Located in the biggest city in Tanzania, Dar International Airport is a major transportation hub in the country serving millions of passengers annually. The airport is also known as the Julius Nyerere International Airport honoring the first president of Tanzania.
The approximate number of passengers commuting through this terminal in a year for either holiday or business purposes accounts to over two million. The hub airport is very popular among Chinese businessman. Dar International provides direct connectivity with a range of top attractions in Tanzania including Zanzibar Island, Mount Kilimanjaro and some of the world famous national parks.
Getting around Dar es Salaam
The mode of travel to get around in Dar es Salaam as well as other parts of the country will mainly depend on your time frame and budget limits. The area has a fairly developed public transportation network comprising trains and buses. However, for those who wish to head off the beaten track into remote parts of the region depending on public transportation is not a recommended option.
A hire car is then the safest, most convenient and comfortable way of getting around irrespective of the time frame of your visit. A 4WD is the best vehicle to hire if you plan on visiting rural areas or taking safari tours.
Important ground transportation facts
- There are many reputable car rental companies operating their booths at the airport. Though you can find rental agencies in the city many travelers prefer to arrange their hire cars from the airport itself. This way they are assured of receiving value added services including unlimited mileage, tax waivers, etc., which may not be the case otherwise.
- Road conditions in most parts of Tanzania are not in top condition. If you are driving look out for potholes that may appear in many roads.
- The city center traffic is worse during weekdays and particularly during peak hours. If you don’t like driving on congested roads or if you are not comfortable with the road conditions the best option is to rent a vehicle with a driver who is more familiar with the local terrain.
- A passenger rail line connects the city with some of the important cities in Tanzania including Kigoma, Mwanza and Mbeya.
- Public transportation is also covered by an express bus service operated only between major cities. There are ‘dalla-dalla’ mini buses which are more crowded and slow for passengers commuting between smaller towns.
- Taxi rides are typically taken only for short distances in the city as most do not carry meters and tend to charge steeper rates. Three wheelers known popularly as tuk-tuks offer a much cheaper mode of transportation, though it is not necessarily the safest or most comfortable way of traveling.
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