©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd We s t e r n T a n z a n i a Why Go? Western Tanzania is rough, remote frontier land, with vast Tabora ...........................230 trackless expanses, minimal infrastructure and very few vis- Kigoma .........................232 itors: much as it was back when Stanley found Livingstone Ujiji ................................235 here. The west serves a sense of adventure now extinct in Gombe National Park .....236 the rest of the country; and this is precisely what attracts Mahale Mountains a trickle of travellers, many of whom plan their itineraries National Park................238 around the schedules of the MV Liemba, which sails down Uvinza ...........................240 Lake Tanganyika and the Central Line train, which crosses Mpanda.........................240 the country. Katavi National Park ....242 But, it’s wildlife watching that brings most people. Go- Sumbawanga................244 mbe, Jane Goodall’s former stomping grounds, and Mahale Mountains National Parks are two of the world’s best places for chimpanzee encounters, while the vast fl oodplains of rarely visited Katavi National Park off er an almost primeval Best of Culture safari experience. » MV Liemba (p 374 ) Unless you use chartered planes as part of a tour, you’ll need plenty of time and even more patience to travel here. » Katonga (p 232 ) But, for that certain sort of traveller, Tanzania’s west is » Kipili (p 240 ) Tanzania’s best. » Livingstone’s tembe (p 230 ) When to Go Kigoma Best of Nature °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 16/400 » Mahale Mountains National Park (p 238 ) 30/86 12/300 » Katavi National Park 20/68 8/200 (p 242 ) » Gombe National Park 10/50 4/100 (p 236 ) 0/32 0 » Lake Tanganyika diving J FDNOSAJJMAM and snorkelling (p 240) Dec-Apr Rains May-Nov Dry- May-Jun Chim- » Kalambo Falls (p 244 ) bring washed-out season travel panzees are most roads but brilliant is easiest, but likely to be seen lightning displays. forests turn in large groups. leafless. 229 Malag B8 Ig Manyovu om LEGEND Kigosi Kagunga Moyowosi be NP National Park aras GR Gombe Kasulu GR River GR Game Reserve FR Forest Reserve NP i Kasekela R 0 100 km Kigoma iver 0 50 miles Lake Ujiji Kazuramimba B6 Nyagamoma Kaliua Tabora WESTERN TANZANIA TANZANIA WESTERN er TANZANIA WESTERN Malagarasi Riv Kipalapala Uvinza Lake r Sagara e iv Mta R mbo Lugu Sigunga Wala TANZANIA WESTERN Sikonge fu Mishamo River Rive Ugalla K r a Luege tam le Ugalla River Lagosa b iki GR R River Kalilani ive R Kangwena r i v L er imba Beach Lim Mahale Sham ba River Mountains NP a Mpanda R Sibwesa iver Kalya Lake Katavi Sitalike Ikola Inyonga Kalema Luafi GR Katavi Lake Ifume NP Ikuu Tanganyika River River Lake Chada a River Kibaoni ma Rungw uki DEMOCRATIC L Lupita Kirando Rukwa REPUBLIC OF GR Island Katongoro THE CONGO Namanyere (FORMERLY Kipili Lafwe Chala Lake GR Rukwa ZAÏRE) Muse B8 Ilanga Zimba arangu M Mbizi FR onts Wampembe M Sumbawanga Kala Kalambo River Matai Lake Mpui Rukwa Muzi Makongolosi Kasanga Momba ZAMBIA Kalambo Kasesya Falls River Sumbu Mpulungu GR Mbala Western Tanzania Highlights 1 Visiting Mahale 3 Sailing Lake Tanganyika cichlids in Lake Tanganyika Mountains National Park aboard the MV Liemba (p 374 ) (p 240 ) (p 238 ), the ultimate ‘get-away- 4 Experiencing the primeval 6 Kicking back on the shore from-it-all’ destination rhythms of nature in Katavi of Lake Tanganyika at Kipili 2 Mingling with the chimps National Park (p 242 )) (p240) at Gombe Stream National 5 Diving and snorkelling 7 Admiring Kalambo Falls Park (p 236 ) amid the kaleidoscopic (p 244 ).