A joyous road trip from Dar to Arusha

Tanzania is known by many travelers for its stunning scenery and for amazing opportunities to see fantastic views across the country. Each day brings something new, even if you have ridden these roads many times before. 

With this background in mind, I recently joined a small group on a road trip from Dar es Salaam to Arusha. Nevertheless, we had a great road trip, full of unexpected adventures which added that extra fun to the trip.

We left Dar es Salaam early on a weekend after a relaxed stay and having enjoyed some of the most exquisite foods, and a sneak peak of Dar es Salaam city life.

Driving out was met by sporadic traffic jams here and there until we reached Chalinze town. Chalinze is the junction town where Morogoro road connects to the north of Tanzania.

There were amazing opportunities to see fantastic views as we drove further passing through villages and small towns. The picturesque drive from Chalinze takes in many scenic spots along the way, including expansive farmland and rugged scenic coastline.

Then we passed the spectacular scenic Mkata flood plain which comprises largely flat-laying clay deposits and which is joined by Mkata River. The Mkata River runs south to north through Mikumi national park. It joins Wami River before emptying into the Indian ocean, near Bagamoyo.

Highlights of the road trip included the drive along rolling hills, and the jaw-dropping crossing the Wami River bridge which is truly exhilirating. Nearer, few imposing modern tall new buildings stood to attract the attention of travelers. 

Nowhere encapsulates this road trip’s beauty more than on the Wami River bridge, where it manages to incorporate unspoilt beaches, amazing forests and magnificent wildlife all into one incredible route.

I enjoyed the absolute quiet and miles of emptiness up to Segera. Before reaching Segera, the junction with roads leading to Tanga, the vegetation turns greener and trees much taller with long beards of moss hanging from the branches in the cool mountain air. 

At Segera, the land is filled with thorn scrub and the afternoon is cooled down by the Indian Ocean winds, some distance away, as the tide begins to return. It feels like walking in an enchanted forest with dappled shades of sunlight streaming through the thick green undergrowth and overhanging ferns.

We drove on with the afternoon wind and cold at the peak. We passed columns of sisal plantations by the roadside as we drove further.

Korogwe town with a backdrop of the column of the Usambara Mountains, seemed more welcoming as we drove through Msambiazi to find our lunch break point: Cate Hotels. Besides viewing the most dramatic nature full of green vegetation, there are a variety of fruits and other items neatly packed for take-aways.

Korogwe’s reputation for lunch breaks along the highway is gaining momentum and this is a result of the improvements in public transport in this part of Tanzania over the last few years, which has made it likely that any traveller would end up spending a few minutes in Korogwe.

Korogwe is an important route focus and the preferred lunch stop of most buses and travellers, travelling between Dar es Salaam and Moshi or Arusha. 

After our lunch break was over, we headed away, watching different stunning picturesque of nature unveiling to the amusement of travelers, an added enchantment to the trip.

We passed Same on to Mwanga admiring the scenery, people, landscape the North and South Pare Mountains. Mile after mile we passed through flat land with big trees that have survived the scorching sun. The terrain, in some places, changes from acacia scrub land to a most beautiful green glade of pasture land. 

We then drove through a quiet hill and a faint horizon, a stretch of pale blue appeared from a distance. But as we drove on towards the edge of the hill, the most spectacular view opened in front of us and the sky was astounding! That was Himo town, commonly known as Njia Panda.

At sunset, we were in Moshi and after an hour, we were finally back to base, Arusha.

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