You can take the Dar Express to any major city in Tanzania or southern Kenya. Tickets can be bought on the bus; but, that’s more sketchy than necessary. The company has offices where you can purchase up to two days advanced reservations. Once you have your confirmation slip, you’re left with the “simple” matter of finding your way to wherever the station is located.
In Dar, this means catching a daladala from in front of the New Posta. You’ll not want to be bone-headed, like some, and get underway 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Because the trip is— coincidentally— about 30 minutes.
Once you’re off the daladala, head straight into the gated corral. Ignore any touts. They’ll ask where you’re going or “help” you look for your bus… which will have, unfortunately, have “just left.”
I hate it when people lie and cheat.
Northeastern Tanzania is all lush and green rocky hills— rolling fog falling into the valleys. It’s forested in a way that recalls tropical Cuba. The flora begins thinning out only when approaching Kenya.
The trip, in whole, will take about eight hours. There’s a rest stop at an open-air restaurant cornering acres of peaceful vineyard. The food: not so great. The ambiance: incredible.
