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The main reason for visiting the remote and
seldom traveled to town of Kigoma is to visit
the legendary Gombe Stream National Park. This
primate sanctuary was made famous by Jane van
Lawick Goodall in her African classic, “In the
Shadow of Man.” This is a laidback and fairly
attractive little town, located at the foot of a
hill and characterized by grove after grove of
mango trees. It is perhaps best known as one of
the major ferry ports on Lake Tanganyika. It was
to Kigoma that the legendary steamer, the MV
Liemba, was brought by rail by the Germans
during World War I, assembled there, and used as
a military expedition ship against the British
forces in what is today Zambia. It still does
the twice weekly lake run, leaving Kigoma on
Wednesdays and Sundays, war and weather
permitting. A lake steamer trip is one of the
ultimate African experiences for intrepid
travelers. The MV Mwongoza supplements the
service. |
