Getting around

Curated flights, trains, ferries and road transfers across six countries — with frequencies, fares and booking pointers. Static guidance, not a live timetable.

Flights
Dar es Salaam (DAR) → Kilimanjaro (JRO)
Air Tanzania
The national carrier's direct hop to the mountain gateway.
Daily · 1.5 hours $80-150
Flights
Arusha (ARK) → Serengeti (Kogatende airstrip)
Auric Air
Direct to the Mara river crossings at the north edge of the park.
3x weekly (daily in peak season) · About 2 hours $260-380
Ferries
Dar es Salaam → Stone Town, Zanzibar
Azam Marine
The fast, comfortable workhorse crossing to Zanzibar.
Daily (3-5 departures) · 1.5-2 hours $35-60
Flights
Gaborone (GBE) or Johannesburg (JNB) → Maun Airport (MUB)
Air Botswana, Airlink (via Johannesburg connections)
The daily air bridge into safari country — direct from Joburg or via the capital.
Daily (multiple in high season) · 1 h 20 min–1 h 55 min ≈ US$150–350 one-way
Road transfers
Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) / Livingstone (Zambia) → Kasane (Chobe Riverfront)
Shuttle services, private transfer, self-drive
The 1.5-hour Vic Falls-to-Chobe shuttle — the region’s easiest cross-border add-on.
Daily shuttles, morning and midday · ≈ 1.5 h (excl. border queue) ≈ US$25–40 per person each way
Flights
Dar es Salaam (DAR) → Arusha (ARK)
Coastal Aviation
Land in the middle of town, minutes from your safari briefing.
Daily (1-2 departures) · 1.25 hours $80-140
Flights
Dar es Salaam (DAR) → Zanzibar (ZNZ)
Flight Link
Twenty minutes over the channel - the storm-proof Zanzibar run.
Multiple daily · 20-25 minutes $40-80
Flights
Arusha (ARK) → Serengeti (Seronera airstrip)
Coastal Aviation
Trade a day of corrugated road for an hour of air safari.
Daily (2 departures) · 1.5-2 hours with stops $250-350
Flights
Maun Airport (MUB) → Okavango Delta camp airstrips
Mack Air, Wilderness Air, Major Blue (charter pools)
The light-aircraft hop into delta camps — how every fly-in safari actually starts.
Daily; morning and afternoon shuttles · 20–45 min ≈ US$150–350 one-way (usually in camp package)
Road transfers
Maun → Central Kalahari GR (Matswere gate / Deception Valley)
Self-drive (4×4), guided Kalahari transfers
Four to five hours of increasingly empty road into the great sand sea.
Daily by arrangement; gates open daylight only · 4–5 h to the gate + 2–3 h inside ≈ fuel + park fees; guided mobile safaris from ≈ US$250/day
Road transfers
Nairobi → Maasai Mara (Sekenani, Talek or Oloolaimutia gates)
Tour vans/4×4 operators, matatus to Narok, private transfers
The classic 5–6 h safari-van run across the Rift Valley — cheapest way to the Mara.
Daily; departures typically 06:00–08:00 · 5–6 h each way ≈ US$25 (matatu + transfer) · US$60–120 (shared van) · US$250+ (private 4×4)
Trains
Nairobi Terminus (Syokimau) → Mombasa Terminus (Miritini)
Kenya Railways — Madaraka Express (SGR)
The modern standard-gauge line across Tsavo country — Kenya’s best-value long-distance ride.
Daily (morning + afternoon; overnight service some days) · 5–6 h ≈ US$9 (2nd class) · US$29 (1st class)
Flights
Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL) → Maasai Mara airstrips (Keekorok, Ol Kiombo, Musiara, Kichwa Tembo)
AirKenya, Safarilink, Fly540
The 45-minute hop every Mara fly-in is built around; book the airstrip closest to your camp.
Multiple daily departures, roughly 06:30–15:00 · 45 min–1 h 15 min ≈ US$180–330 return
Ferries
Dar es Salaam → Stone Town, Zanzibar
Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries
The budget-friendly alternative on the Zanzibar run.
Daily (2-3 departures) · About 2 hours $30-50
Ferries
Kigoma → Kasanga (Zambia border)
MV Liemba
The world's oldest passenger steamer still sailing weekly.
Roughly fortnightly · 2-3 days for the full run $25-80
Ferries
Mwanza → Ukerewe Island (Nansio)
MV Serengeti (Temsa Marine)
Africa's largest lake, crossed the local way.
Most days (1 departure) · 3-4 hours $3-10
Flights
Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL) → Ukunda airstrip (Diani Beach)
AirKenya, Safarilink, Fly540
Ski straight into Diani Beach and skip the Mombasa ferry or a long road leg.
Several daily, morning and afternoon · ≈ 40 min ≈ US$80–140 one-way
Flights
Windhoek Eros Airport (ERS) → Sossusvlei/Sesriem airstrips
Desert Air, Westair aviation (scenic charters)
The 60–75 minute scenic hop over the dune sea — Namibia’s landscape flights are the destination.
Daily on demand; scenic flights morning (best light) · 1 h–1 h 15 min ≈ US$250–450 one-way · scenic circles ≈ US$200–400 pp
Road transfers
Windhoek (Hosea Kutako airport or city) → Etosha National Park gates (Andersson/Von Lindequist/Galton)
Self-drive (the Namibian way), shuttle/Ekundjo bus to Outjo/Tsumeb
The classic first leg of every Namibian road trip — 4.5–5 hours of good tarmac north.
Self-drive any time; buses/shuttles most days · 4.5–5.5 h Fuel ≈ US$45–60 one-way · bus ≈ US$15–25
Road transfers
Windhoek / Swakopmund → Sossusvlei (Sesriem gate)
Self-drive, shuttle transfers to Sesriem lodges
Five hours of escarpment and gravel to the dunes — the country’s signature drive.
Self-drive any time; shuttles daily on demand · 5–6 h (Windhoek) · 4.5–5 h (Swakopmund) Fuel ≈ US$50–70 · shuttles ≈ US$60–120 pp
Road transfers
Kigali → Akagera NP (south gate: Kayonza; north gate: Nyungwe/Kabara)
Private transfers, tour 4×4s, Akagera-arranged game drives
Two to three hours from the capital to Rwanda’s Big Five park — the easiest savanna day-trip in the region.
Daily; gate opens 06:00 · 2.5–3 h ≈ US$60–120 (private transfer) · park drives from ≈ US$40
Road transfers
Windhoek → Swakopmund (via B2 / Usakos)
Self-drive, Intercape/Ekundjo coach, shuttle vans
Four and a half hours of tar through the desert’s crust — the easiest inter-city drive.
Self-drive anytime; coaches daily · 4.5 h Fuel ≈ US$40–50 · coach ≈ US$20–30
Road transfers
Kigali → Volcanoes NP (Musanze & Kinigi trailheads)
Private transfer/tour 4×4s, public buses (Volcano Express etc.) to Musanze
The famous 2.5-hour gorilla-trek transfer on smooth mountain tarmac.
Transfers daily; buses run throughout the day · 2.5–3 h ≈ RWF 2,500–3,500 (bus) · US$80–150 (private)
Road transfers
Kigali → Nyungwe Forest NP (Uwinka, Gisakura)
Private transfers, public buses via Huye (Butare)
Five to six hours along the Congo Nile Divide — Rwanda’s most beautiful drive.
Transfers daily; buses morning and afternoon · 5–6 h ≈ RWF 5,000–8,000 (bus) · US$150–250 (private)
Flights
Dar es Salaam (DAR) → Kilimanjaro (JRO)
Precision Air
The largest domestic carrier, with the most daily options.
Daily (2-3 departures) · 1.5 hours $90-170
Trains
Dar es Salaam → Nakonde (Zambia border) via Mbeya
TAZARA
The legendary railway through the Southern Highlands to Zambia.
2x weekly · About 46 hours to the border $20-60
Trains
Dar es Salaam → Dodoma
TRC (standard gauge)
Tanzania's sleek new electric train to the capital.
Daily · 3.5-4 hours $10-30
Trains
Dar es Salaam → Mwanza via Isaka
TRC (central line)
The classic overnight ride across the heart of Tanzania.
2x weekly · 12-14 hours $15-45
Flights
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) → Kasese airstrip (Queen Elizabeth NP & Rwenzori)
Aerolink Uganda
Skip the 6 h drive to Uganda’s mid-country safari hub.
Daily (typically morning out, midday/afternoon return) · ≈ 1 h 10 min ≈ US$200–260 one-way
Road transfers
Kampala / Entebbe → Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo)
Tour operators (4×4 with driver-guide), first-class bus to Kabale/Kisoro
The 9–10 h overland pilgrimage — broken sensibly at the Equator, Mbarara or Lake Mburo.
Daily; depart Kampala by 07:00 · 9–10 h driving time ≈ US$15 (bus) · US$250+ (private 4×4/day)
Flights
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) → Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips (Bwindi gateways)
Aerolink Uganda, Eagle Air
The fly-in option for gorilla trekkers — lands you 1–2 h from Buhoma or the southern sectors.
Daily mornings (some routes alternate days) · 1 h–1 h 40 min ≈ US$250–320 one-way
Flights
Entebbe International Airport (EBB) → Pakuba or Bugungu airstrips (Murchison Falls NP)
Aerolink Uganda, Eagle Air
Forty minutes to the north-bank game country instead of a 5–6 h drive.
Daily mornings (alternates with Kasese some days) · ≈ 1 h ≈ US$200–250 one-way

Showing all 32 routes (14 flights · 4 trains · 4 ferries · 10 road transfers)

Frequencies and fares are indicative, curated offline. Always confirm before you travel.