Flights to Dar es Salaam(DAR)
Tanzania's coastal gateway — Serengeti safaris, Zanzibar ferries, and Indian Ocean sunsets
Flights to Dar es Salaam start from $380 roundtrip, with May being the cheapest month to fly. Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) serves 20+ direct international routes from cities including London (13h) and Nairobi (1h 30m). Book on Travorio and pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 100+ cryptocurrencies, or split into 4 interest-free payments with Sezzle.
Quick Facts — Flights to Dar es Salaam
Avg. Roundtrip
$380–$850
Cheapest Month
May
~$380 avg
Direct Flight
9h 30m
20+ routes
Airport
DAR
13 km from center
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Cheapest Time to Fly to Dar es Salaam
Monthly price guide — cheapest in May (~$380 avg roundtrip)
Best time to book: 6-10 weeks before departure
| Month | Avg. Price | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $580 | high | Dry season. Safari peak. New Year demand. |
| February | $550 | high | Hot and dry. Good for beach + safari combo. |
| March | $450 | medium | Long rains begin. Prices easing. |
| April | $400 | low | Heavy rains. Lowest safari demand. |
| MayCHEAPEST | $380 | low | Cheapest month. Rains easing. |
| June | $480 | medium | Dry season starts. Safari demand rising. |
| July | $620 | peak | Peak safari season + summer holidays. |
| August | $600 | high | Still peak. Great Migration in Serengeti. |
| September | $550 | high | Migration continues. Premium pricing. |
| October | $480 | medium | Short rains may begin. Shoulder pricing. |
| November | $430 | medium | Short rains. Good value period. |
| December | $560 | high | Festive season. Rains usually stop. |
January
$580
high demand
February
$550
high demand
March
$450
medium demand
April
$400
low demand
May
$380
low demand
June
$480
medium demand
July
$620
peak demand
August
$600
high demand
September
$550
high demand
October
$480
medium demand
November
$430
medium demand
December
$560
high demand
Airlines Flying to Dar es Salaam
2 direct routes and 4 connecting options
2 airlines offer direct flights to Dar es Salaam, with Turkish Airlines providing the most frequent service from Istanbul (via).
| Airline | From | Direct? | Duration | Price Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul (via) | 1 stop | 13h | $380-$800 | Daily |
| Emirates | Dubai (via) | 1 stop | 14h | $450-$900 | Daily |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa (via) | 1 stop | 11h | $350-$700 | Daily |
| Qatar Airways | Doha (via) | 1 stop | 14h | $420-$850 | Daily |
| Kenya Airways | Nairobi | Direct | 1h 30m | $100-$250 | 3x daily |
| Precision Air | Zanzibar | Direct | 20m | $50-$100 | 6x daily |
Turkish Airlines
1 stopFrom Istanbul (via)|13h|$380-$800
Emirates
1 stopFrom Dubai (via)|14h|$450-$900
Ethiopian Airlines
1 stopFrom Addis Ababa (via)|11h|$350-$700
Qatar Airways
1 stopFrom Doha (via)|14h|$420-$850
Kenya Airways
DirectFrom Nairobi|1h 30m|$100-$250
Precision Air
DirectFrom Zanzibar|20m|$50-$100
Flights to Dar es Salaam by City
Compare prices and flight times from major departure cities
London
LHR · UK
From $520·13h
Nairobi
NBO · Kenya
From $120·1h 30m
Zanzibar
ZNZ · Tanzania
From $60·20m
Dubai
DXB · UAE
From $450·6h
Istanbul
IST · Turkey
From $420·8h
Johannesburg
JNB · South Africa
From $280·4h
Addis Ababa
ADD · Ethiopia
From $200·3h
Mumbai
BOM · India
From $350·5h
Dar es Salaam Airport Guide
Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) — 13 km from city center
Julius Nyerere International Airport
DAR · 13 km from center · Primary
Uber (~TZS 15,000/$6), taxi (TZS 30,000-50,000/$12-20), hotel transfer
Getting from DAR to Dar es Salaam
Uber / Bolt
TZS 10,000-20,000 ($4-8)20-40 minutesAvailable in Dar. Best option for tourists. Dar traffic can be heavy at rush hour.
Taxi
TZS 20,000-40,000 ($8-16)20-40 minutesNegotiate price before boarding. White cabs at airport are more expensive.
Bajaji (Tuk-Tuk)
TZS 3,000-8,000 ($1.20-3.20)15-25 minutesThree-wheelers for short trips. Negotiate price. Fun for short distances.
Zanzibar Ferry
$35 tourist class2 hoursFast catamaran to Stone Town. Azam Marine runs 4x daily. Book same-day at harbour.
DART Bus
TZS 650 ($0.26)VariesDar Rapid Transit. Dedicated lanes beat traffic on select routes. Modern and air-conditioned.
Local tip: Use Uber/Bolt — they're 50% cheaper than negotiated taxis. For Zanzibar, take the Azam Marine ferry (2h, $35) from Dar harbour — it's scenic and eliminates an extra flight. Book morning departures for calmer seas.
Dar es Salaam Travel Essentials
Tanzania's coastal gateway — Serengeti safaris, Zanzibar ferries, and Indian Ocean sunsets
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's largest city and main commercial port — a sprawling, energetic metropolis on the Indian Ocean coast. While most tourists pass through en route to the Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, or Zanzibar, Dar has its own appeal: vibrant markets, excellent seafood, a growing arts scene, and some of East Africa's best nightlife. It's also the departure point for the Zanzibar ferry (2 hours) and the gateway to Tanzania's southern safari circuit.
Top Things to Know About Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar ferry — fast catamaran to Stone Town in 2 hours ($35), departing from Dar's harbour multiple times daily
National Museum — Tanzania's premier museum with fossils from Olduvai Gorge (earliest human ancestors) and Makonde art
Kariakoo Market — East Africa's largest market, a sprawling grid of stalls selling everything from spices to electronics
Coco Beach — popular sunset spot with food vendors, cold drinks, and a local atmosphere (weekends best)
Southern Safari Circuit — Selous/Nyerere (3h drive) and Ruaha (1h flight) offer uncrowded Big Five safari
Climate
Tropical coastal — hot and humid year-round (25-32°C). Long rains March-May, short rains November-December.
Best Time to Visit
June-October for dry season and safari; January-February for hot, dry weather; April-May for budget deals
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). ~TZS 2,500 = $1 USD. USD accepted at hotels/tours; TZS for markets and transport.
Language
Swahili (primary), English (widely spoken in tourism and business)
Time Zone
EAT (UTC+3) — same as Nairobi and Zanzibar
Visa
Most nationalities need an e-visa ($50) — apply at immigration.go.tz. Also available on arrival at DAR airport ($50). Apply online 2+ weeks before to avoid queues.
Flexible Payment for Dar es Salaam Flights
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Crypto in Dar es Salaam: Tanzania has limited crypto infrastructure but growing mobile money (M-Pesa/Tigo Pesa). Paying for your trip in crypto through Travorio avoids carrying large amounts of USD cash for safari tips and tours.
Flights to Dar es Salaam — FAQ
What is the cheapest month to fly to Dar es Salaam?
May is typically the cheapest ($380 avg roundtrip from London). April ($400 avg) is also affordable. Peak pricing hits in July ($620 avg) during safari high season and in December ($560 avg) for Christmas.
How long is the flight to Dar es Salaam?
No direct flights from London. Fastest connections: via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, ~13h), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian, ~11h), or Dubai (Emirates, ~14h). From Nairobi, Kenya Airways flies in 1h 30m (3x daily).
Should I fly into Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro?
DAR for: Zanzibar, southern safaris (Selous/Ruaha), and beach stays. JRO (Kilimanjaro) for: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Kilimanjaro climbing. For a Serengeti + Zanzibar combo, fly into JRO, safari, then fly JRO-ZNZ (1.5h).
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. Most nationalities need an e-visa ($50) — apply at immigration.go.tz at least 2 weeks before travel. Also available on arrival at DAR airport ($50) but expect queues.
Can I pay for Dar es Salaam flights with crypto?
Yes. Travorio accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, USDC, and 100+ cryptocurrencies for all flights to Tanzania.
How do I get from Dar to Zanzibar?
Ferry (2h, $35 — Azam Marine, 4x daily from Dar harbour) or flight (20min, $50-100 — multiple airlines, 6+ flights daily). The ferry is scenic and departs from central Dar. Morning departures have calmer seas.
Is Dar es Salaam worth visiting or just a transit point?
Worth 1-2 days. Kariakoo Market is the largest in East Africa, the National Museum has priceless hominid fossils, and the seafood is excellent. The southern safari circuit (Selous/Nyerere — 3h drive) is uncrowded compared to the Serengeti. Most travelers combine Dar with Zanzibar.