GUIDE ON KIGOMA HILLTOP HOTEL IN LAKE TANGANYIKA

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Kigoma Hilltop Hotel occupies a marvelous site on a small hill extending into Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania. It commands simply stunning views of lake, forests, mountains and endless golden beaches, backed by palms and strewn with boulder breakwaters to form perfect fresh water swimming bays. Behind the accommodation, the small town of Kigoma sprawls, a fascinating taste of cosmopolitan pretension in rural African simplicity.

It is worth considering for a visit on rural holiday in Africa with access to chimp viewing in Gombe. Serving as the capital of the region, it is both colorful and busy. From its bustling markets to the port wharfs, it has a fascinating history, making it a refreshing change from the cliché of Tanzanian wilderness safari destinations.



Dr. David Livingstone, missionary and explorer, met Sir Henry Morton Stanley here and joined him to ascertain that there was no connection between Lake Tanganyika and the River Nile. Kigoma can be reached by car or bus on roads from Mwanza which are not very well maintained, or by a charming, ramshackle railway service.

Also available is the 100 year-old ferry MV Liembe, a voyage taking days from the three other countries bordering the lake. These journeys would be a fascinating aspect of an independent trip to Kigoma, if time allowed. The more usual access route for AfricanMecca guests is by air, three hours from Dar Es Salaam and two hours from Mwanza.

Accommodation At Kigoma Hilltop Hotel

Accommodation at Kigoma Hilltop Hotel is an adequate and good overnight hotel base considering the remoteness of the area that it is located in. There are few other comparable hostelries in Kigoma, and no true Premier Luxury accommodations by international standards, although some have slightly misleading self-descriptions.

Kigoma Hilltop Hotel has 8 double suites, 1 triple suite with a double and an extra third bed, 1 Deluxe double suite, 14 Executive double rooms, 4 twin Executive and 2 triple Executive rooms, housing a total of 63 guests in 30 rooms available on discerning Tanzania lake tours with AfricanMecca. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with full porcelain suite of flush toilet, bidet and hand basin with shower, hot and cold running water, bath consumables, and bottled drinking water with glasses.



The rooms contain beds with mosquito nets, bedside tables, wardrobe, dressing table and chair and luggage rack. There is air-conditioning, satellite television, fridge, phone to reception, charging power point and safe. Safari chairs and low coffee tables on concrete tiled balconies overlook the lake or the gardens. The deluxe suites have a separate lounge area, a Jacuzzi on a wooden deck, an en-suite bath and bathrobes, hair-dryer, tea and coffee-making equipment.

Children are welcome, but there is no babysitting service. Wedding and Conference facilities are on offer, which can be combined with a cultural and historic and cultural tour of Kigoma. Wi-Fi is available. There is a standby generator at night. There is also a public reception and lounge area, a restaurant, two conference rooms, gym, sports facilities (tennis courts and table tennis tables) and a swimming pool.

Safari At Kigoma Hilltop Hotel

The hotel offers jet skis, snorkeling in shallow offshore areas, and PADI diving for appropriately qualified scuba experts to observe the thousands of incredibly beautiful cichlids and other fish in Lake Tanganyika’s deep blue waters. You can also hire a dhow for a waterborne picnic or sundowner cocktails, as well as to visit Gombe Stream or Mahale Mountain Safari National Parks to see the world-famous chimpanzees.



In Gombe, the Kasakela community of chimps has been studied by Jane Goodall for over half a century. You can visit them and later learn more about them at the Jane Goodall Research Center. In wilder, tougher terrain at Mahale, there are an estimated 800 wild chimpanzees and one habituated “M” troop. Strict rules apply to chimpanzee observations.

You can also spend a delightful day in Kigoma itself, absorbing the authentic ambience of travel in Africa. Visit the colorful market to buy authentic Kitenge cloth or blue palm soap. Enjoy the bustle and diverse costumes whilst comparing tottering displays of plastic beach balls in narrow aisles with heaps of fish on tarpaulins, neat piles of potatoes and tomatoes on the ground, and cones of flour in baskets, with friendly vendors inviting you to haggle over the price.



You can book airport road transfers, water transport and other trips as part of a Kigoma Hilltop tour via your AfricanMecca safari specialist (read more on when is the best time to visit Kigoma).

Dining At Kigoma Hilltop Hotel

Since the Kigoma Hilltop Hotel is geared to a relatively large number of guests in a small town on your adventure tour by Lake Tanganyika, personalization is minimal and staff are kept busy but available on need. Room service is accordingly expensive, and maintenance could be better. There is a lovely, thatch-roofed restaurant on the cliff overlooking the lake, which is open from 7.30 a.m. serving morning coffee with a buffet selection of fruit juice, fruit, cereals and yoghurt.

Hot meals are available and cooked to order. Prices are not astronomical considering the remoteness of this vacation destination. Lunch, A la carte, consists of entree, main and dessert. Hot or cold snacks are available in the afternoon with fused herb teas or coffee. For dinner, there is a set three-course menu available to AfricanMecca guests staying here. Dishes are often of local delicacies or fresh seafood, or specialties flown in from Mwanza or Dar Es Salaam.



There is usually a delicious Indian option, served in the restaurant, or by the swimming pool given 24 hours’ notice when weather is un-affecting. You can also advance order a traditional “African nyama choma” barbecue if required. This is quite realistic as there is a relatively tame herd of zebra wandering the grounds as well as a number of vervet monkeys. The hotel, like a very few you will encounter on your holiday visit in Africa, does not stock alcohol, but the management has no objection to bringing your own.

Related Pages

1. Kigoma & Lake Tanganyika Guide	2. Best Time & Weather To Visit Kigoma
3. Kigoma Map & Tanzania Chimpanzee Safari	4. Hotels In Kigoma & Lake Tanganyika Camps & Lodges
5. Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Safari Park	6. Mahale Mountains Chimpanzee Safari Park