BlaakLane.com runs chauffeur service in Dar es Salaam for Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) transfers, business days between the city centre, Masaki and Oyster Bay, port and ship crew pickups, and connections to the Zanzibar ferry and the SGR railway. The fare is fixed and shown in full before you confirm, and the trip is driven by a vetted local affiliate named on your confirmation.
Booking a car in Dar es Salaam
Enter the pickup (a flight number, a hotel, an office or a berth at the port), the drop-off and the time, then select a vehicle. The engine returns one fixed price with the chauffeur, fuel and waiting time included. Dispatch is handled around the clock by our Toronto desk, which assigns a vetted Dar es Salaam affiliate contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard. Multi-vehicle programmes for conferences, embassies or project teams, and crew changes with changing ship times, are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR): which terminal
DAR is about 12 km southwest of the city centre. Terminal 3, opened in 2019, handles international flights and most larger scheduled services. The older Terminals 1 and 2, reached by a separate road around the airfield, handle many domestic, regional and charter flights, so check the terminal on your ticket, especially for a flight to Zanzibar or the safari parks. Pickup is at the designated area for pre-booked vehicles outside arrivals; the chauffeur messages the details when you land. Meet and greet in the arrivals hall with a name board is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations.
Every flight is tracked. You get 60 minutes of included waiting on international arrivals and 30 minutes on domestic ones, then 15-minute blocks. Airport information is published by the Tanzania Airports Authority.
Drive times across the city
| Route | Typical time |
|---|---|
| DAR airport to the city centre (Posta, Kivukoni) | 30-60 min |
| DAR airport to Masaki and Oyster Bay | 40-75 min |
| City centre to Masaki via the Tanzanite (Selander) Bridge | 15-30 min |
| City centre to the port area at Kurasini | 15-30 min |
| Masaki to Mbezi Beach | 30-50 min |
| City centre to Kigamboni via the Nyerere Bridge | 25-45 min |
| Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo | 1 h 30 min-2 h |
Dar es Salaam traffic is heavy and unpredictable. The Julius Nyerere Road from the airport, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road toward Msasani, and Morogoro Road are the usual choke points between about 06:30 and 10:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00.
City centre, Masaki, Oyster Bay and the Msasani Peninsula
Government ministries, banks and the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre sit in the city centre around Posta and Kivukoni, close to the harbour. North across the Tanzanite Bridge, the Msasani Peninsula holds Masaki and Oyster Bay, where many embassies, international organisations, expatriate homes and restaurants are based, along with hotels such as the Sea Cliff. Mikocheni and Mbezi Beach stretch further north along the Bagamoyo road. The Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam (The Kilimanjaro) and the Serena, both near the harbour, are frequent pickup points for business travellers. A day of meetings across these districts works well on the hourly chauffeur service, and repeat travellers can open corporate accounts.
The Port of Dar es Salaam and crew changes
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's main seaport and a gateway for cargo to Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo. Ships' crews signing on or off are collected at the port gate or agent's office the port allows, and taken to the airport, a hotel or a clinic. Vessel times move, so crew transfers are coordinated with the ship's agent. See shipping crew change. Occasional cruise calls use the same harbour. Port rules and notices are published by the Tanzania Ports Authority.
Ferry to Zanzibar and the Kigamboni crossing
Fast ferries to Zanzibar leave from the ferry terminal at Kivukoni on Sokoine Drive, beside the fish market, and take about two hours. The chauffeur drops you at the terminal entrance, where porters and ticket touts crowd the pavement; buy tickets only at the official counters and keep your passport handy for the check in Zanzibar. For the island side, see Zanzibar. Kigamboni, south across the harbour mouth, is reached by the Nyerere Bridge, which is tolled, or the pontoon ferry.
SGR trains to Morogoro and Dodoma
Tanzania's Standard Gauge Railway runs electric trains from Magufuli SGR station in Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and on to Dodoma, the official capital, in roughly three and a half to four hours. The chauffeur drops at or collects from the station forecourt and helps with luggage. The older TAZARA station on the Pugu road serves the long-distance line to Zambia. Timetables are on the Tanzania Railways Corporation site.
Driving realities in Dar es Salaam
Tanzania drives on the left. The dedicated BRT bus lanes on Morogoro Road, Kawawa Road and elsewhere are closed to cars, and police enforce them. Bajaji (tuk-tuks), boda-boda motorcycle taxis and street vendors fill every junction. During heavy rains, usually March to May, some low-lying roads flood. The fare is fixed at booking whatever the traffic does.
Which vehicle?
A Standard Sedan suits one or two passengers in the city. An executive SUV is the common choice for embassy and NGO staff and for roads outside the centre. Standard Black SUVs and Sprinter Vans move project teams and delegations, and minicoaches handle conference groups at the convention centre. Armoured SUVs are available through secure transportation on request after a risk assessment. See the fleet and rates.
Events and seasons
- Late June to 7 July: the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, known as Sabasaba, at the fairgrounds on Kilwa Road, which snarls traffic in the south of the city.
- 7 July: Saba Saba public holiday.
- 9 December: Independence Day.
- March to May: the long rains; November and December: the short rains.
- Year-round: football at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and conferences at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
Intercity routes and day trips
Bagamoyo, the old trading town on the coast to the north, is a popular day out. Morogoro is about 190 km west, typically four to five hours by road, though the SGR is faster. For intercity transfers, the booking engine shows the fixed fare in advance. Many travellers continue to Zanzibar, Arusha or Mombasa by air.
Entry rules for Tanzania in 2026
Most visitors need a Tanzanian visa, which is best obtained in advance through the official eVisa portal. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from or via a country with yellow fever risk. Tanzania published regulations in September 2026 for compulsory travel insurance for foreign visitors to the mainland, similar to the scheme already in force in Zanzibar, so check the latest position before you fly.
