Transportation

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) serves Dar es Salaam; a taxi or a ride-hailing app such as Bolt or Uber is the usual way into the city. Kilimanjaro International (JRO) is the gateway for safaris and Arusha, reached by airport shuttle or taxi, while Zanzibar (ZNZ) uses taxis to Stone Town. Agree the fare in advance or use an app.

Dar es Salaam has a bus rapid transit system (DART/BRT), locally called mwendokasi, running on dedicated lanes. Shared minibuses (daladala) cover most routes, while three-wheelers (bajaji) and motorbike taxis (bodaboda) handle short hops. Daladala can be crowded and confusing for newcomers, so many visitors prefer ride-hailing.

There is no nationwide contactless travel card like in some countries. On the Dar es Salaam BRT (DART) you use a rechargeable smart card or buy a ticket at the station, topping up with cash or mobile money. On daladala you pay the conductor in cash, and mobile money (such as M-Pesa) is widely used elsewhere for small payments.

Ride-hailing apps such as Bolt and Uber operate in Dar es Salaam and offer transparent, up-front pricing, which many visitors find convenient. Street taxis are not metered, so agree the fare before you get in. Bajaji and bodaboda are cheap for short trips but ride quality and safety vary.

Long-distance coaches link the main cities and towns and are the backbone of intercity travel; choose well-known operators for comfort and safety. Trains run on limited routes. For Zanzibar, ferries connect Dar es Salaam with Stone Town in about two hours, and domestic flights are a faster alternative on longer routes.

Tanzania is large, so domestic flights save a lot of time and are popular for reaching safari parks and Zanzibar. Carriers such as Precision Air, Coastal Aviation and Auric Air serve airstrips near the northern circuit, the southern parks and the islands. Light aircraft often have strict luggage limits, so pack soft bags.

Carry small cash for daladala, bajaji and tips, and set up mobile money for everyday payments. Agree taxi fares before you get in, or use a ride-hailing app in Dar es Salaam. For Zanzibar and safari parks, book ferries and flights in advance during busy seasons. Allow extra time in the rainy season, when rural roads can flood.