Lake Tanganyika

Tanganyika runs roughly six hundred and seventy kilometres north to south along the western border, which makes it the longest freshwater lake in the world, and it drops to about 1470 metres, second only to Baikal. Below around two hundred metres the water holds no oxygen, so all the life is in the top layer, and that layer holds several hundred cichlid species found nowhere else, many confined to single stretches of rocky shore. The water is clear and warm and snorkelling is straightforward.

Highlights

• The endemic cichlids - several hundred species found only in this lake.
• The clear water - visibility good enough to snorkel the rocky shorelines.
• The depth - the second deepest lake in the world at around 1470 metres.
• The shoreline parks - Gombe and Mahale running down to the water.

When to go

May to October is the dry season and calmest for boats. The water stays warm all year. Storms can build quickly on the lake in the afternoon.

Practical notes

Boat travel is slow and schedules unreliable. Bilharzia is present in some shoreline areas and local advice should be taken before swimming. Facilities along most of the shore are minimal.

Nearby

Kigoma is the main port, and Mahale Mountains are south.

Key facts