Dar es Salaam Transportation - Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Arriving at the bustling capital of Tanzania can leave a traveler feeling overwhelmed quickly. However, the city has modern transportation networks that make it easy to get from point A to point B.

Dar es Salaam relies on tuk-tuk taxis: three-wheeled carts that zip in and out of traffic. Anxious visitors may be hesitant to step into one of these contraptions, but those with a taste for adventure will find them fun.

The bus from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam takes about eight hours and costs about $15. Buy in advance to get a good seat. Keep your ticket and passport ready as the bus crosses the border.

Julius Nyere International Airport may be small, but it serves all of Tanzania with domestic and international flights. Visitors landing in the airport will need to stop at the visa desk, pay fifty dollars, and have their photograph taken for the tourist visa. Bathrooms and ATMs are outside the airport itself.

Tourists who want to see the famous city of Zanzibar will need to take the ferry from Dar es Salaam across the bay. It's not uncommon for tourists to be charged twice or even three times the ticket price that a local would pay, but the price is still inexpensive: about twenty to thirty dollars in total.

Editor's Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transportation in Dar es Salaam.