Getting around — Southern Tanzania

The region revolves around Dar es Salaam as central hub, with mandatory Cessna transfers to reach the other poles.

Dar es Salaam has two airports: Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), 10 km south-west of downtown, which hosts international flights (Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, KLM, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways), and the Mwalimu Nyerere aerodrome (terminal 1) for internal Cessna flights (Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, Regional Air, ZanAir). All transfers to Nyerere Park and Mafia depart from terminal 1.

From the international airport to Dar centre: taxi 20-30 USD negotiable (30-45 min depending on traffic), Uber 12-20 USD (recommended option), or hotel shuttle for high-end hotels. The daladala network (shared minibuses) covers the city for 0.50-1 USD per trip — local experience but often crowded.

Coastal Aviation flights depart daily from Dar to Nyerere bush airstrips (Mtemere: 45 min, Beho Beho: 50 min, Siwandu: 50 min). Fare: 250-350 USD/segment depending on destination. To Mafia Island: 30 min flight from Dar, 90-120 USD/segment. To Kilwa Masoko: 1hr flight from Dar, 150-200 USD/segment.

In Nyerere, all movements are organised by the lodge: airstrip-lodge transfers in 4x4 or boat, morning/evening game drives, boat safaris, accompanied walks. Lodges are far from each other (sometimes 20-40 km of track) — each lodge has its own activity zone. Count on 700-1,500 USD/night/person on full-board all-inclusive for the best (Sand Rivers Selous, Beho Beho, Roho ya Selous).

At Mafia, movements are by local taxi from Kilindoni to lodges (10-20 USD/trip) or lodge transfer (often included in packages). Most activities (diving, snorkelling, whale shark observation) are organised from the lodge.