Ujiji
Stand where Stanley greeted Livingstone in 1871, at the Livingstone Memorial in one of East Africa's oldest trading towns.
Tanzania Cities & Coast
Kigoma & Ujiji
On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma is the gateway to Gombe's chimpanzees and home to Ujiji, where Henry Stanley finally found Dr Livingstone.
- Location
- Lake Tanganyika, western Tanzania
- Known For
- Ujiji & Gombe chimps
- Nearby Park
- Gombe Stream, 16 km north
- Best Time
- June – October
Discover Kigoma
Tanzania's far western shore.
Kigoma is a relaxed lakeside town in the far north-west of Tanzania, set on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the longest freshwater lake in the world and one of the deepest. Its harbour looks across clear water towards the mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the town marks the western end of the Central Railway that runs all the way from Dar es Salaam.
Kigoma is also a historical town. Just to the south lies Ujiji, one of the oldest market towns in East Africa, where Henry Morton Stanley met Dr David Livingstone in 1871, during Livingstone's long search for the source of the River Nile. A memorial and small museum mark the spot today.
About 16 km north of Kigoma town lies Gombe Stream National Park, established in 1968 and world famous for the chimpanzee research begun by Jane Goodall. Further south along the lake shore, Mahale Mountains National Park offers another remarkable chimpanzee experience, making Kigoma the natural base for a western Tanzania adventure.
Why Kigoma
History, chimps and a great lake.
Few corners of Tanzania feel as remote, unhurried and rewarding as the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Gombe Chimpanzees
Gombe Stream National Park, about 16 km north of Kigoma, is home to the habituated chimpanzees made famous by Jane Goodall's research.
Lake Tanganyika
Crystal-clear water, colourful cichlid fish, lakeside beaches and spectacular sunsets over the mountains of Congo.
Night Fishing Lights
After dark, fishing boats light lanterns across the lake to attract dagaa, creating a glittering scene on the water.
Gateway to Mahale
Kigoma is the starting point for boat or air transfers to the Mahale Mountains and their wild chimpanzee communities.
Location
Where is Kigoma?
Kigoma lies in north-western Tanzania on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, close to the borders with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kigoma Airport has domestic flights from Dar es Salaam, and charter or scheduled light aircraft connect with Arusha and the western parks, as the overland journey from northern Tanzania is very long. The Central Railway also links Kigoma with Dar es Salaam.
Ujiji lies a short drive south of the town centre. Gombe Stream National Park is about 16 km north and is reached only by boat along the lake shore, while Mahale Mountains National Park lies much further south and is reached by boat or light aircraft.
When to visit
Every season tells a different Kigoma story.
Kigoma has a warm climate with one long rainy season and a pronounced dry season, which is the best time for chimpanzee trekking.
Dry Season
The best time to visit. Clear skies, calm lake conditions and drier forest trails at Gombe and Mahale, where chimps are often found lower on the slopes.
Early Rains
Rains return and the forests turn lush; chimpanzee trekking continues, though trails can be slippery.
Wet Season
Warm and green, with rain showers and quieter lodges. Chimps may range higher in the forest.
Peak Rains
Often the wettest period, with heavy downpours and some lake transfers affected by weather.
What is the best month to visit Kigoma?
The dry months from June to October are best, but Kigoma and Gombe can be visited throughout the year.
Warm and wet, with lush forest and fewer visitors on the lake.
Rains continue, with green scenery and good photography between showers.
Heavy rain is likely; allow flexibility for boat transfers to Gombe.
Often one of the wettest months, with muddy forest trails.
Rains ease and the lake shore is at its greenest.
Dry season begins, with comfortable conditions for chimp trekking.
Cool, dry and clear, one of the best months for Gombe and Ujiji.
Excellent dry weather and calm lake conditions.
Prime chimpanzee trekking as the forest dries out.
Still largely dry, with warm days and spectacular sunsets.
Rains return, refreshing the forests and lake shore.
Warm and showery, with a festive atmosphere in town.
Explore the area
Discover the different faces of Kigoma.
Kigoma combines a lakeside town with history, beaches and two of Africa's great chimpanzee parks.
South of townUjiji & the Livingstone MemorialThe historic trading town where Stanley met Livingstone, with a memorial, small museum and a lively dhow-building beach.
Town centreKigoma Harbour & Railway StationThe busy port and the historic German-built railway station at the western end of the Central Railway.
Lake shoreJakobsen's BeachA secluded stretch of sandy coves north of town, ideal for swimming and relaxing by the lake.
16 km northGombe Stream National ParkSteep forested valleys running down to the lake, home to habituated chimpanzees, olive baboons and colobus monkeys.
Far southMahale Mountains National ParkRemote, mountainous rainforest rising from the lake, with large chimpanzee communities and pristine beaches.
Wildlife
Wildlife around Kigoma
Kigoma town itself is not a wildlife destination, but the lake and the nearby forests are extraordinary. Lake Tanganyika is famous for its hundreds of species of colourful cichlid fish, and Gombe Stream, just up the shore, is one of the best places in Africa to see wild chimpanzees.
8 animals to look for
Chimpanzee
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Gombe Stream National Park
Habituated communities studied since the 1960s; trekking in Gombe offers close, unforgettable encounters.
1 / 8
Olive baboon
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Gombe beaches and forest
Troops roam the lake shore and forest edge at Gombe.
2 / 8
Red colobus
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Gombe and Mahale forests
Often seen in the canopy, and sometimes hunted by chimpanzees.
3 / 8
Red-tailed monkey
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Forests of Gombe
Small, agile monkeys with a white nose spot and red tail.
4 / 8
Cichlid fish
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Clear water along the lake shore
Lake Tanganyika is famous for its many endemic cichlids, easily seen when snorkelling.
5 / 8
African fish eagle
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Lake shore
Its ringing call is the soundtrack of Lake Tanganyika.
6 / 8
Palm-nut vulture
Chance of seeingOccasional
Where to look: Oil palms along the lake
An unusual vulture that feeds largely on oil-palm fruit.
7 / 8
Hippo
Chance of seeingRare
Where to look: Quieter stretches of the lake shore
Occasionally seen in sheltered bays and river mouths away from town.
8 / 8
Chimpanzees of Gombe
In the footsteps of Jane Goodall.
Gombe Stream National Park, established in 1968 and lying about 16 km north of Kigoma town, is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania, but its importance is immense. It was here, from 1960, that Jane Goodall began her pioneering study of wild chimpanzees, which continues today as one of the longest-running wildlife research projects in the world.
From Kigoma, a boat ride along the lake shore brings you to the park, where guided treks climb through forested valleys in search of the chimpanzees. After the trek, cool off in the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika and watch the sun set over the mountains of Congo.
Safaris to 中文
Tours that include Kigoma
Western circuit safaris that combine Kigoma and Ujiji with the chimpanzees of Gombe and Mahale.
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Western Circuit: Gombe, Mahale & Kigoma
Kigoma · Gombe · Mahale Mountains
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Western Circuit: Gombe, Mahale & Katavi
Kigoma · Mahale Mountains · Gombe · Katavi
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 12 days
12-Day Western Circuit: Saanane, Rubondo, Gombe & Mahale
Rubondo Island · Kigoma · Gombe · Mahale Mountains
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 8 days
8-Day Western Circuit: Saanane, Rubondo & Gombe Stream
Rubondo Island · Gombe
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Western Circuit: Rubondo, Gombe & Mahale
Rubondo Island · Mahale Mountains · Gombe
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Stay in 中文
Where to stay in and near Kigoma
Lakeside hotels in Kigoma town and forest lodges at Gombe, many with views across Lake Tanganyika.
Gold tier
Kipili, Lake Tanganyika, TanzaniaLake Shore LodgeA relaxed, owner-run lodge right at the water's edge of Lake Tanganyika, with lakefront chalets, a spa and a wealth of lLakeside lodgeView lodge
Platinum tier
Gombe, TanzaniaMbali Mbali Gombe LodgeAn intimate forest lodge on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Gombe Stream, where Jane Goodall's famous chimpanzees live.Forest tented lodgeView lodge
GipsonTravel ExpertOnline
Planning a trip to Kigoma?
Tell us when you would like to travel, and a Gip Adventure specialist will arrange your flights, boat transfers and chimpanzee trekking in Gombe or Mahale, with time to explore Ujiji's history.
Usually replies within minutesHeritage
The story behind Kigoma and Ujiji.
Long before Kigoma grew into a town, Ujiji was an important market on Lake Tanganyika and the western end of the great caravan route from the coast at Bagamoyo. Traders brought cloth and beads inland and carried ivory, and tragically enslaved people, back to the Indian Ocean.
In November 1871 Henry Morton Stanley, sent by the New York Herald to find the missing explorer, reached Ujiji and greeted Dr David Livingstone, who had spent years searching for the source of the Nile. The famous words often attributed to the meeting, "Dr Livingstone, I presume?", made Ujiji known around the world.
In the early twentieth century the Germans built the Central Railway from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma, and the town grew as a port. Today Kigoma is a regional centre and a gateway to the chimpanzee parks of Gombe and Mahale, where conservation and research continue to protect some of Africa's most important primate populations.
How do I get to Kigoma?
Most travellers fly from Dar es Salaam or Arusha. The Central Railway from Dar es Salaam is a slower, more adventurous option.
How far is Gombe Stream from Kigoma?
About 16 km north of Kigoma town. The park is reached by boat along the lake shore.
Where did Stanley meet Livingstone?
At Ujiji, just south of Kigoma town, in 1871. A memorial and small museum mark the site.
Can I swim in Lake Tanganyika?
Many visitors swim from beaches near Kigoma and at Gombe and Mahale. Your guide will advise on safe spots.
What is the best time for chimpanzee trekking?
The dry season from June to October usually offers the easiest trekking, but chimps can be seen all year.
How long should I spend in the Kigoma area?
Allow at least three to four nights to visit Ujiji and spend two or more days trekking in Gombe.
Can I combine Kigoma with other parks?
Yes. Kigoma is often combined with Mahale, Katavi or the Serengeti on a western circuit safari.
Your safari starts here
Ready to explore Kigoma?
Let Gip Adventure take you to the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the history of Ujiji and the chimpanzees of Gombe.