Traveling by bus in Kenya: From Mombasa to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with the Modern Coast Bus. 12 hour bus journey in Africa from Kenya to Tanzania.
Are you in Mombasa and want to go to Dar es Salaam and then on to Zanzibar? Of course you can fly to Tanzania and it’s much faster. But it is much more exciting when you take the bus from Mombasa in Kenya to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Although the journey takes around 12 hours, it is a lot cheaper than flying from Kenya’s port city of Mombasa to Tanzania. Provided, of course, that you don’t mind if you travel by bus in Africa for so long.
You can book the bus ticket online, in travel agencies or directly at the hotel in Mombasa. I got my bus ticket at the Reef Hotel Mombasa on Nyali Beach. Including seat selection. It is also advisable to book a taxi to take you to the bus in the morning. For just a few extra euros you can also book a seat in first class or a VIP seat. Yes, you’ve read that correctly. The Modern Coast Bus from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam has regular, 1st class and VIP seats.
As you can see in the video at the end of the article, I sat right behind the bus driver. The two seats were extra wide and there was significantly more room for the legs than in the rows further back. This comfort with additional legroom should also be worth a few euros for you, after all, the journey from Kenya to Tanzania takes more than 10 hours.
It started early in the morning in Mombasa and in the late afternoon the Modern Coast Bus arrived in Dar es Salaam. At the border crossing from Kenya to Tanzania, all passengers had to go through border control with their luggage. This process alone took about an hour. The passports of all passengers have been checked thoroughly, which then takes a certain amount of time.
Modern Coast Bus Departs Mombasa in the morning
Bus trip from Mombasa to Dar with Modern Coast Bus
The bus was of course not the very latest model. But I had already felt safe during the journey. Although the road traffic in Africa takes a little getting used to and is of course not comparable to the conditions in Germany. But that should be clear to everyone who travels by bus and train in Africa. Except perhaps for the modern train that connects Nairobi and Mombasa, the country’s two largest cities.
Travel in VIP class on the Modern Coast Bus
One of the most frequently used controls on the bus was probably the horn, which the bus driver used what felt like a thousand times during the entire journey. But fortunately there were no dangerous situations or collisions. And I can say that with a fair degree of certainty. Finally, I sat in the VIP class, in row 2 directly behind the bus driver. And I hadn’t slept during the journey either. The view and the trip on the Modern Coast Bus from Kenya to Tanzania in general were far too exciting.
Ultimately, the bus driver brought us safely to Dar es Salaam. The long bus ride through two countries also had a lot to offer in terms of scenery. From big cities, small villages, a river crossing and untouched nature, everything was there.
Roadside and houses in Kenya
Kenya jerry cans and roadside shacks
I filmed a good part of the ride with my Sony Actioncam.
I am currently planning my next holiday in Kenya and will definitely be on the road again with a Modern Coast Bus. Among other things, a bus trip from Nairobi to Kisumu is planned, including a few days on the offshore islands in Lake Victoria and a few days directly in Kisumu and then on to Eldoret. In addition, of course, I would also like to spend a little time on the coast, including Diani Beach, Watamu Beach, Malindi and maybe even Lamu Island.
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