A few kilometres north of the centre, Kibirizi is the main fishing harbour for Kigoma and probably the best place in town for an early-morning walk. Wooden boats called ngalawa begin coming in around dawn, loaded with the previous night's haul of dagaa — tiny sardine-like fish that are dried on huge mats laid out along the shore and traded across the region.
The market itself is loud, slippery and entirely unselfconscious, with auctioneers calling prices over the catch and women sorting and salting the fish for the inland trade. Larger lake fish — Nile perch, catfish, and the occasional very big tigerfish — come in less reliably. Bring a hat, sturdy footwear, and be prepared to step around drying nets. Most visitors come with a local guide who can explain the trade.