How to book SGR, ferry and bus tickets online in Tanzania

What to have ready before you start

Your full name exactly as it appears on your ID. Train and ferry tickets are checked against your ID, so type it in full, without shortening it.

SGR train: your ID type and number (for example NIDA or a passport), date of birth, nationality, phone number and email. You will also need an account on TRC's ticketing website.

Azam Marine ferries: your ID type and number, nationality, phone number and email.

Buses: your full name, gender, phone number and email. No ID is asked for when you book.

Events: a name and an email address for each person attending.

The SGR train (Tanzania Railways Corporation)

1. Open TRC's official SGR ticketing website and sign in to your account.
2. Choose one way or round trip, the departure and arrival stations, the date and the number of passengers, then search.
3. Trains are listed with their departure times and classes: Economy, Business and Royal. Pick a class and a seat.
4. Enter each passenger's details exactly as they appear on their ID.
5. Pay. The site gives you a government payment number (a GePG control number) that you can pay by mobile money or bank, and it also offers to send a mobile money payment prompt straight to your phone.
6. The ticket arrives by email or SMS and stays in your account. On the day, carry the same ID you entered.

Ferries to Zanzibar, Pemba and Tanga (Azam Marine)

1. Start on Azam Marine's official website, which links through to its booking pages.
2. Choose resident fares (in shillings) or non-resident fares (in dollars) according to where you actually live, not according to your phone number.
3. Pick the route (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Pemba or Tanga), the date, the number of passengers and the class: Economy, Business, VIP or Royal.
4. Pick the sailing and its departure time, then fill in each passenger's details.
5. Pay through the methods their payment partner shows, and read the full total before you confirm.
6. The e-ticket comes after payment. Get to the port early with your ID or passport, because it is shown when you board.

Long-distance buses

Sites such as Otapp list many bus companies in one place, so you can compare departure times, classes and fares before you choose.

1. Type your departure and destination towns and pick the right name from the list that appears. Typing alone is not enough; you have to select it.
2. Pick the travel date and search. Buses are listed with the operator, departure time, class, fare and seats left.
3. Open the bus you want to see its seat map, then choose your seat and your boarding and drop-off points.
4. Enter your name, gender, phone number and email, then pay. The seat is held for only a few minutes, so be ready to pay.
5. Download the ticket as a PDF or keep a screenshot of it on your phone.

Concert and event tickets

Sites such as Tikeza sell tickets for concerts, sports and other events. You open the event, tap to buy tickets and choose a ticket type for each person attending. For a group, add the other attendees to the same order.

Tickets are held for only five minutes while you pay. After payment, a ticket with a QR code arrives by email and can be downloaded as a PDF.

Common questions

Can I pay for an SGR ticket with M-Pesa?

Yes. A GePG control number can be paid from every mobile network and bank, and TRC's site also offers a mobile money prompt sent straight to your phone.

Do I need ID to board the ferry to Zanzibar?

Yes. Azam Marine asks for your ID type and number when you book, and your ID or passport is shown when you board.

Why is the ferry fare different for visitors?

Azam Marine has resident fares in shillings and non-resident fares in dollars. Choose according to where you actually live.

How do I show my bus ticket?

After paying you get an e-ticket (PDF). Save it on your phone before you get to the bus stand, so you can show it even without data.

The quick way: ask Kika

Kika books all of these on the official websites for you, inside WhatsApp: it asks one question at a time, shows you the departures and the free seats, keeps your details for the next trip, and sends the ticket to your WhatsApp. Start here: https://wa.me/255651059040?text=Habari%20Kika%2C%20nisaidie%20kununua%20%F0%9F%9B%8D%EF%B8%8F