Kivukoni Bus Station - Kituo Cha Dala Dala

I visited Kivukoni Bus Station on a bright, humid morning in Dar es Salaam. The first thing that struck me was its strategic location—right near the coast, with the salty breeze from the Indian Ocean occasionally sweeping through the air. The station sits close to the Kivukoni Fish Market, so the area was buzzing with early-morning activity. As I approached the station, I noticed its layout was quite organized, especially compared to some of the smaller bus stops scattered around the city. Kivukoni functions as a terminus for the DART BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system, which is one of the main public transport solutions in Dar. The buses are large, blue, and air-conditioned, and they stop at designated terminals like Kivukoni, Kimara, Gerezani, and others. At the station entrance, there were security guards and some DART staff who helped passengers find the right platforms. I walked through the well-marked pedestrian lanes and noticed that the station has covered waiting areas with benches, clear signage, and electronic screens showing bus schedules—though some weren’t working, which seemed to be a common issue. People were everywhere—students heading to school, office workers on their morning commute, street vendors selling snacks like maandazi, sambusa, and bottled water, and even a few tourists trying to find their way to the ferry nearby. The diversity of passengers gave the station a dynamic, lively vibe. I boarded one of the BRT buses heading to Kimara. The boarding process was smooth—you tap your card at the entrance gate, similar to metro systems in other countries. Inside the bus, it was fairly clean, with priority seats for the elderly and disabled, and an area for standing passengers. The ride was fast because the BRT buses use dedicated lanes, bypassing the chaotic city traffic. Before leaving, I took a short walk to the waterfront just outside the station. From there, I could see the Zanzibar ferry dock and the tall buildings of central Dar. I also noticed how Kivukoni is not just a transport hub, but a connection point between the city’s business center, its coastline, and its traditional markets.