Taxi & Transport Scams in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Overcharging, meter tampering, fake taxis, and transport cons targeting tourists. Below are the taxi & transport scams reported in Dar es Salaam — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Mombasa.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Taxi & Transport Scams
10
Total in Dar es Salaam
How it works
Unlicensed taxis outside Julius Nyerere International Airport charge tourists TZS 100,000–150,000 or more for city centre journeys that should cost TZS 30,000–50,000.
How it works
Unlicensed taxi drivers outside Julius Nyerere International Airport offer rides at below-market rates, then drive to a secondary location — typically a compound in a residential area of Temeke or Kigamboni — where accomplices demand the passenger hand over cash, cards, and PIN numbers before being released. Express kidnappings differ from simple overcharging because the driver does not go to the stated destination at all. Risk is highest between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. when official transport options are limited and touts are more aggressive.
See all scams in Dar es Salaam
10 total warnings across all categories