MetEx House, 496a Great West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 0TE  ·  Shipping since 1998
0800 096 38 39
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⚓ Sea Freight • Dar es Salaam, Tanzania • Shipping from UK to Tanzania Since 1998

Sea Freight to Tanzania from the UK

Ship personal effects and household goods from the UK to Tanzania by sea freight — LCL to Dar es Salaam Port. 8-12 weeks transit.

Get a quote 0800 096 38 39
Sea freight to Tanzania from UK

Personal effects shipping by sea freight to Tanzania

Why sea freight for personal effects to Tanzania?

Sea freight is significantly cheaper than air cargo for larger volumes of personal effects and household goods. For 10 or more boxes, bags, or household furniture, LCL sea freight from the UK to Tanzania is typically 60-80% cheaper per cubic metre than air cargo — making it the method of choice for household relocations, returning residents, and larger family shipments.

Dar es Salaam Port is Tanzania's main sea freight gateway and a critical regional hub for landlocked Central African countries. Personal effects from the UK to Tanzania are routed via Dar es Salaam.

Sea freight to Tanzania — key facts

  • Transit time: 8-12 weeks from UK to Dar es Salaam
  • Main entry port: Port of Dar es Salaam — Tanzania's main commercial seaport on the Indian Ocean, handling over 90% of Tanzania's maritime trade and a key gateway for landlocked Central African countries
  • Delivery: Port collection at Dar es Salaam or delivery throughout Tanzania.
  • Customs authority: Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) — Customs and Excise Department.

Air cargo alternative

For smaller volumes or urgent shipments, air cargo from the UK to Tanzania takes 5-8 working days. Compare air vs sea →

LCL & FCL

LCL shared container vs FCL dedicated container to Tanzania

LCL (Less than Container Load)

Your personal effects are consolidated with other shippers in a shared container — you pay only for the cubic metres your goods occupy. Best for partial household moves and personal effects of 1-15 CBM. A standard removal box = approximately 0.09 CBM.

FCL (Full Container Load)

A dedicated 20ft or 40ft container exclusively for your household goods. More economical than LCL for volumes above approximately 15 CBM. Best for full household relocations.

Personal luggage vs bulk shipments

Shipping personal luggage to Tanzania by sea?

The LCL and CBM pricing above applies to bulk and groupage shipments — multiple boxes and household goods consolidated in a shared container. If you are sending one or two individual bags or suitcases door-to-door (subject to your destination) rather than a bulk consignment, these are priced differently, using cubic feet (CUFT) rather than cubic metres, charged on whichever is greater between actual weight and the space occupied.

See our sea freight personal effects guide for a full explanation of the CUFT method, including a worked example. Rates vary by route and are confirmed at the time of your quote — contact us on 0800 096 38 39 or WhatsApp for an accurate price for your luggage.

Important restrictions

Prohibited and restricted items for Tanzania

Restrictions for sea freight to Tanzania:

Standard personal effects restrictions apply.

Loose lithium-ion batteries and fresh perishable food are prohibited in all sea freight personal effects shipments worldwide. Full prohibited goods guide →

Transit insurance: Owner-packed goods approximately 5% of declared replacement value. Professionally packed approximately 3.5%. Ask us about transit insurance at booking.
UK collection

We collect sea freight from across the UK for Tanzania shipments

London, Leicester, Birmingham — East African and Tanzanian community in the UK

We collect from every UK postcode. View all 36 UK collection locations →
Related guides

Useful guides for sea freight to Tanzania

Sea freight overview LCL sea freight guide Full Tanzania shipping guide Air vs sea freight Documents guide Prohibited goods
Frequently asked questions

Common questions answered

How long does sea freight from the UK to Tanzania take?+
Sea freight personal effects from the UK to Tanzania typically takes 8-12 weeks from UK to Dar es Salaam. Transit depends on the shipping line schedule and customs clearance at the destination port.
What port does sea freight to Tanzania arrive at?+
Sea freight from the UK to Tanzania arrives at Port of Dar es Salaam — Tanzania's main commercial seaport on the Indian Ocean, handling over 90% of Tanzania's maritime trade and a key gateway for landlocked Central African countries. Port collection at Dar es Salaam or delivery throughout Tanzania.
Is LCL sea freight available to Tanzania from the UK?+
Yes. LCL (Less than Container Load) sea freight is available for personal effects and household goods from the UK to Tanzania. Your goods are consolidated with other shippers — you pay only per cubic metre, making LCL the most economical option for partial household moves.
Is sea freight or air cargo cheaper for personal effects to Tanzania?+
Sea freight is significantly cheaper for larger volumes. For 10 or more boxes, LCL sea freight from the UK to Tanzania is typically 60-80% less expensive than air cargo per cubic metre. For smaller volumes of 1-5 bags where speed matters, air cargo (5-8 working days) is more practical.
What documents do I need for sea freight to Tanzania?+
You need a detailed packing list with quantities and estimated replacement values, a copy of your passport, and your Tanzania delivery address. We prepare the Bill of Lading and UK export customs declaration. Customs authority: Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
How long does sea freight take compared to air freight?+
Sea freight typically takes 4–12 weeks from UK collection to destination port, depending on your destination and sailing dates, compared to 4–10 working days for air freight. Sea freight is significantly cheaper per kg for large volumes — typically 10+ bags, boxes or barrels. For smaller volumes or when you need bags within 2 weeks of moving, air freight is almost always the right choice.
What is the maximum weight per item for sea freight?+
Sea freight accommodates larger and heavier items than air freight. Call 0800 096 38 39 with your specific items and we confirm weight and volume limits. Unlike air freight where we have a 30kg per item standard, sea freight pricing is typically calculated on volume (cubic metres) or weight-volume, whichever is greater.

Ready to ship your luggage from London?

Get a quote in minutes, or call our UK-based team on 0800 096 38 39.

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28 years of experience

Why customers choose Excess Luggage Co.

Excess Luggage Co. has been shipping personal effects from the UK since 1998 — over 28 years of experience. Operating from MetEx House, 2 miles from Heathrow cargo terminals, we are one of the UK's longest-established specialist luggage freight services. Expat forums and community discussions consistently cite our 25-year track record, confirmed pricing and customs documentation support.

25+
Years operating
2mi
From Heathrow
📋 Official Customs Authority — Tanzania

For official customs requirements, import duties and restricted items guidance, visit the Tanzania Revenue Authority — the official customs authority for Tanzania. Always verify current requirements before shipping.

Shipping commercially? As well as personal effects, we handle commercial sea freight to Tanzania — full container load (FCL) and LCL groupage for businesses. LCL is charged on a weight or measure basis, so your dimensions matter as much as your weight. See commercial sea freight from the UK.

UK Collection

We collect from your door — anywhere in the UK

Door collection Monday to Friday from any UK address. Select your nearest city for local collection times and details:

LondonManchesterBirminghamLeedsGlasgowEdinburghLiverpoolBristolSheffieldNewcastleNottinghamLeicesterBradfordCardiffCoventrySouthamptonPortsmouthOxfordCambridgeReadingBrightonLutonMilton KeynesDerbyStokeWolverhamptonSwanseaAberdeenDundeeMiddlesbroughExeterPlymouthYorkBelfastHounslowHeathrow

Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00

📋 Collection & Booking Rules
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Collection hours: Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00. Weekend collections applicable within Greater London only, subject to availability and surcharge. No weekend collections outside Greater London.
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Collection fee: All luggage, baggage and boxes collected for shipping or storage are subject to a collection fee of £27.50 + VAT per 25 kg item (UK mainland), or £75.00 + VAT per item (Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland). Additional weight is charged at £1.50 + VAT per kilo thereafter, plus any surcharge for overweight items.
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Heavy-weight handling charge: Any single item of luggage, baggage, bags or boxes of 30 kilos physical weight, or exceeding 200 centimetres in combined dimensions (L + W + H), is liable to a heavy-weight handling charge of £30.00 per item.
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Barrels & oversized items: Barrel shipments — commonly used for Caribbean and West African routes — are subject to a handling surcharge. Please advise at enquiry stage if shipping barrels so we can confirm the correct charge before booking.
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