Lagosa

Lagosa is a small village in Northwest Tanzania, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It benefits from being a stop on the MV Liemba route and is larger than other villages in the area.

Understand

Lagosa is a small village. It is very remote and hard to get to, except for the ferry. Roads are unpaved and to the south of the village centre the "road" becomes too narrow for cars to pass.

If you want to go to Mahale you will need to get off the MV Liemba here. Also you will need to get back on the MV Liemba in Lagosa to get back to Kigoma after you visited Mahale. If you need to stay overnight, there is a very basic guest house (see below).

Only a few people speak English. A basic knowledge of Swahili (or somebody who can translate for you) is necessary to make arrangements. Be prepared to communicate with hands and feet if you do not speak Swahili.

Get in

By boat. Take the MV Liemba.

Get around

Map of the village centre of Lagosa

By foot or by motor cycle taxi. There are usually no cars in Lagosa.

A few "businesses" and the market are located in the village centre.

See

• Watch the simple life
• Big Ludo board with European Soccer teams on it.

Do

• Play with the local children. A paper ship (or plane) will earn you many sympathies.
• Hang out at the beach.
• There is a house at the beach that has electricity and uses it to power a TV. For a small donation you can go inside and watch some European Soccer at night time. During day time films/series are shown. The audio is broadcast via a loudspeaker on the roof. Many people, who cannot afford to pay the fee, therefore linger around the house just listening to the audio. Thanks to the loudspeaker it is also very easy to find.
• You cannot really spend money here. Mainly because there is nothing to buy. However, the occasional beer and very basic food can be bought.

Buy

Stores sell only the very minimum. A newspaper or book cannot be found.

Eat

• You can try to buy some fried bread food at the market in the village centre (best bought in the morning, when it is fresh).
• Alternatively there is a tea house that sells tea and some chapati (see map).

Drink

• In the centre one store sells beer and provides chairs to sit it. It is good place to meet people and kill some time, while waiting for the MV Liemba to arrive (see map).
• There is also a bar at the beach. It may, however, be closed (see map).

Sleep

Lagosa has a guesthouse that has 10 rooms. Starting at TZS5,000 (up to TZS7,000) for a double room (see map for its location).

Go next

• Mahale Mountains National Park