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Transport in Tanzania - Arusha to Dar es Salaam
Arusha to Dar es Salaam by bus
A few tips here about traveling by bus from Arusha in the north of Tanzania to the port of Dar es Salaam. For many this is a stepping stone to boarding a ferry to Stone Town, Zanzibar. The easiest way to get to Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar is by air, however, if you are on a budget then the cheapest and more adventurous alternative is by bus.
It is a long long bus ride from Arusha to Dar es Salaam - ten[ish] hours and it can become very hot; to leave with the earliest departure is the best option. Leaving early may allow enough time to get the last ferry to Zanzibar around 15h30 to 16h00 - but be prepared to stay overnight in Dar es Salaam. The last part of the journey through Dar to the Ubungo bus terminal can take hours, if the traffic is heavy, and this may result in missing your connection.
Be warned the Ubungo bus terminal in Dar es Salaam is not in the city Centrex and to get to the ferry port/city centrex takes time - a taxi will cost between US$20 to US$40 depending on the driver, your time of arrival and how desperate you appear. Most of the time it is down to luck with the driver - it is of paramount importance to agree a price for the journey with the taxi driver before setting foot into the car. Dar is a busy city centrex and traffic is usually quite heavy and slow moving.
The only bus company I would recommend for this arduous journey from Arusha is the Dar Express company. The booking office is situated close to the Kimahama Bookshop [about 500m up hill from the Arusha Stadium] There are different classes of transport ensure you are booked onto a luxury coach [US$25].
I would also recommend you go to buy tickets at the booking office in advance in high season to avoid unnecessary problems. Ticket touts/peddlers earn a living on commission sales only and there is stiff rivalry to get you, the tourist, onto a particular bus. The experience can be a bit overwhelming for the first time visitor.
Don't believe anything you are told - check for yourself. For example you are intending to buy a ticket for Dar Express and you are told they are fully booked - check at the booking office - as commission cannot be earned on Dar Express tickets. If you are told a particular bus is luxury, then check, as your idea of what passes for luxury may differ from the reality of what has been promised.
The last time I traveled by Bus from Arusha to Dar the ticket cost US$25 [January 2011]
There are cheaper options, usually with more seats per row - five per row as opposed to Dar Express with four seats to a row. Most of them travel very fast on mainly single carriageways and they are probably not roadworthy - Buffalo Bus company coaches tend to drive very fast and are not recommended - of the cheaper companies I would recommend only Fresh Coach and Amazon.
If you go for the cheap option remember to haggle over the price of your ticket as on the cheaper coaches the price is highly negotiable - remembering for only US$25 you can travel with Dar Express on a luxury coach.
As with anywhere in the world, where there are tourists and confusion and crowds there are pickpockets and thieves. Keep valuables out of site and locked/zipped safely away. Don't let anyone carry your luggage. Don't take any shortcuts along quite unpopulated alleyways. In the unlikely situation that you feel uncomfortable or in danger make your way to a policeman in a white uniform and then you will be safe and whoever is making you feel uncomfortable will disappear.
©Copyright Information Jumart African Art
All materials on this site are protected by copyright and intellectual property laws and are the property of Jumart.net
Unless stated otherwise,you may access and download the materials located on http://www.jumart.net only for personal,non-commercial use
A few tips here about traveling by bus from Arusha in the north of Tanzania to the port of Dar es Salaam. For many this is a stepping stone to boarding a ferry to Stone Town, Zanzibar. The easiest way to get to Dar es Salaam/Zanzibar is by air, however, if you are on a budget then the cheapest and more adventurous alternative is by bus.
It is a long long bus ride from Arusha to Dar es Salaam - ten[ish] hours and it can become very hot; to leave with the earliest departure is the best option. Leaving early may allow enough time to get the last ferry to Zanzibar around 15h30 to 16h00 - but be prepared to stay overnight in Dar es Salaam. The last part of the journey through Dar to the Ubungo bus terminal can take hours, if the traffic is heavy, and this may result in missing your connection.
Be warned the Ubungo bus terminal in Dar es Salaam is not in the city Centrex and to get to the ferry port/city centrex takes time - a taxi will cost between US$20 to US$40 depending on the driver, your time of arrival and how desperate you appear. Most of the time it is down to luck with the driver - it is of paramount importance to agree a price for the journey with the taxi driver before setting foot into the car. Dar is a busy city centrex and traffic is usually quite heavy and slow moving.
The only bus company I would recommend for this arduous journey from Arusha is the Dar Express company. The booking office is situated close to the Kimahama Bookshop [about 500m up hill from the Arusha Stadium] There are different classes of transport ensure you are booked onto a luxury coach [US$25].
I would also recommend you go to buy tickets at the booking office in advance in high season to avoid unnecessary problems. Ticket touts/peddlers earn a living on commission sales only and there is stiff rivalry to get you, the tourist, onto a particular bus. The experience can be a bit overwhelming for the first time visitor.
Don't believe anything you are told - check for yourself. For example you are intending to buy a ticket for Dar Express and you are told they are fully booked - check at the booking office - as commission cannot be earned on Dar Express tickets. If you are told a particular bus is luxury, then check, as your idea of what passes for luxury may differ from the reality of what has been promised.
The last time I traveled by Bus from Arusha to Dar the ticket cost US$25 [January 2011]
There are cheaper options, usually with more seats per row - five per row as opposed to Dar Express with four seats to a row. Most of them travel very fast on mainly single carriageways and they are probably not roadworthy - Buffalo Bus company coaches tend to drive very fast and are not recommended - of the cheaper companies I would recommend only Fresh Coach and Amazon.
If you go for the cheap option remember to haggle over the price of your ticket as on the cheaper coaches the price is highly negotiable - remembering for only US$25 you can travel with Dar Express on a luxury coach.
As with anywhere in the world, where there are tourists and confusion and crowds there are pickpockets and thieves. Keep valuables out of site and locked/zipped safely away. Don't let anyone carry your luggage. Don't take any shortcuts along quite unpopulated alleyways. In the unlikely situation that you feel uncomfortable or in danger make your way to a policeman in a white uniform and then you will be safe and whoever is making you feel uncomfortable will disappear.
©Copyright Information Jumart African Art
All materials on this site are protected by copyright and intellectual property laws and are the property of Jumart.net
Unless stated otherwise,you may access and download the materials located on http://www.jumart.net only for personal,non-commercial use