Overland buses in Eastern Africa

I am trying to figure out what cities have good bus connections between them in Eastern Africa, in order to determine which cities to fly into and out of the region. I know there are good, direct, express buses that run for example from South Africa to places like Malawi and Zimbabwe, are there similar international express bus lines running from places like Mozambique or Tanzania? I am trying to travel between Mozambique, Tanzania (just for Zanzibar), Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda (preferably in that order but I'll do whatever makes it easiest to get around).

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated!

mp413

Define good direct express buses.

All of the long distance buses I took in Africa were prone to delays, over crowding, miserable heat issues, and non-existant schedules, including intercape. That being said some journeys were comfortable and fun. In Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, Scandinavia lines has good quality buses between major cities, some were very comfortable, others (nairobi to kampala in particular) not so comfortable. There were companies running modern buses in Zambia, and Malawi too. Livingstone to Lusaka has some of the nicest buses in Africa, Lusaka to Chapati, not so great. In Malawi, I seemed stuck on shire buses, slow and uncomfortble, but very interactive, though I did seem some more modern looking buses around. Other travelers mentioned a modern bus between kampala and the capital of rwanda, but I never saw it. Mozambique, I have no idea, but no one i met ever mentioned a modern bus beyond maputo.

The little crowded mini-buses are really not that bad once you get used to them at least for trips under 2-3 hours.

By "good direct express buses" I mean a bus going from point A to point B without making stops (which tend to be more comfortable). I would likely be going pretty long distances and I'm a female traveling alone so would prefer that to the minibuses. I am sure I will end up on my fair share of minibuses as well, but for longer distances it would be nice to know there is an alternative.

Would renting a car be preferable in Mozambique? It sounds like the only mode of transportation are the minibuses...

Hi Martina,
I caught Scandinavian Express bus from Nairobi to Dar last year. It was supposed to take 13hours, but took 16. It stops at Arusha and Moshi and we were held up in Arusha with a flat tyre for 2 hours, which I guess caused us to be so late in the end. They also stop at smaller towns if requested by passengers. it cost KSH60000 (which is about $US50) and I think it was worth it, considering that flying would have cost me about 4-5 times that. There are other buslines, but they are less reliable and I was advised not to use them. There is supposed to be air-con on the bus, ours wasn't working, but I guess we had a bad day!
I caught the Tazara train from Dar to Kapiri Moshi in Zambia and would highly recommend it. The biggest disadvantage is that it takes 2 days, so only appropriate if you have time to spare. Also costs about $US50 not including meals, but you can bring food onto the train and you can buy fruit and samoosas off the side of the train when it stops.
Once in Zambia, I used minibus to get to Lusaka which was full, but not over-filled. Cost ~$US10 for a 3 hours journey. Then caught a bus from Lusaka to Livingstone ($US20, 6 hours).
It is certainly cheaper to travel overland than to fly around eastern africa, but you have to be prepared to waste a bit of time sitting on a bus, even if it runs smoothly. I would recommend it though.
Can't give you any advice re: mozambique tho, sorry.
Colleen