Lake Tanganyika – Tanzania Freshwater Diving

About Lake Tanganyika (Freshwater)

Lake Tanganyika offers an entirely unique diving experience unlike anywhere else in Tanzania or indeed the world. As the second deepest and second oldest freshwater lake on Earth, Tanganyika is a showcase of evolutionary biology with over 250 endemic cichlid fish species found nowhere else on the planet. Diving in the Kigoma area reveals sandy lake floors and rocky shores teeming with colourful cichlids in shallow water from 5 to 20 metres, creating an extraordinary freshwater equivalent of coral reef biodiversity. The Mahale Mountains area combines cichlid snorkelling with world-famous chimpanzee trekking in one of Africa's most remote national parks. Diving at Lake Tanganyika requires altitude-adjusted procedures as the lake surface sits at 773 metres above sea level. There are no coral formations, but the evolutionary diversity of the cichlid species, each adapted to specific ecological niches, provides a freshwater biology showcase that rivals any marine environment. Crocodile presence in some areas and very limited dive infrastructure add to the adventure character of this extraordinary diving destination.

Highlights

• ✓Over 250 endemic cichlid species found nowhere else on Earth
• ✓Extraordinary freshwater evolutionary biology showcase rivalling marine biodiversity
• ✓Mahale Mountains combining cichlid diving with chimpanzee trekking
• ✓Altitude diving at 773 metres requiring adjusted procedures
• ✓Second deepest and oldest freshwater lake on Earth
• ✓Remote wilderness experience with very limited tourist infrastructure

Getting There

Lake Tanganyika is accessed by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma Airport (TKQ) via intermediate stops, taking approximately 4-5 hours. The train from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma takes approximately 40 hours but offers a scenic journey through the Tanzanian interior. Mahale Mountains National Park is accessible only by boat from Kigoma (3-5 hours) or by charter flight. The lake has very limited road access and most travel between lakeside communities is by boat.