Not sure if I should carry coins for public transport in Tanzania or if card payments are common. Advice?
Spent a month between Arusha and Stone Town - never saw a card reader on any form of public transport. Even taxis booked through Bolt sometimes prefer cash over in-app payment. For anyone visiting, paying for transport in Tanzania means cash, always, and preferably exact change. Don’t wait until you’re at the station to figure it out.
I tried to use my Revolut at a bus terminal in Moshi and got laughed at. Public transport here is old-school: cash only. Doesn’t matter if it's a minibus or a motorbike ride, they expect small notes. It’s not a huge deal because rides are super cheap - but definitely don’t rely on card payments for transport here.
In Zanzibar, I relied mostly on dala dalas and bajajis (tuk-tuks), and every ride had to be paid in cash. Even the big ferries between islands wanted shillings if you paid at the dock. If you’re planning public transport in Tanzania, carry local cash at all times. Card machines are virtually non-existent outside airports and hotels.
You’ll definitely need Tanzanian shillings for public transport. I used dala dalas and shared taxis around Arusha and Dar, and they’re all cash-based - no tap, no app, nothing digital. Fares are super cheap (like 400-800 TZS), so keep a stash of small bills on you. I didn’t meet a single driver who accepted cards, even in bigger towns.