It was a lazy day just before the rains were due to arrive. Sunlight and dust formed a veil that obscured the mountains across the lake in the DRC. Scanning the water, we saw many birds, but I was particularly captivated by a Pied Kingfisher — the star of the morning.
Upon our arrival in Kigoma, a charming town, I wasted no time in asking for a bowl of tasty Migebuka or Sleet Lates (Lates stappersii), a fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Other species found here include the giant Nile perch (Lates angustifrons) and the small Nile perch. The lake is also renowned for Dagaa wa Kigoma — small, shiny fish that are an excellent source of high-quality protein.
Seafood, local markets, sandbank breakfasts and sunset cruises. I realised Kigoma offers all of these too. I visited fishing villages, the local market, the Dr Livingstone Museum, and the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp. Other highlights included swimming, snorkelling, boat cruising, and boarding the legendary German-built ship MV Liemba.
I was fascinated by the history of Kigoma and learned that the first known European explorers to reach Lake Tanganyika were Speke and Burton in 1858. They discovered it while searching for the source of the River Nile. It was also at nearby Ujiji that Henry Morton Stanley famously encountered Dr Livingstone, uttering the immortal words: “Dr Livingstone, I presume?”
Water is fundamental to life on our planet. Lakes, streams, marshes and ponds are vital for feeding, drinking and nesting. During my visit to Zanzibar, I enjoyed nature walks.
The kingfisher is a superb diver and flier. As its bill pierced the water, the fish had just half a second to react — but the bird’s timing was impeccable. It emerged victorious, swallowing its catch mid-air. Unlike other species, Pied Kingfishers don’t always require waterside perches, making them agile hunters.
Along the shores of the lake, we spotted wild animals including olive baboons, and marvelled at the stunning natural surroundings. The clouds turned white, and we were treated to a breathtaking sunrise. Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world (708 km), and the second deepest after Lake Baikal in Russia. It boasts one of the richest freshwater ecosystems on the planet, with over 2,000 fish species — 500 of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Its immense depth is due to the Great Rift Valley, which also forms its steep shorelines.
Later, I opted for a two-hour boat ride, waving at fishermen paddling their small boats as birds circled overhead. In the distance, a Pied Kingfisher hovered almost motionless above the water, its head tilted downward to watch a fish unaware of the predator above. Then, it dived. The kingfisher is a superb diver and flier. As its bill pierced the water, the fish had just half a second to react — but the bird’s timing was impeccable. It emerged victorious, swallowing its catch mid-air. Unlike other species, Pied Kingfishers don’t always require waterside perches, making them agile hunters.
Kigoma is surrounded by astonishing natural beauty, and Lake Tanganyika’s biology and vibrant aquatic life make it a truly fascinating destination — enriched by its colourful and storied past.
Raphael Mbunda. Birding is his hobby. mbundarh1@gmail.com
