The two routes, in outline
The Northern Corridor runs from the port of Mombasa in Kenya through Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Malaba and Kampala to Kigali, covering approximately 1,700 kilometres by road. The Central Corridor runs from the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania directly across Tanzania to the Rwandan border. Both are established, heavily used trade routes rather than one being a fallback for the other.
Distance and border crossings
The Northern Corridor crosses two international borders before reaching Rwanda — Malaba (Kenya–Uganda) and Gatuna (Uganda–Rwanda) — while the Central Corridor crosses Tanzania directly into Rwanda with fewer intermediate border transitions. Fewer borders generally means fewer points where documentation or inspection delays can occur, though both routes operate under the EAC Single Customs Territory framework that has reduced this friction considerably.
Trucking cost differences
Trucking costs vary by specific route and cargo — the Mombasa to Bujumbura leg of the Northern Corridor, for instance, has been recorded at around $3.07 per container per kilometre, against a general regional average of roughly $2.80 per kilometre for standard semi-trailer freight. Actual quotes will depend on your specific origin and cargo type, so comparing both corridors for your particular shipment is worth the extra step.
Why your freight forwarder recommends one over the other
Corridor choice usually comes down to where your cargo originates and current conditions on each route — a shipment already moving through Kenya naturally favours Mombasa, while cargo from southern or coastal origins may suit Dar es Salaam better. Port congestion, seasonal weather affecting road conditions, and current border processing times all shift the balance too, which is why forwarders often make the final call route by route rather than defaulting to the same corridor every time.
Our dedicated guides to each route
For the specifics of each corridor's transit time, border posts and what to expect, see our guide to the Mombasa route and our guide to the Dar es Salaam route — both cover their respective corridor in more depth than a side-by-side comparison can.
Two corridors, one landlocked country — here's how to think about which one suits a given shipment.