Africa > 🇹🇿 Tanzania
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Tanzania can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Tanzania; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Tanzania?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Tanzania?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🏙️ Main Cities in Tanzania
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam | DAR | |
| Dodoma | DOD | |
| Kilimanjaro | JRO | |
| Mtwara | MYW | |
| Mwanza | MWZ | |
| Seronera | SEU | |
| Tabora | TBO | |
| Tanga | TGT | |
| Zanzibar | ZNZ |
Tanzania is a vast, diverse country — from the spice-scented alleys of Zanzibar to the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro and the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti. Whether you should rent a car in Tanzania depends largely on your travel goals, your confidence driving on rough or unpaved roads, and your budget.
✈️ When You Might Not Need a Car
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Safari Packages Usually Include Transport
Most travellers visit Tanzania for safaris, and tour companies typically provide 4×4 vehicles with experienced guides. These trips often include airport pickup and full transport arrangements. -
Zanzibar Has Great Local Transport Options
The island’s dala-dalas (minibuses), taxis, and organized tours make it easy to explore without driving. -
Domestic Flights Save Time
The distances between national parks and cities can be huge — flying from Arusha to the Serengeti or Zanzibar may be more efficient than long road trips.
🚙 When Renting a Car Makes Sense
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Flexibility in National Parks
If you’re comfortable with off-road driving, a 4×4 gives you total freedom to explore parks like Tarangire or Lake Manyara at your own pace. -
Adventurous Road Trips
Driving from Arusha to the Usambara Mountains or along the coast south of Dar es Salaam can be rewarding with the right vehicle and planning. -
Group Travel
If you’re travelling with friends or family, renting a car might work out more cost-effective and flexible.
🛣️ Road Conditions & Driving Tips
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Expect Varied Conditions
Highways are decent, but many safari routes are gravel or dirt tracks. After rain, they can become challenging — even impassable without a good 4×4. -
Navigation Challenges
Signage can be minimal outside major areas. GPS maps help, but local knowledge is invaluable. -
Driving Culture
Be prepared for everything: herds of cattle, unexpected potholes, slow-moving trucks, and wildlife crossing the road!
🚂 What About Trains in Tanzania?
Tanzania has two main railway lines:
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TAZARA Railway – links Dar es Salaam to Zambia through scenic rural landscapes.
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Central Line – runs from the coast inland to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika.
Both offer budget-friendly travel, but schedules can be unreliable, and services are basic and slow. It’s more of a cultural experience than a time-saving option.
✅ The Branch to Mwanza on Lake Victoria
The Central Line (Tanzania) of the Tanzania Railways Corporation has a branch from Tabora to Mwanza on Lake Victoria. Currently this stretch is still metre-gauge and relatively slow: one example timetable shows a 39-hour journey from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza. A new standard gauge line is planned to improve the speed and link up Dar es Salaam–Isaka–Mwanza eventually.
So yes — for a rail-travel enthusiast the route to Mwanza is interesting and could be used as part of a longer journey via Lake Victoria. But its speed, comfort and practicality remain limited at present.
🚂 The Line from Dar es Salaam to Arusha
There is also a service from Dar es Salaam to Arusha (near Mount Kilimanjaro) offered by TRC. The journey takes around 18 ½ hours and runs just twice a week. While this sounds ideal — linking Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro region and potentially onward to Zanzibar via ferry — there are some problems: reliability is questionable, comfort is modest, and timetable changes may occur.
Thus, it could form part of a “rail + ferry” adventure between Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. But you’ll need patience, flexibility and realistic expectations.
🧭 Conclusion
So — should you rent a car in Tanzania?
✅ Yes, if you’re an experienced driver planning a flexible, off-the-beaten-path adventure with your own schedule.
🚫 No, if your main focus is safari or island-hopping — guided tours and local transport will likely serve you better.
For most first-time visitors, it’s best to leave the driving to the pros and enjoy the views from the back of a safari jeep 🐘🛻!
