Visiting Tanzania

Dhow in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is one of the best places to visit in Tanzania, and is worth including on any travel itinerary. Flights from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar are among the best ways to get from the capital of the country to the famous islands.

Flights from Dar es Salaam are offered by Bankair, Coastal Aviation, Precision Air, and ZanAir. Some of these airlines offer charter flights, and others offer commercial flights. Additionally, some of them are low-cost airlines that offer cheap flights to Zanzibar.

All flights from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar take off from Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), which is the large international airport in the capital. They land on Unguja island in Zanzibar. The airport there is called Kisauni Airport, or Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ). ZNZ airport is near Stone Town, which is the main city in the island archipelago.

The airlines that operate on this route vary in quality. Some are better known than others for having prompt departures and arrivals and for treating passengers well. As such, it is a good idea to choose wisely when flying to Zanzibar.

Precision Air has a reputation for overbooking its flights and rebooking passengers on later ones without notifying them in advance. Try to avoid flying with them if possible. Charter flights from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar are usually quite prompt and reliable, so traveling with a charter airline is a better bet.

Mafia Island Day Trip, Tanzania

The best day trips from Dar es Salaam are worth taking the time to do if you have a few days in the city before or after going on safari or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

One of the best day trips is a visit to Mafia Island. Reachable by small plane, the island is a beautiful place to get away from the urban bustle and relax on the beach.

Another great day trip from Dar es Salaam is Bagamoyo. Just an hour north of the capital, the city is well known for its beaches and its rich history.

If you are truly after beautiful beaches in Tanzania, Zanzibar makes for one of the top day trips from Dar es Salaam. In just a short flight or a two hour ferry ride, you can find yourself in an island paradise that attracts visitors from around the world.

Bus in Tanzania

Buses from Mount Kilimanjaro to Dar es Salaam are a popular way of getting from the mountain to the capital of Tanzania.

A number of companies operate on this route, running buses from Moshi to Dar es Salaam. The quality and price of each one varies, so make sure to research before you travel.

Most bus companies that operate buses from Moshi near Kilimanjaro to Dar es Salaam have both early morning buses and afternoon buses.

Luxury buses on this route include Dar Express, Scandinavian Express, and Kilimanjaro Express.

Budget bus companies that operate on this route include Buffalo Bus, Ngorika Bus, and Happy Nations.

The journey on buses from Kilimanjaro to Dar es Salaam takes around 8 to 10 hours if there are no delays. Tickets cost 20,000 to 25,000 shillings, depending on what company you go with.