Buses in Tanzania

Local buses (dala dalas) are a cheap way to get around Tanzania’s cities, at only 500 Tsh per ride, but will require some Swahili language skills. If you take a dala dala, expect to get ‘up close and personal’ with your neighbors as it will be a tight and bumpy ride. Be mindful of your wallet and cell phone on these buses.

Overland buses are an economical option to travel from city to city across Tanzania, but they can be extremely long and uncomfortable journeys due to the poorly maintained roads. Don’t expect any A/C or a toilet on board – many overland buses are quite basic and have been known to break down on the side of the road.

You will have several opportunities to use a toilet or get food at various stops along the way and it’s a good idea to take your bag or backpack if you exit the bus.

TANZANIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Being overshadowed by its northern neighbour has rather worked in Tanzania’s favour. Tourism has developed here more quietly, more thoughtfully, with fewer cheap packages and more personalised experiences. It’s more stable and laid-back, and enormous enough to keep some corners well hidden. But its attractions are anything but low-key: Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, the Maasai, Zanzibar, the Big Five, and of course, the Great Migration, which propels itself around the northern plains throughout the year.

TANZANIA SEES KENYA’S OFFERING AND RAISES IT – WITH HIGHER MOUNTAINS, TROPICAL ISLANDS, MORE DIVERSE CULTURE AND GREAT MIGRATION THAT LASTS ALL YEAR.

Despite the big names, it’s often the smaller details that remain in the memory – the fiendishly good fusion of Arabic, Swahili and Indian cuisine; an eye opening bushwalk with a Maasai guide; a glimpse of an endangered wild dog in the little-visited south; the silhouette of a dhow at sunset. Our Tanzania travel guide will leave you in no doubt as to why this land has attracted travellers for centuries – and that it will be sure to attract many, many more in the years to come.