels like a different Tanzania: a slow lakeside town where fishing boats, ferries and market stalls set the rhythm. Few tourists pass through, which is part of its appeal.

This guide covers the town, its history and how it works as a gateway to the western parks.

This guide is part of our Uganda districts and towns guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Why Kigoma Matters

Kigoma is where the western circuit begins. The two chimpanzee parks, Gombe and Mahale, lie along the lake and are reached from here by boat or, in Mahale's case, also by small aircraft. Together they offer some of the most intimate chimpanzee encounters in Africa, a very different experience from the savannah game drives of the north. The town supplies the practical needs of the journey: a base for a night, a place to buy supplies and a harbour for boat departures. See Gombe and Mahale chimpanzee trekking.

Lake Tanganyika in Brief

Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world and, after Lake Baikal, the deepest, shared between Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Zambia. Its waters are famously clear and home to hundreds of species of colourful cichlid fish found nowhere else. Swimming, snorkelling and boat trips are among the pleasures of the lakeshore, although you should always ask your operator or lodge about safe swimming places. More background is in the Lake Tanganyika guide and the lakeshore where-to-stay guide.

Ujiji and Local History

A short drive from Kigoma lies Ujiji, one of the oldest trading settlements on the lake. It is best known as the place where the journalist Henry Morton Stanley is traditionally said to have found the explorer David Livingstone in the early 1870s, and a memorial marks the site. Ujiji also tells an older story of Swahili and Arab trade routes that linked the interior to the coast. A guided visit may include the lakeshore, the market and the old boat-building areas, giving a sense of how the lake has shaped local life for centuries.

Things to Do in and Around Town

Kigoma is not a sightseeing city, but there are pleasant ways to fill a day before or after the parks:

• A walk along the lakefront in the late afternoon, when fishing boats go out.
• The local market, where lake sardines are dried and sold.
• A visit to Ujiji and its memorial.
• A boat excursion on the lake with a swim or a sunset.
• A visit to a nearby hill for views across the water.

Getting to Kigoma

Most visitors arrive by scheduled flight from other parts of Tanzania, which saves a very long overland journey. A railway line and long-distance road routes also serve the town, and some adventurous travellers enjoy the train as part of a wider journey, though it is slow. Check current services and baggage rules with your operator, as schedules change. For the onward journey to the chimpanzee parks, see the Kigoma to Gombe and Mahale route, and for park-specific access, read getting to Gombe and getting to Mahale.

Where to Stay and Seasons

Accommodation includes simple hotels, guesthouses and a few more comfortable lakeside lodges. Because many travellers pass through only briefly, choose a place with a good breakfast and a convenient location for boat departures. The drier months of roughly May to October are the popular season for chimpanzee viewing, while the wetter months bring lush forest and fewer visitors. See the Gombe best-time guide and the Mahale best-time guide.

Planning a Western Circuit Trip

A western circuit trip is a specialist experience that needs more planning than a northern safari, because transport depends on boats, light aircraft and weather. Allow buffer days, pack in soft bags and bring warm and waterproof layers for forest mornings. Many travellers combine the lake with a northern or southern safari to see both savannah and chimpanzees. For routes see the western circuit itinerary and the chimpanzee safari itinerary.

Planning a Uganda safari? Send us your dates and we will build the route, permits and transport around what you want to see.

Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team