Getting to Mwanza in Tanzania
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Getting to Mwanza in Tanzania
By plane
Mwanza International Airport. Flights from Dar es Salaam, Bukoba, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Nairobi. On international arrival, you can easily obtain a visa for (US$50).
- #1. Air Tanzania: Dar es Salaam and Bukoba
- #2. Precision Air: Bukoba, Kilimanjaro,Dar es Salaam.
- #3. Auric Air: Bukoba and Kigoma.
- #4. Coastal Aviation: Dar es SalaamArusha.
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By bus
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About 10km south of town, Nyegezi Bus Station handles buses to all points east, south and west including to Dar es Salaam (Tsh45,000, 15 to 17 hours), Arusha (Tsh35,000, 12 to 13 hours) and Moshi (Tsh45,000, 14 to 15 hours). The Arusha and Moshi buses go via Singida (Tsh25,000, six hours). There are no buses between Mwanza and Arusha via the Serengeti – you will need to catch these in Musoma. Buses also go to Babati (Tsh35,000, nine to 10 hours), Dodoma (Tsh30,000, 10 hours) and Iringa (Tsh60,000, 14 hours).
Buses to Bukoba (Tsh20,000, six to seven hours) via Chato (Tsh10,000) depart between 6am and 1pm and mostly use the Busisi Ferry, but if they’re redirected to the Kamanga Ferry in central Mwanza, you can meet them there.
Adventure is probably the best of several companies departing daily at 5.30am to Kigoma (Tsh40,000, 12 hours) via Tabora (Tsh15,000, six hours). You can also find buses to Kigoma taking the route via Kasulu. Both take about the same amount of time, but at the time of research, there was more tarmac going via Tabora than via Kasulu.
Buses for Musoma (Tsh10,000, three to four hours, last bus 4pm) and other destinations en route to the Kenyan border depart from Buzuruga Bus Station, 4km east of the centre.
There’s no need to travel to the bus stations to buy tickets since numerous ticket agencies are stationed near the old City-Centre Bus Terminal in a converted multistorey parking garage, where the various companies have agents in numbered shops spread over two floors. Before arriving, ask staff at your hotel to recommend the current best company for your route and to verify current prices. It’s also recommended to go with a Tanzanian to purchase your ticket, to avoid the inevitable haggling.
By train
Mwanza is the terminus of a branch of the Central Line and trains run to Tabora (1st-class sleeping/2nd-class sleeping/economy Tsh29,600/22,700/11,800, 12 hours) on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm. From Tabora, you can connect to Kigoma (Tsh31,700/24,200/12,500 from Tabora) or continue on to Dar es Salaam (Tsh76,100/54,800/25,000 from Mwanza). If travelling to Kigoma, you’ll need to disembark in Tabora (arrivals are in the morning) and spend the day there before boarding the train to Kigoma in the evening. For Dar es Salaam, just stay on the same train.
The small Mwanza railway station. is centrally located.
By boat
To arrive from Uganda you can take a bus form Kampala to Bukoba (in Tanzania) and from Bukoba you can either take the ferry Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings or the bus (several every day around 6-7 AM).
The ferry MS Victoria depart Mwanza going to Bukoba every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evening. A bed in 2nd class 6-bed sleeper cost TSh 23,500.
There is a ferry across the Mwanza gulf that leaves from the city (the Kamanga ferry) and another about 32 km south of the city. The southern one is recommended for driving because the roads on the western terminal are rumored to be much better.
Crossing Mwanza Gulf
Until completion of the planned Busisi-Kigongo bridge (years in the future), travelling west from Mwanza along the southern part of Lake Victoria entails crossing the Mwanza Gulf by ferry. There are two ferries, each with advantages.
The Kamanga Ferry docks right in town, near the post office. It departs Mwanza hourly between 6am and 6.30pm, except Sunday when departures are every two hours from 8am to 6pm. If you’re travelling to Bukoba or anywhere along that highway, ask which ferry the bus will use; you may be able to save a trip to the bus station by boarding the bus here.
The government-run Busisi Ferry, also known as the Kigongo ferry (passenger/car Tsh400/6500), 30km south of Mwanza, has the advantage of the road west being paved. It also sails more often (every 30 minutes, 24 hours), but there are often delays, especially at peak commuting times. Many trucks also use this boat.
More about Tanzania Travel Guide:
Planning your trip? Whether you’re looking for things to do in Tanzania such as events and attractions, key traveller information to make your Tanzania visit run smoothly or are planning where to stay in Mwanza, you’ll find everything you need for your Tanzania holiday on Our Website. Tanzania Travel guide has the information about latest events not to miss while you visit Tanzania – there’s always something going on, so don’t miss out on the latest exhibitions, shows and more on your trip Tanzania
Discover the best day trips from Dar-es-salaam or other Tanzania’s Cities. If you’re here as a family, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Tanzania with kids and find suitable accommodation such as Tanzania holiday apartments. Whether you’re looking for the best weekend breaks in Tanzania or planning a longer holiday in, you can be sure you’ll find all the information you need.
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