I don’t usually travel at night. Something about watching the world blur past in the dark has never appealed to me. But this time was different. Christmas was fast approaching, and I had to be in Kigali before the festivities kicked off. The only option? A night bus out of Dar es Salaam.
I booked my ticket with Shabiby Line, a company I’d heard about through fellow travelers. Their office along Shekilango Road was easy to find, and while speaking with the attendant, I learned that I could have simply booked the ticket online. Curious, I checked out their website—and I have to say, I was impressed. It was refreshingly straightforward and user-friendly. If you’ve booked bus tickets in East Africa before, you know that’s not always the case.
While I would have preferred an SGR experience—smooth tracks, reclining seats, and the rhythmic hum of the train—that wasn’t an option yet. The modern SGR line serving as the link between the two cities hadn't been launched yet. So the highway it was. Fortunately, Shabiby’s luxury bus promised comfort, and it delivered.
We exited Dar through the ever-busy Morogoro Road, headlights slicing through the night as the city faded into the distance. A brief stop in Morogoro gave us a chance to stretch our legs and grab a bite before continuing the journey.
Somewhere along the way, lulled by the soft hum of the engine and the distant shimmer of stars outside my window, I let go of the usual discomfort I associate with night travel. Maybe it was the urgency of the season. Or maybe it was just the beginning of something memorable.
What happened next—in the heart of Tanzania’s capital—is a story for another day. Stay tuned.