Lake Tanganyika is home to more than 200 species of cichlid, and almost all of them exist only here. Snorkellers at Gombe and Mahale can watch them swim over rocks near the shore.
Fish
Found only in Tanzania
Lake Tanganyika Cichlids
Cichlidae
Hundreds of colourful, endemic fish, found nowhere else than the world's deepest African lake.
Size
3-40 cm depending on species
Lifespan
Varies
Diet
Algae, plankton, small fish.
Habitat
Rocky and sandy shores of Lake Tanganyika.
About the lake tanganyika cichlids
Did you know?
01
More than 90 per cent of the lake's cichlids are found nowhere else.
02
Many are mouth-brooders that shelter young in their mouths.
03
The lake is one of the oldest and deepest on Earth.
When to see it
Seen all year round; the best sightings depend on where you are.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Where to see it in Tanzania
Trips that go there
Where to meet the lake tanganyika cichlids
More wildlife to discover
Fish
West Indian Ocean Coelacanth
Latimeria chalumnae
A "living fossil" fish, thought extinct for 66 million years, found off the Tanzanian coast.
Fish
Clownfish (Anemonefish)
Amphiprion spp.
The small orange fish that lives among the tentacles of sea anemones.
Prison Island (Changuu), Mnemba Atoll +3 more
Endemic
NE
Fish
Lake Nyasa Cichlids
Cichlidae
Some of the world's most colourful freshwater fish, the "mbuna" of Lake Nyasa.
Primates
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
Our closest living relative, found in the forests of western Tanzania.
Mahale Mountains, Gombe Stream
Start Planning
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Tell us what you most want to see and we will plan the season, the place and the guide to match.
Prefer to talk? Call +255 754 123 456