Dar-es-Salaam a door to Zanzibar and Southern Parks

The largest city in Tanzania, and the economic capital of the country, Dar es Salaam is experiencing a growing reputation among business people and African safari travellers alike. Lying on a natural harbour on the Indian Ocean ‘Dar’ has become the cultural mecca of Tanzania and with development have come many influences from around the world – to be seen in aspects such as cuisine where anything from local fare to Chinese and Thai restaurants can be found.

Best time to Visit Dar-es-Salaam 

When going on holiday to Tanzania the chances are the aim of the trip is to either go for a safari, or to the beach or both. If you are in Dar es Salaam, you could either be hopping over to The Selous or Ruaha for a safari, or heading for some R&R on the tropical Zanzibar Archipelago. As a general rule of thumb, the best time to be in Tanzania (and especially the southern parks of Selous and Ruaha) on safari and at the beach is in the dry season from July – October when the weather is dry and sunny.

Dar-es-Salaam weather and Climate

Located two-thirds of the way up the country’s coastline, Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest city. It stays hot and humid throughout the year, with rainfall a possibility even during the dry seasons. During the rainy seasons, precipitation is more reliable here than it is inland. Afternoon downpours are heavy but brief, and often bookended by sunny weather. Even in the hottest months (December to March), the humidity is offset by cooling ocean breezes, making the coast the most pleasant place to be at this time.

Getting to Dar-es-Salaam 

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) is the largest airport in Tanznaia and the easiest route for getting to Dar es Salaam. The airport is located just outside Dar es Salaam and it offers flights to and from many major global destinations. Direct flights are served to Blantyre, Lilongwe, Arusha, Kigoma, Moroni, Mwanza, Tabora, Zanzibar, Entebbe, Juba, Nairobi, Harare, London, Johannesburg, Kilimanjaro, Addis Ababa, Anjouan, Cairo, Lusaka,, Doha, Kigali, Zurich, Istanbul and others. Generally, its an easy airport to get a flight to.

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