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.