Aparthotels & serviced apartments in Dar es Salaam

Getting around Dar es Salaam

Julius Nyerere International Airport is in Kipawa ward, in Ilala district, with three terminals; Terminal 3 began operating in August 2019. Wikivoyage places it about 10 km from the city centre and warns that evening rush hour can make the transfer slow, so leave more time than the distance suggests. Taxis, ride-hailing and minibuses (daladala) serve the airport. DART lists Phase 3 as started, but Wikivoyage reported no BRT station inside the airport as of 2025.

Within the city, DART runs bus rapid transit on dedicated lanes, branded Mwendokasi. Phase 1 has run between Kimara and Kivukoni since 2016, and DART lists Phase 2, from Mbagala Rangi Tatu to the city centre, as a further corridor. DART sells tickets through the Mwendokasi app and a contactless Mwendokasi card, with QR-code paper tickets at terminals. Daladala minibuses are the most common public transport, and bajaj three-wheelers and motorcycle taxis (bodaboda) fill the gaps.

Central Dar es Salaam can be walked, although Wikivoyage notes there are few pavements along busy roads. For longer journeys by rail, Tanzania Railways trains and the TAZARA line to Zambia use separate stations, and Wikivoyage lists a standard gauge railway station on Pugu Road, so check which station your ticket names.

Living in Dar es Salaam for longer

Supermarkets are easy to find in the main commercial areas. Wikivoyage lists Mlimani City as the largest mall, with City Mall on Bibi Titi and Morogoro roads and Aura Mall on Morogoro Road both housing supermarkets, and the Slipway on the Msasani Peninsula has a supermarket. For fresh food and household goods at market rates, Kariakoo is the city's main shopping district and, according to Wikipedia, the major supply point for the food eaten across Dar es Salaam.

Think about the daily commute before you choose. The central business district, Masaki and Oyster Bay, and Mikocheni are different journeys from each other. If you are moving for a posting or a project, our guide to serviced apartments for relocation covers what to ask for. Because heavy rain can flood low-lying roads, it is worth asking how a building is reached during the wet months.

When to visit Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam has a tropical savanna climate: hot and humid for much of the year, with about 1,150 millimetres of rain annually. In a normal year there are two rainy seasons, the long rains in April and May and the short rains in November and December. Wikivoyage describes December to February as the hot dry spell, with temperatures rising to the mid-30s Celsius and high humidity, and recommends June to September for milder temperatures and lower humidity.

Wikipedia notes that the city has had heavy, frequent flooding since the 1990s because of intense rainfall on low-lying coastal land, which can disrupt roads and transport. If you are travelling during the rainy months, allow extra time for journeys and keep plans flexible.