There is an old saying that goes, ‘If you haven’t been to Ujiji, you haven’t seen Kigoma.’ Travelling the short distance between the modern city and this historic village, you can feel a change in the air. The smell of fish drying in the sun and the sound of hammers working wood to build dhows, traditional boats, welcome you to a world where the past is still present.
Ujiji is a place of legends. Under a majestic mango tree, now protected by a simple but solemn monument, one of the most famous encounters in history took place: ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume?’. These words, spoken by Henry Morton Stanley in 1871, marked an era of exploration and discovery. Visiting the site with Karibu Kigoma guides means immersing yourself in the stories of courage, disease, faith and determination that shaped the exploration of Central Africa.
But the history of Ujiji goes beyond famous names. It is the story of an ancient Arab-Swahili port, a centre of trade and culture that is reflected in the architecture of the houses and the faces of the people. Strolling through the sandy streets, you can watch master carpenters who, without the aid of modern plans, build ships capable of weathering the storms of Lake Tanganyika using techniques handed down through generations. Choosing this excursion means honouring the memory of a land that has been a bridge between different worlds. It is a journey through time that allows you to experience first-hand the roots of a vibrant culture, between the echoes of explorers and the daily dignity of a people who look to the future without forgetting their origins.
