How to get around Tanzania
Travelling in Tanzania involves using various transportation options depending on how far you want to move and your preferences, budget, and destinations because there is a lot to consider such as connecting from one region to another. In this article, we will give a comprehensive guide to help you plan your trip to Tanzania.
Most people travelling or visiting Tanzania have come to enjoy Tanzania’s wilderness ranging from the popular Northern Circuit which links to the famous Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater area and Mt Kilimanjaro National Park. Moving away from touristed areas, budget travellers such as overland tourists many prefer to travel long distances by plane most especially when accessing remote tourism destinations in Tanzania’s national parks and reserves though flying can be expensive at some point
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12 Days Uganda Wildlife & Tanzania safari
16 Days Tanzania & Uganda gorilla tour
For travellers who cannot afford the prices of air tickets for transfers from one region to another, there are bus options; however, it can take a long time to connect from one place to another, so it may not be a good option for those who don’t have much time. Travelling by bus is cheaper than conventional taxis. Tanzania also has a good train system with a modest rail network which can also be used, some boats link to different islands on Lake Victoria, the Indian Ocean, and Lake Tanganyika.
The tourists and travellers who choose to go for self-drive with a hired 4XD vehicle, self-drive has its one challenge because of driving conditions and same-level crime can be a big challenge when on self-drive. This is because when you drive away from towns some roads are not good which can be a nightmare for drivers who are new in the area
Tanzania is well located in East Africa which boasts some of the world’s most untouched natural landscapes and wildlife. However, when it comes to How to get around Tanzania, it can be somehow daunting, especially for the single traveller.
Travelling by Air: Tanzania has many daily scheduled Domestic Flights, This is the fastest way How to get around Tanzania when travelling for long distances. Here are some of the few main Airports in Tanzania which are Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport, and Zanzibar International Airport but there are a few other local airstrips used by local domestic flights.
Use of Big Buses and Coaches: when travelling within the cities, it is reliable and economical but for tourists, this will require much time to connect from one tourist destination to another which you may not have, for short distances within cities and town, minibuses are cheaper but crowded and less comfortable so its also not recommended for tourists who don’t know the place very well.
Use of Trains: In East Africa Tanzania has the most organized train transport linking to different cities within Tanzania, this one of the transports means that can be used to go around Tanzania and it’s cheap and reliable however it is only limited few cities so you still need to plan accordingly.
Car Rentals and Taxis: Car hire and taxis are available in all towns, cities and airports at an affordable price so for those who want privacy car hire or taxi are much better than public transport.
Use of Ferries and Boats: Tanzania has a schedule between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar which is also an amazing experience which is worth trying. Other Tanzania ferries operate on freshwater Lakes like Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyasa and the famous Lake Victoria.
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2 days Uganda gorilla trekking tour from Kigali
3 days gorilla tracking Uganda from Kigali
6 days gorilla chimpanzees and hiking safari from Kigali
7 days Uganda gorillas and chimpanzee trekking safari from Kigali
7 days Uganda primate’s chimpanzees and wildlife safari from Kigali
14 days gorillas, chimpanzees and wildlife safaris from Kigali
Use of Motorcycles and Bicycles: This type of transportation is commonly known as Boda-boda, where a Motorcycle works as a taxi and can be used for short distances both in towns and in rural areas.
Services of Uber and Bolt, services of online taxi apps such Uber and Bolt are also available in most of big towns of country.
Walking is also safe, for those who like walking it is safe in most of the big towns, however, as you all know like anywhere in the world walking in the cities requires you to be cautious of traffic and follow local advice from your tour guide/driver.
Tips on how to get around Tanzania?
Your Safety First, this is a general recommendation for travellers worldwide, when travelling one must keep an eye on their belongings especially when travelling in African crowded places.
When coming to Africa you must be aware of malaria risks so make sure that you have appropriate medication to safeguard yourself.
The Road Conditions in Tanzania, like any other African country roads, can be challenging, especially in the rural areas and during the rainy season you need to be cautious while on the road.
Local Cultural Respect, as a new person in the area you must have respect for the cultural customs and traditions of the area. The main language in Tanzania is Swahili but English is also widely spoken especially in tourist destinations.
