Blog
Holiday, Vacation & Tour
How To Travel By
Bus From Arusha To Dar Es Salaam
The quickest and easiest way to travel from
Arusha to Dar es Salaam is by air, though it is
expensive and your time in Tanzania should not be ruled
by time. Traveling by bus you are experiencing Tanzania,
both its people and its landscape. The local transport
is a cheaper alternative to flying but the cheapest of
all is to travel by bus. This is never advised nor
recommended by tour operators. It is said that local
transport is too dangerous. This is true if you hop onto
an...
bus, travel, tanzania, dar es salaam,
arusha, scandinavia, dar express,
The quickest
and easiest way to travel from Arusha to Dar es Salaam
is by air, though it is expensive and your time in
Tanzania should not be ruled by time. Traveling by bus
you are experiencing Tanzania, both its people and its
landscape. The local transport is a cheaper alternative
to flying but the cheapest of all is to travel by bus.
This is never advised nor recommended by tour operators.
It is said that local transport is too dangerous. This
is true if you hop onto any old bus. However, your
traveling need not be dangerous nor frightening, as
there are some good and safe bus companies operating in
Tanzania.
The most well known bus company is the
Scandinavia Express. They operate probably the best,
safest and most comfortable transport between the two
cities. It is, of course, the most expensive private bus
option – at about US$25 per person - and to book in
advance is essential – your safari tour operator can do
this for you. In Arusha, the ticket office and starting
point for Scandinavia is at Kilembero Market, which is
close to the Shoprite supermarket. Scandinavia has
recently been in huge debt and has had some of their
buses seized by the police which made the headlines in
the East African newspapers. It has also made booking in
advance essential, as the fleet has been depleted.
The ‘Dar Express’ bus service comes a close second
to Scandinavia or maybe an equal first place. They have
different classes of bus either budget or luxury; only
the luxury is recommended. The booking Office – is
situated close to the Kimahama Bookshop [about 500m up
hill from the Arusha Stadium]. It is essential to state
that you want the first class bus, which should cost
about US$20 per person. Dar Express is, without any
doubt, my favorite company and I recommend this company
above all others. However, some of the coaches do not
have a toilet, although this may prove a blessing, as
traveling in the African heat, especially if you are
sitting toward the rear of the bus, isn’t so much of a
luxury after most passengers have taken advantage of
such a service. Remember that the journey is a long one
– about ten hours.
If you opt for the cheaper end
of the market, most buses leave Arusha from the Bus
Station close to the ‘Stadium’. Buffalo seem to be a
favorite for tourists looking for a cheaper way to get
to Dar es Salaam, as the traveling time is less on this
service. Speed is not a good thing as most of the road
you will travel is single carriageway. It is a winding,
hilly road, and therefore slowly, slowly is the safe way
to ensure a safe arrival in Dar es Salaam from Arusha.
If I were to recommend the cheaper coaches, I would
say either Fresh Coach or Amazon Coach. I have used both
and they travel at a less manic speed between the two
cities. The ticket price must be negotiated and do not
pay more than US$15 per person. The last of each of
these coaches leaves Arusha Bus Station at 8 am sharp.
Tickets are usually sold by freelance workers in
and around the bus terminal and as the commission is
good – the more they charge the more pay they take home
– competition is fierce. If you are a tourist, you will
be targeted and you will be surrounded by enthusiastic
ticket touts. This experience is not for the faint
hearted. Hang onto your luggage, keep money, mobile
phones and cameras safely tucked away [as you would as a
tourist anywhere in the world] for pickpockets are rife.
Why the rush? Usually this is because as a safari
finishes in the North of Tanzania the relaxation on the
islands of Zanzibar is the next stage of the safari. The
cheapest way to get there is by bus to Dar es Salaam and
then the high speed ferry to the Spice Islands. A bus
leaving Arusha may arrive in Dar between 2 pm and 4 pm.
The dilemma is to get from the bus station to the ferry
port for the last ferry to Zanzibar; which leaves the
port at about 4.30pm.
If you want to leave
Arusha and travel by bus to make the ferry crossing to
Zanzibar in a single day, I would suggest you’re leaving
Arusha about 6am to ensure you are in Dar es Salaam by
2pm. This gives you a good couple of hours to get from
the Bus Station into town and to the ferry to buy your
ticket.
The alternative is a stop over in Dar es
Salaam. Dar is a great African city so why not spend the
night and enjoy an experience that most people miss?
There are some great beach hotels on the north coast.
The south coast is more remote, wild and much less
developed, this area has some fantastic hotels that
cater for the budget market.
The Return Of
Traveling By Bus
For a great many years, bus travel was a very
popular way to reach your destination and see the sites
whilst on Holiday, Vacation & Tour. The numbers of bus travelers have
declined because many of us preferred faster modes of
transport such as air travel or our own car. It is worth
a thought however, bus travel for a start is far cheaper
than purchasing an airline ticket, you get to see a
great deal more of the countryside and there are still
hundreds of bus routes across every country which...
bus,travelling,tours,transportation
For a
great many years, bus travel was a very popular way to
reach your destination and see the sites whilst on
Holiday, Vacation & Tour. The numbers of bus travelers have declined
because many of us preferred faster modes of transport
such as air travel or our own car. It is worth a thought
however, bus travel for a start is far cheaper than
purchasing an airline ticket, you get to see a great
deal more of the countryside and there are still
hundreds of bus routes across every country which will
take you to where ever you want to go. It takes the
stress out of road travel - no maps, no directions to
worry about just sit back and watch the world going by.
If you are interested in bus travel, you can find a
variety of routes depending on where you are going, and
when you want to go. Some routes will have a lot of
stops along the way, but they may not offer you a lot of
time to explore the area. There are tour groups that use
bus travel to host specialty tours. These tours may go
through a certain part of the country to view the
countryside, or may go to a specific destination like
the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls.
If you would
like to take a group of people or even have a family day
out say to a city which is relatively close the bus is a
stress free, fast and simple option. Bus companies will
arrange group bookings without any problem and some may
even offer special prices depending on the size of the
group and the destination - it is worth shopping around!
Bands, and other entertainment types, also often use
bus travel. They find this the cheapest and easiest way
to get from city to city. These aren’t your average
buses, however, and they offer many of the comforts of
home. Many come with complete bathrooms, great sleeping
spaces, living areas, and loads of electronic
diversions. If you can afford this type of bus travel,
know you will be traveling in style.
For a great
many years bus and train were the main modes of
transport used to travel across the country for
Holiday, Vacation & Tours. In recent years the industry is starting to
see more people returning especially after 9/11 and the
constant risk of terrorist attacks on aircraft. People
with financial restraints, especially students are also
discovering that using the bus is a far cheaper way of
traveling to and from university.
Bus Chartering
Tips, Top Ten Things To Know
There are many instances when chartering a
bus is a good idea. Whether you are organizing a tour,
or putting together an event, bus charters can serve a
purpose, as they will insure that everyone is in one
central location. There are, however, things you should
know before taking on this responsibility. Below are ten
tips that can help you when choosing a company and
organizing the details.
Check the government
safety rating and insurance of the companies you are
consideri...
bus charters
There are many
instances when chartering a bus is a good idea. Whether
you are organizing a tour, or putting together an event,
bus charters can serve a purpose, as they will insure
that everyone is in one central location. There are,
however, things you should know before taking on this
responsibility. Below are ten tips that can help you
when choosing a company and organizing the details.
Check the government safety rating and insurance of
the companies you are considering. This is a good idea
as it will tell you how reliable they are, and why other
people do or don't use them. You can do this on the
Internet by conducting a search for charter companies
and government safety ratings. There are web sites that
can provide you with this information. This is, perhaps,
the most important tip and the first thing you should do
before deciding on a company.
Check the
availability of each company you are considering.
Remember, it varies depending on season, day of week,
and area. It also may require you to book 21 to 90 days
in advance.
Check the distance each company will
"deadhead", that is travel empty before picking up
passengers. Typically, companies will do this for a time
of up to one hour multi-day trips, and sometimes less
for those only lasting one day.
Check around for
good prices on booking a bus. On average, the deposit is
10 percent for trips over the road. Also, check for
competitive prices, as they will vary depending on the
type and length of trip.
Know the average pricing
for mileage of a chartered bus, as this will help you
decide on a company. This can vary with the increased
gas prices, but should not deviate much from one company
to another. Take this into account when choosing a
company.
When planning a trip, understand the
driving rules where time is concerned. Operators cannot
drive more than ten hours following eight consecutive
hours off-duty. You should plan your trip around this.
Understand that prices do not typically rise as the
travel date draws nearer in times of low availability.
Keep this in mind when choosing a company, and stay away
from those that might increase their prices during such
a time.
Be aware that a company may subcontract
your bus trip out to another company if should the one
you booked become over-sold. While this isn’t likely to
happen, know that it can.
Understand how charters
are typically priced. When used locally, charters are
usually priced by the hour. For trips, they are priced
by the mile averaging more than 300 miles per day.
Also, keep in mind that many companies will allow
alcohol on-board with a refundable deposit. Check with
each company you consider for the rules and regulations
surrounding this.