Historically, the town was the final stop of the Central Line railway, built in the 20th century to transport agricultural goods from the African hinterland to the East African Coast. The town makes a good overland base for visits and chimpanzee safaris to both Gombe Stream National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park.
It is also one of the main access points for Western Tanzania’s National Parks, Gombe Stream, and Mahale Mountain, home to troops of wild chimpanzees; mankind’s fascinating nearest genetic kin. Road connections to the outside world are poor and ill-maintained although bus and rail links still variably function but cater towards the locals – not tourists. Proper maintenance records and liability transport insurance are non-existent and not best suited for international visitors.
Kigoma is also the central Administrative district of Tanzania’s western Province making it of the busiest town in the western part of Tanzania. Kigoma town is close to Ujiji town where Henry Morton Stanley explorer and Journalist met Dr. David Livingstone the missionary. Kigoma also doubles as an access route or gateway to the famous Gombe stream national park famous for chimpanzees trekking and other wildlife, the town also gets to you Mahale mountains national park another beautiful national park where chimpanzees can be trekked and viewed.
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.
The ancient MV Liemba, built-in 1913 by Germans, still plays up and down Lake Tanganyika between Kigoma and Mpulungu on the southern shores of the lake in Zambia, stopping at several cities along the coast. There are both first, second, and third classes onboard.
