Kigoma

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Kigoma is a city in Tanzania. Beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Capital of the Western Region. Main railway terminus on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Important harbour. Population of 136,000 (2007).
The city has little infrastructure. Its roads are still mostly unpaved, electricity and water supply are erratic.

Get in

The small Kigoma Airport is in the eastern suburbs and has services from Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, organization at the airport is very simple.

Train

D. Tamimo Boehm, assent by email 9+10 June 2014, for license CC-Lizenz by-sa attribution

A twice-weekly overnight sleeper is also available from Dar es Salaam via Dodoma and Tabora, the journey takes two nights from Dar es Salaam and one night from cities further inland. A ticket for second class sleepers costs TSh 39,700, while first class tickets start at TSh 54,900.
The German colonial is located directly in the city centre.

Road bus

Kigoma is at the end of road B381, leaving the national road B8 at Kasulu. Roads are passable and steadily being improved. Traversing the country takes 3-4 days.

Ferry

The ancient MV Liemba, built in 1913 by Germans, still plys up and down Lake Tanganyika between Kigoma and Mpulungu on the southern shores of the lake in Zambia, stopping at several places along the coast. There are first, second and third class on board.

Get around

By foot, taxi, or little motorcycle taxis (TSh 1000-2000 in 2014) for an inner city ride.

See

Ujiji, the nearby former Arab slave trading settlement, the famous meeting place of Stanley and Livingstone.
Gombe National Park for chimpanzee viewing
Lake Tanganyika
Mahale Mountains National Park

Buy

National Bank of CommerceHas a Visa Card ATM.

Sleep

Diocese of Kigoma Community Centre

phone: +255 28-280-2520
Single/double rooms with common bathroom. Basic accommodation but good value for the money. Not far from the railway station and the post office.
Lake Tanganyika Hotel

phone: +255 282803052
A modern hotel on the shore of Lake Tanganyika at the southern outskirts of Kigoma. Clean, comfortable with a lively bar that also serves simple but good food.
Aqua Lodge

phone: +255 764-980788

address: Katonga road
Fan rooms
Poyongo Lodge

address: Uiji road

Connect

Caligula

Go next

The MV Liemba sails in direction Mpulungu (Zambia) and has a very erratic schedule.
Buses go as far as Bukoba (about 20 hours) although for points south such as Mpanda and Sumbawanga you must change in Kasulu, at least in the rainy season.