How to Travel to Bukoba from Within East Africa

By: Ian Williamson
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:42:34
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Bukoba is fast becoming an area of Tanzania to visit; however it is easier to access from Uganda and Kenya than it is from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Below are a few options for travel to this area from within East Africa.

If you travel from Uganda and land at Entebbe airport (EBB) then travel the short distance to Kampala, where you can get a bus to Bukoba; this journey takes about 5-6 hours. Dolphin Bus Company has a bus to Bukoba every day and the ticket should cost less than US$10 per person.

You can also travel trough Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar or Nairobi. Fly to Mwanza with Precision Air or Costal Aviation – the flights leave at noon and it is about a three hour flight and then get a connecting flight to Bukoba. From Dar es Salaam there are four flights everyday to and from Mwanza. Bukoba airport is on Aerodrome Road near the lake. However, be warned that the cost will be well in excess of US$200 per person from Dar to Bukoba.

Precision air agent office in Bukoba:
Ms. Rose Kajilita,
Tel: +255 28 2220545
E-mail: bkmachinery@twiga.com

Precision air office in Dar es Salaam:
Tel: +255 22 2130800
Fax: +255 22 2113036
E-mail: information@precisionairtz.com Website: www.precisionairtz.com

There are two boats between Mwanza and Bukoba. The night ferry and the fastboat. The Night Ferry leaves Bukoba on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.30 pm (after the horn sounds twice) and arrives in Mwanza the next morning around 8 am.

From Mwanza on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at about 9 pm and arrives in Bukoba the next morning around 8 am, the boat stops first at Kemondo Bay, so make sure you don't get off too early. Book tickets in advance (at the Bukoba tourist centre, Kiroyera Tours or at the harbor) it is essential to book in advance as tickets quickly become sold-out. I must say that I do not recommend the Nigh Ferry for tourists as the boat can become overcrowded and there have been several tragic accidents in recent years.

Ferry between Bukoba and MwanzaBukoba - Mwanza
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Departure time 21.30 hours
Boarding from 20.00 hours
Arrival time 6.30 hours
The harbor is about 3km out of Bukoba town on custom road. The ferry makes a stop in Kemondo Bay an hour after departure from Bukoba Port

Mwanza - Bukoba
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
Departure time 22.00 hours
Boarding from 20.00 hours
Arrival time 6.00 hours
Mwanza Harbor is in the north of Mwanza.
The ferry makes a stop in Kemondo before arrives in Bukoba Port.

Prices for First Class [cabin]are about US$25, Second Class [seat] US$19 and Third US$17

The fast boat between Mwanza and Bukoba leaves daily.
Bukoba - Mwanza, departure 10:00, arrival Mwanza 14:00
Mwanza - Bukoba, departure 14:00, arrival Bukoba 18:00
The price is about US$35 per person.

Trains for this route again are not recommended. The Train from Dar goes only as far as Mwanza. The journey by rail takes two days and is notoriously unreliable. Not recommended.

Book busses at the tourist center Bukoba, Kiroyera Tours (+255 28-2220203) or at the bus stand.

The bus stand is in the centre of Bukoba town. Jaguar/ Gateway / Dolphin Bus Services (+255 744786364) runs from Bukoba to Kampala everyday at 7.00 am (US$10). A bus from Kampala to Bukoba runs everyday at 11.00 am.

Tawfiq Executive Falcon (+255 28-2221683) runs every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to Nairobi (US$28) and Dar es Salaam (US$45).

Tashrif (+255 282220427) have a bus that does the central line to Dar on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Bukoba via Kahama , Nzega, Singida, Dodoma, Morogoro, to Dar es Salaam (TsUS$35).

Scandinavia runs from Kampala to Arusha and Dar es Salaam, via Nairobi. You can board it from Kampala through Jaquar Bus Services. All Scandinavia booking can be done through Kiroyera Tours.

Article source: Expert Articles