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Last updated 03 March 2024
The majority of travelers visiting Tanzania are here to enjoy the wilderness of the African bush, so the roads connecting destinations on the popular Northern Circuit – linking the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro National Park, and a string of other sights and wildlife reserves – are well-maintained. Away from these touristic areas, however, overland travel can be slow and uncomfortable. Many prefer to cover long distances by plane, particularly when accessing remote lodges and tented camps in Tanzania's national parks, though this can be expensive.
For those who cannot afford the lavish prices of air transfers, buses are a terrific option. Within cities and towns, dalla dalla (community minibuses), boda boda (motorcycle taxis), and bajaji (tuk-tuks) are all cheaper than conventional taxis. Then there are trains on Tanzania's modest rail network, boats linking the islands in the Indian Ocean, and towns along Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika.
Many adventurous travelers choose to self-drive with a rented 4WD vehicle, though driving conditions and crime are challenges. Away from major centers, roads are rarely tarred and can be a nightmare to drive on – don't be too ambitious about how much ground you can cover in a day. Here's a guide to the best ways to get around in Tanzania.
Flying is the quickest and most comfortable way to get around Tanzania. The distances between destinations are easily underestimated, particularly when you're looking at the Northern Circuit parks on a map. The result is people often choose cheaper road travel over flights, only to discover they're now committed to long days in the car.
There are regular flights from all the international airports to the airstrips at parks and beaches. We can help you design your itinerary to minimize frustrations when connecting the dots between destinations.
Most Popular Airports
Smaller airlines, such as Precision Air, Air Excel, Coastal Air, As Salaam Air, Reginal Air, or Auric Air, are the most common domestic flight carriers and run a reliable schedule across Tanzania.
The roads connecting Moshi, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and several other southern towns are tarmac and in good condition. Other routes can be full of potholes, requiring a sturdier car and experienced drivers. It would help if you always aimed to be off the road by nightfall, and our drivers will make sure you leave enough time to get to your next destination safely. In Tanzania, road rules are sometimes taken as suggestions, rather than requirements.
Self-drives are possible in many parks, but you lose a lot from the experience without an experienced guide.
Taxis are widely available in all the minor and major towns of Tanzania and can sometimes be convinced to make slightly longer journeys between towns. They are fairly cheap but tend to charge inflated prices for travelers. It is worth asking your lodge or restaurant for recommended prices, although some differences are unavoidable.
Prices should always be arranged before entering the car to avoid overcharging. Especially at night, you should rely on trusted taxi drivers only recommended by your lodge or restaurant, and if you're booking with us, all transfers will be taken care of for you. Keeping taxi drivers' numbers is common in Tanzania and can lead to better deals and more security.
Travelers have various bus options, including the local minibusses, called a dala-dala, coaches (only on long and popular journeys), and shuttles.
Dala-dalas are common in all of Tanzania and are usually buses packed to the doors with passengers.
In rush hour in Dar es Salaam, it is not unusual for passengers to crawl through the windows to get a seat! Prices are arranged with the minibus conductor, but we would advise you to ask your hotel or a local person for appropriate pricing.
Dala-dalas usually only leave when they are full, making them fairly unreliable, but an experience!
Coaches are available on all the major routes, and there are even some 'luxury' options from Moshi/Arusha to Dar, these are also cheap and should be booked ahead of time.
Like the Dala-dalas, these trips carry a risk - unless you book the luxury options - as drivers can be reckless. It is always better to use a slightly more expensive, reputed company to avoid any problems.
A few shuttles are available between Moshi, Arusha, and Nairobi. These can be booked through your hotel and are generally safe and easy ways to reach the next city.
Commonly seen in Southeast Asia, bajajis are 3-wheelers suited for two to three passengers.
They are cheap and easy to hail, but they can be a bit slow, and in big cities, they are more prone to robberies as they are so open, although this is a rare event.
You can either hail them on the street or get their number.
Boda-boda or piki-pikis (the name depends on the region) are the quickest and cheapest ways to get around and are very unsafe. We advise against this option, as the drivers rarely have a second helmet (or a first to begin with) and are known to drive recklessly.
They are mostly used in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, where the rush hour extends a 20-minute drive to three hours, as the motorbikes can easily fit in between the many waiting cars.
If you book your adventure with us, all transfers will be arranged for you.
A lesser-known alternative is taking the train for some journeys. The longest option is the TAZARA train line, which runs from Dar es Salaam to Zambia through national parks and stunning landscapes. It is a rather unreliable service - over a day delay is not unheard of.
It often runs out of water midway through, so passengers are advised to take their beverages and food and approach this service with a certain sense of adventure.
There are also some other train lines available, but these are prone to disruptions. Current updates should be checked regularly before embarking on this trip.
There are 3 lines in total. Please check departure info at the local station as they’re usually not daily.
There are some options for taking boats or ferries, mostly to reach Zanzibar or other Indian Ocean islets.
Ferries to Zanzibar are affordable, quick, and safe, but visitors should take one of the well-established companies leaving from the Dar es Salaam port.
Some dhows can be used for short distances, and some even go to Zanzibar, but these can be unsafe, especially when the sea is rough.
We recommend doing a dhow trip for an evening cruise or a snorkeling trip, but not for long distances.
There are also some ferries on the lakes, such as Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Victoria. Most of these ferries are quite basic and rustic, and some have sunk in previous years.
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Arusha
Tanzania - Arusha