The central route from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma in the far west passes through a number of different landscapes and vegetational zones. The distance between the towns is large and much of this route is sparsely populated. The major towns that you pass through are Morogoro, Dodoma and finally Tabora before reaching Kigoma. The Central Railway line is the focus of this route, and it follows the old slave and caravan trail from the coast to Lake Tanganyika. The road is good only as far as Dodoma, just over a third of the distance to Kigoma, though there are currently major road building projects going on in the central region. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika are Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, both famous for their substantial chimpanzee populations. Also to the west of the region is the Katavi National Park which is so remote it only receives a handful of visitors each year. These parks are not easy to get to but nevertheless offer safari experiences away from the hordes of pop-up minibuses of the northern circuit in landscapes that are more wild and untouched.
For access to the destinations in the central area and for budget travellers not wanting to take the expensive flights to Kigoma, the only real option is the train. The Central Line goes from Dar to Morogoro, then heads northwest through Dodoma to Tabora, where it splits and the two lines go either to Mwanza on Lake Victoria or Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika. To either destination this is a lengthy journey, but the train is an interesting experience and relatively comfortable, especially if you travel first class. It stops at dozens of stations en route through the central area (hence the 36-hour journey time from Dar to Kigoma) and at each the villagers meet the train to sell their wares – anything from live chickens to wooden spoons. Although there are some buses that link the towns, they are infrequent, uncomfortable and slow, and the roads are very poor, especially after the rains when many become impassable. However, things are changing and there have been some major road-building operations in recent years. The Nzega–Shinyanga– Mwanza road is now tarred and the Singida–Dodoma road has been improved. The Chinese are working on the Nzega–Singida road, and the South Africans on the Tabora–Shinyanga road. The only feasible option for getting to Katavi National Park is by flying, and safaris here are usually arranged with an additional trip by air to Mahale National Park.
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