Lake Tanganyika forms most of Tanzania’s western border. It is about 670 km long, making it the longest freshwater lake in the world, and nearly 1,500 metres deep, second only to Lake Baikal. Its clear water and mountain shores are some of the most beautiful in Africa.
Key facts
| Length | About 670 km |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | Nearly 1,500 m |
| Shared by | Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi and Zambia |
| Age | Millions of years, one of the oldest lakes on Earth |
Chimpanzees
Two national parks protect chimpanzees on the Tanzanian shore: Mahale Mountains, reached by boat or plane, and Gombe Stream, where Jane Goodall began her research in 1960.
Cichlid fish
The lake holds hundreds of species of cichlid fish, most found nowhere else. Snorkelling in the clear water near Mahale or Kigoma shows their colours and behaviour.
Kigoma and Ujiji
Kigoma is the main town on the Tanzanian shore and the gateway to Gombe. Nearby Ujiji is where Henry Morton Stanley met David Livingstone in 1871 and is said to have asked, “Dr Livingstone, I presume?” A small museum marks the spot.
The MV Liemba
Built in Germany in 1913 as the Graf von Götzen and later renamed, the Liemba is one of the oldest passenger ships still in existence. It has carried passengers and cargo along the lake for most of the last century, though services have been irregular.
When to go
June to October is the dry season and the usual time for chimpanzee trips. See Mahale chimps.
Frequently asked questions
It is the longest freshwater lake, about 670 km, and the second deepest after Lake Baikal.
Yes, in clear areas such as near Mahale and Kigoma. Ask locally about safe spots, as crocodiles and hippos live in some areas.
At Ujiji, near Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, in 1871.
