Things to Do in Dar es Salaam in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Dar es Salaam
Long-run averages for December
86°F (30°C)
High Temp
77°F (25°C)
Low Temp
4.7 inches (119 mm)
Rainfall
76%
Humidity
12
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Watch out for extreme UV index. Sun protection is critically important to prevent severe sunburn.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December hits that sweet spot between the heavy long rains and the peak of the hot season. The humidity lifts. The air thins. You can see the Indian Ocean shimmer without heat haze blurring the view.
- + This is when the short, light rains begin. They arrive as dramatic but brief afternoon downpours. The air clears. The city smells of wet earth and frangipani. Your plans stay intact.
- + Crowds remain thin. The international safari rush to the northern parks is on, which means Dar es Salaam feels more like a working city than a tourist hub. Coco Beach has space to breathe.
- + The mangoes peak now. You'll see them piled in pyramids at every roadside stall. Their sweet, sticky scent mingles with charcoal smoke from grilling maize. This taste belongs to this season alone.
Considerations
- − That UV index of 12 is serious business. Unprotected skin burns in under 15 minutes. The coastal reflection off the water at beaches doubles the intensity. Shade is essential.
- − When the rains hit, they hit hard. Streets like Morogoro Road become instant rivers for an hour. The already chaotic daladala minibus traffic snarls into gridlock. Patience required.
- − December brings school holidays and the Christmas build-up. Flight prices into Julius Nyerere International Airport creep upward from mid-month. The best beachfront lodgings book out early.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Dar es Salaam hits different. The air is thick, warm, daytime temperatures reliably reaching an average high of 30 degrees Celsius. Evenings barely cool off, dipping only slightly to an average low of 25 degrees Celsius. This is the onset of the short rains. Expect an average of 119 millimeters of rainfall, sudden heavy showers, then bright clear skies. The city feels washed clean. The streets stay active. There's a sense of transition. The heavier tourist flows of the northern hemisphere summer have ebbed. Local life sets the pace now, interrupted by occasional tropical downpours. The Indian Ocean remains a constant presence. Its warm waters offer respite from the humid air settling over the harbor. For travelers considering things to do in December, this month presents a particular opportunity. The weather in Dar es Salaam is notably hotter and wetter than the dry, slightly cooler months of July and August. Yet it receives far less rain than the deluges of April. The landscape turns lush and green, in the city's many parks and the surrounding coastal forests. You avoid the logistical challenges of the peak rainy season. The rain showers, while substantial, are often brief and dramatic. They clear to reveal intensely blue skies. Embrace spontaneity. Duck into a covered market or a seaside cafe when a shower begins. Experience the city's energy without peak-season crowds. The search for suitable Daressalaam hotels is less pressured. Coastal properties remain popular for their ocean breezes.
3 Days Ngorongoro & Serengeti Fly in Safari
otherA dramatic leap from the coastal humidity of Dar es Salaam to the vast, open plains of the northern circuit. You will see the endless golden grasses of the Serengeti, hear the distant roar of a lion at dusk, and feel the cool, thin air of the Ngorongoro Crater rim. This condensed journey uses flight time efficiently, maximizing moments on the ground searching for wildlife.
It delivers the classic Tanzanian safari spectacle, the Ngorongoro Crater's dense wildlife and the Serengeti's majestic expanse, with the time-saving convenience of regional flights.
Insider tip: Pack a light fleece or sweater. Early morning game drives in the crater highlands can be surprisingly chilly, even when departing from warm Dar es Salaam.
This month: The short rains of December bring fresh grass to the plains, which can attract grazing herds and their predators, though wildlife viewing is consistent year-round in these parks.
5 Days Selous/Nyerere & Mikumi NP Game drive, Maasai and Walking
walking_tourImmerses you in the less-traveled southern circuit. You will smell the wild sage after a rain, hear the splash of hippos in the Rufiji River, and feel the crunch of dry leaves underfoot during a guided walking safari, a more intimate encounter with the bush.
This combination provides a deeper, more varied examination of Tanzania's wilderness, blending traditional vehicle-based game drives with the raw immediacy of a walking safari and cultural interaction.
Insider tip: The walking portion demands closed, comfortable shoes you don't mind getting dusty. The terrain is uneven and can be home to sharp acacia thorns.
Ancient Bagamoyo City Day Tour
culturalTravels north along the coast to a place where history is etched into crumbling coral rag buildings and whispered by the wind off the water. You will see the weathered doors of the old German Boma, hear the call to prayer from a historic mosque, and taste the salty air of the harbor that was once the terminus of the caravan trade.
Bagamoyo is a poignant, living museum of East African history, from its Swahili roots and Arab influence to its dark period in the slave trade and later German colonial administration.
Insider tip: Visit the Catholic Mission Museum first to understand the town's layered history. It provides context that will make the ruins and old town you see later far more meaningful.
Dar es Salaam Old Town Walking and Food Tour With Transfers
foodA sensory journey through the city's historic core. You will smell charcoal fires roasting maize, taste tangy, freshly fried cassava chips served in newspaper, and feel the smooth, carved wood of a Zanzibar-style door in a narrow alleyway.
It connects the architectural heritage of Dar es Salaam's old quarter directly to its everyday culinary life, offering authentic flavors you might otherwise overlook.
Insider tip: Come very hungry and be open to trying everything. The best bites are often from unassuming street-side vendors that the guide knows well.
Dar es salaam Private City Tour with Professional Guide
guided_experienceAllows for a tailored exploration of the city's contrasts, from the busy port to quiet, tree-lined diplomatic enclaves. You will see the modernist curves of the Askari Monument, hear the rhythmic chanting from a Qur'anic school, and feel the cool marble floors of the majestic St. Joseph's Cathedral.
It has a flexible, in-depth narrative of Dar es Salaam's evolution from a fishing village to a thriving commercial capital, shaped entirely by your interests.
Insider tip: Discuss your specific interests with the guide at the start. They can adjust the route to focus more on markets, colonial history, or modern art scenes.
5 Days Safari to Selous & Mikumi
otherFocuses on the accessible wild spaces south of Dar es Salaam. You will see giraffes silhouetted against a green miombo woodland backdrop, hear the haunting cry of a fish eagle over a lake, and feel the spray from a boat safari getting close to crocodiles basking on a sandbank.
This itinerary is an excellent introduction to the southern safari circuit, offering strong wildlife variety with a shorter transfer time from the city compared to the northern parks.
Insider tip: On the boat safari in the Selous, keep an eye on the riverbanks for nocturnal animals like genets or civets that may be resting in the shade during the day.
This month: The landscapes in these parks are green and lush in December, with many waterholes full, which can sometimes make animals slightly more dispersed but the scenery beautifully busy.
Where to Stay in Dar es Salaam in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Siku ya Uhuru
Known in English as Independence Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Krismasi
Known in English as Christmas Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Siku ya kufungua Zawadi
Known in English as St. Stephen's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Siku ya Uhuru
Known in English as Independence Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Krismasi
Known in English as Christmas Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Siku ya kufungua Zawadi
Known in English as St. Stephen's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Siku ya Uhuru
Known in English as Independence Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Krismasi
Known in English as Christmas Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Siku ya kufungua Zawadi
Known in English as St. Stephen's Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
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View Dar es Salaam Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals beat the December heat by shifting their day. Do your outdoor exploring and beach time in the glorious mornings before 1 PM. Then retreat for a long, late lunch or a museum visit. The Village Museum is wonderfully breezy. Hide there during the hottest, most humid part of the day, which often culminates in that afternoon rain.
The best mangoes are not at the supermarket. Look for the women sitting on the curb with baskets near markets like Ilala or Mwenge. Ask for 'dodo'. They are the small, super-sweet variety. You will pay a fraction of the price for fruit that was likely picked that morning.
If a downpour catches you in town, do not fight the taxi touts. Duck into the New Africa Hotel lobby for a coffee or a soda. It is a grand, historic place with high ceilings and fans. You can watch the drama of the rain through the windows in colonial-era comfort until it passes, which it usually does within the hour.
For a spectacular, free sunset view without the cruise price tag, head to the terrace bar at the Sea Cliff Hotel in the Msasani peninsula. Order a soda or a local beer. A Serengeti Lager tastes good here. You will get the same panoramic vista of the harbor and the fading light over the Indian Ocean that the paid boats chase. But with your feet on solid, dry ground.
Avoid These Mistakes
Never underestimate the sun. Never skip reapplication of sunscreen. A morning at the beach without vigilant protection will leave you with a painful, trip-altering burn that makes the rest of your time in Dar es Salaam miserable.
Do not try to keep a tight, minute-by-minute schedule. The combination of traffic, spontaneous rain, and 'pole pole' (slowly, slowly) culture means things take time. Build in buffer periods, for afternoon travel across the city.
Do not stick only to the peninsula hotels and miss the city's pulse. Dar es Salaam's magic is in its chaotic, lived-in neighborhoods like Kariakoo and Kinondoni. Using ride-hailing apps makes exploring them safe and straightforward. Not venturing in is missing the point.
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