Transportation
Traveling by plane
According to top-medical-schools, Air Tanzania (TC) operates domestic flights between the country’s major locations. Precision Air (PW) serves major cities and other domestic destinations via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. All national parks and some of the luxury lodges have airstrips served by Coastal Aviation (CQ) from the main airports on the mainland, islands, Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. ZanAir (B4) has regular flights between Zanzibar, Pemba and the mainland.
Traveling by car/bus
The Tanzanian road network has a total length of about 87,000 km, of which about 29,000 km are long-distance and regional roads that connect the important places. Tolls: There are no toll roads in Tanzania. Petrol stations: There are petrol stations in the towns and along the main roads; however, fuel bottlenecks can occasionally occur. Travelers should therefore make use of the fueling options that are available and carry fuel in canisters with them for overland journeys.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
About 15% of the entire road network is asphalted. The connecting roads between the larger cities and to tourist destinations are all-weather roads. The other roads are mainly gravel or sand tracks, which are only passable with four-wheel drive or impassable during the rainy season (April and May). Deep potholes are always to be expected. There are often no signposts at crossings. Driving at night should be avoided as there are sometimes animals on the roads.
Road classification
The country’s trunk and regional roads are each marked with a letter and a number; Trunk roads begin with the letter T, regional roads with an R.
Car rental
Rental cars are available at the international airports, in the associated cities and in Zanzibar, both with and without a driver. To rent a car, drivers must be at least 20 years old and have held their driving license for at least 2 years.
Taxi
Registered taxis can be recognized by a vertical green, yellow or blue stripe on the white body. There are no taximeters, but there are fixed route prices in Dar es Salaam. Travelers should be careful to only use registered taxis to avoid the risk of being robbed.
Bicycle
Bikes can be hired in towns and on the islands. Cycling is particularly popular in Zanzibar; Most of the hotels arrange bicycles there.
Coach
Buses connect almost all towns. Minibuses (Dala Dalas) also stop in smaller villages; they can also be stopped on the street. Timetables are not always adhered to, especially during the rainy season, and cancellations are common.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – Seat belts are compulsory in the front seats; – alcohol limit: 0.8 ‰; – Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. Speed limits: – in built-up areas: 50 km/h; – extra-urban: 100 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; for vehicle damage: Tel. +49 (0)89 22 22 22, for illnesses: +49 (0)89 76 76 76. The ADAC partner club in Tanzania is the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT), Dar es Salaam, Tel. +255 (0)22 215 185 37. In the event of breakdowns or accidents with the rental car, the car rental company should be contacted first.
Documentation
In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license is required.
Traveling in the city
In Dar es Salaam, buses and minibuses operate at the same fare. The buses are often overcrowded and not always reliable. There are also taxis that can be found in front of the hotels and operate around the city at fixed rates. Taxi drivers expect a 10% tip. In other cities, the fare should be agreed before departure. For safety reasons, it is strongly recommended to only use registered taxis.
Locally on the way by train
Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) trains operate on the main line from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and Mwanza (journey time: approx. 3 days) and also on routes such as Kaliua-Mpanda and Tanga-Arusha. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) operates the route from Dar es Salaam to the Zambian border and on to Kapiri Mposhi (Zambia) twice a week. Travelers have the choice between 3 classes, although it is advisable to book 1st class as the trains are usually overcrowded. You should keep your luggage within sight.
Traveling by ship
Ships operate on the larger Tanzanian lakes, such as Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Lake Nyasa, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. A speedboat connects Dar es Salaam with Zanzibar several times a day (journey time: 60-90 minutes). There is also a connection from Zanzibar to Pemba. Steamers operate on Lakes Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. There are three classes, with 1st class being comfortable and rarely crowded. Lake Victoria steamers connect Bukoba to Mwanza.
