Kigoma, Tanzania

Kigoma is a city and lake port in north-western Tanzania, on the north-eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika and close to the border with Burundi and The Democratic Republic of the Congo. It serves as the capital for the surrounding Kigoma Region. The historic trading town of Ujiji is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south-east of Kigoma.

Kigoma is one of the busiest ports on northeastern Lake Tanganyika because of its railway connection, a direct link to the ocean port at Dar es Salaam. Kigoma Port in the Kigoma Bay has a wharf equipped to handle shipping containers. In May 2007 the Tanzanian Government announced a plan to create an economic zone at the port to stimulate trade and to ensure stable economic growth of the Port.

The MV Liemba sails every week from Kigoma to Mpulungu in Zambia at the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika, stopping at a number of other lakeside towns in Tanzania on the way. The MV Mwongozo sails from Kigoma to Baraka, Uvira and Bujumbura at the northern tip of the lake. There are other ships from Congo and Burundi that sail to Kigoma Port every week.

The Central Line of the Tanzania Railways Corporation runs from Kigoma to the Port of Dar es Salaam on to the Indian Ocean coast via Tabora and Dodoma. In Tabora, there is a connection to Mwanza on Lake Victoria, with ferry connections to other Tanzanian lakeshore places. At Tabora, you can also travel by train to Mpanda.

The city is served by Kigoma Airport which has scheduled service to Bujumbura and Dar es Salaam.