Kigoma

Why Kigoma Is the Gateway to the Far West

Kigoma is the main town of far-western Tanzania, a busy port set on a bay of Lake Tanganyika — the longest and second-deepest freshwater lake in the world. Remote from the rest of the country, it is the essential staging post for the western chimpanzee parks, and for many travellers the journey there is part of the adventure.

Its role is logistical and historical. Boats to Gombe National Park leave from the town itself, and flights and onward boats to Mahale connect through Kigoma — there is no other practical way in. The town has a faded charm, a lively market, and the storied MV Liemba, a century-old ferry that still plies the lake.

Right beside Kigoma is Ujiji, one of the oldest settlements on the lake and the place where, in 1871, the journalist Henry Morton Stanley is said to have greeted the explorer David Livingstone with the famous line. A small museum marks the spot. Kigoma suits travellers heading for the chimps who want to touch the history and scale of Lake Tanganyika along the way.

What to See & Do

• The launch point for Gombe and Mahale chimpanzee parks
• A bay on Lake Tanganyika, the world’s longest freshwater lake
• Historic Ujiji and the Livingstone–Stanley meeting site
• The century-old MV Liemba ferry, still sailing the lake
• A lively port-town market and lakeside setting

How a Visit Works

Kigoma is reached by scheduled flight from Dar es Salaam or Arusha, or by the long railway and road routes for the adventurous. Boats to Gombe leave from the town; Mahale is reached by onward flight and boat. Most travellers overnight in Kigoma at either end of a chimpanzee trip, with time for Ujiji and the lakeshore. The dry season is the most reliable for travel.

Kigoma felt like the edge of the map — a vast blue lake, the old Liemba at the dock, and Livingstone’s history at Ujiji, all before we even reached the chimps. — Guest review, TripAdvisor

Things to Do

• Guided exploration and wildlife viewing
• Photography-focused safari days
• Custom private itinerary planning