Tanga can be accessed via four means, thus through railway, boat, road and air by flight.
By Road
By bus from the southern Kenyan border post of Lungalunga/Horohoro, it is a beautiful drive on a new highway through the quiet Mkinga district, with the rising Usambara Mountains in the west as you approach Tanga.
The city, being on the highway between Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, is well served by bus services from both Kenya and the northern Tanzania regions of Usambara, Moshi and Arusha. Ratco and other buses for Dar es Salaam depart daily every few hours from 6am to 2pm in each direction (six hours).
To Arusha there are at least three departures daily between about 6am and 11am (seven to eight hours). To Lushoto there are several direct buses departing daily from 7am (four hours).
By Rail
A defunct railway link also still exists between Moshi and Tanga. A small airport in the city is served by only two small local air operators.
As of July 2019, diesel powered cargo trains are leaving Tanga Railway Station again and passenger transport between Tanga and Arusha is set to start in September 2019. This is in operation now.
By Air
Tanga has a small airport and is currently served by only two regional airlines Auric Air and Coastal Aviation providing scheduled services to Dar es Salaam, Pemba Island and Zanzibar. There are also a small number of private airstrips in the surrounding area around the city that facilitate the private estates and surrounding industries. The city is served by Tanga Airport.
By Boat
Azam Marine’s Sealink ferry goes weekly between Tanga and Pemba (four hours, US$35), with connections on to Zanzibar Island. Departures from Tanga are on Tuesday, and from Pemba on Sunday. Tickets can be bought online or at the Azam Marine Booking Office.