Kigoma Region
TL;DR
Lake Tanganyika gateway hosting Gombe chimp research and refugee populations
Kigoma borders Lake Tanganyika—the world's second-deepest lake—and hosts the Gombe Stream National Park where Jane Goodall conducted her pioneering chimpanzee research since 1960. The region serves as Tanzania's western gateway, with rail and lake connections to Burundi and the DRC. Refugee camps for Burundian and Congolese populations have shaped regional demographics and economics. Lake Tanganyika's endemic cichlid species (over 250 varieties) support artisanal fishing, while palm oil and cassava dominate agriculture. The remoteness that preserved chimpanzee habitat also constrains economic development.