AI-generatedDar es Salaam at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Feb · 31°
- Warmest sea
- Mar · 29.3°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,670 h
- Rain a year
- 960 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Elevation
- 24 m
Climate in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. February is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while July is the coolest at 27 °C. With around 2,670 hours of sunshine a year, Dar es Salaam is sunny; December is the sunniest month with 8.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: June – September
Good forBeach & swimming
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 29°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 29°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
06:0118:16
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:48–06:29 · evening 17:48–18:29
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:40–05:48 · evening 18:29–18:37
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Dar es Salaam in October?
In October, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 56 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 15 min06:01 – 18:16
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 41 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 11 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+3Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %69 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %85 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %48 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Dar es Salaam
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 26.2 – 27.2 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Dar es Salaam ranges from 25.6 °C in August to 29.3 °C in March. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in March, while the air already peaks in February. In April the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in March, eight out of ten years were between 28.7 and 30.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 28.5° | 27.9° | 28.9° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 28.7° | 28.4° | 29.2° | warm |
| MarchMar | 29.3° | 28.7° | 30.0° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 28.9° | 28.4° | 29.5° | warm |
| MayMay | 28.0° | 27.4° | 28.4° | warm |
| JuneJun | 27.0° | 26.5° | 27.4° | warm |
| JulyJul | 25.9° | 25.5° | 26.3° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 25.6° | 25.1° | 25.9° | pleasant |
| SeptemberSep | 25.9° | 25.5° | 26.3° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 26.6° | 26.2° | 27.2° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 27.7° | 27.3° | 28.1° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.6° | 28.2° | 29.0° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Dar es Salaam
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.1 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Dar es Salaam, 66 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Dar es Salaam
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in October (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Dar es Salaam: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Dar es Salaam has about 11 rainy days with 56 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Dar es Salaam
How breezy and how cloudy Dar es Salaam is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Dar es Salaam typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 41 % of the sky over Dar es Salaam: mostly sunny, with about 8.1 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Dar es Salaam
How often the day gets hot in Dar es Salaam (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Dar es Salaam has about 11 hot days, with an average daytime high of 30 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Dar es Salaam
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in August (22°), the warmest in February (26°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 362 days a year, mostly all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 58 | 31° | 26° | 28.5° | 7.5 h | 10 | 60 |
| FebruaryFeb | 55 | 31° | 26° | 28.7° | 7.5 h | 10 | 57 |
| MarchMar | 39 | 31° | 25° | 29.3° | 6.6 h | 22 | 159 |
| AprilApr | 48 | 29° | 24° | 28.9° | 5.6 h | 26 | 217 |
| MayMay | 55 | 28° | 24° | 28.0° | 6.5 h | 18 | 122 |
| JuneJun | 78 | 28° | 23° | 27.0° | 7.1 h | 10 | 35 |
| JulyJul | 86 | 27° | 23° | 25.9° | 7.0 h | 7 | 20 |
| AugustAug | 83 | 28° | 22° | 25.6° | 7.6 h | 7 | 20 |
| SeptemberSep | 80 | 29° | 23° | 25.9° | 8.1 h | 7 | 21 |
| OctoberOct | 66 | 30° | 24° | 26.6° | 8.1 h | 11 | 56 |
| NovemberNov | 49 | 30° | 24° | 27.7° | 7.9 h | 18 | 96 |
| DecemberDec | 47 | 30° | 25° | 28.6° | 8.2 h | 18 | 97 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
6.82° S, 39.27° E · 24 m · Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
Best time to visit Dar es Salaam
The best time to visit Dar es Salaam is from June to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from January to February and from June to October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to August. Rain is most frequent from March to May and from November to December; the wettest month is April with 217 mm.
Dar es Salaam through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Dar es Salaam in the dry season
Jan – Feb, Jun – Oct
Good
- 27–31 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 62 rainy days in all
Dar es Salaam in the rainy season
Mar – May, Nov – Dec
Fair
- 28–31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 102 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Dar es Salaam for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Dar es Salaam
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Dar es Salaam: score 86 against 66. In July, days are 3 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 1 °C cooler in July. July has 4 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour less a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 66 | 86better |
| Day high | 30° | 27° |
| Night low | 24° | 23° |
| Sea | 26.6° | 25.9° |
| Sunshine | 8.1 hbetter | 7.0 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 7better |
| Rainfall | 56 mm | 20 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 29better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jan – Feb, Jun – Oct
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Aug
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar – May, Nov – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Dar es Salaam month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
58January31° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In January, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 60 mm in total. On about 24 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in January55February31° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In February, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 57 mm in total. On about 25 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in February39March31° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In March, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 159 mm. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in March48April29° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In April, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 217 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in April55May28° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In May, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 122 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in May78June28° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In June, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 35 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in June86July27° · Sea 26° · 7 h
In July, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 20 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in July83August28° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In August, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 25.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 20 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in August80September29° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In September, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 21 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in September66October30° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In October, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 56 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in October49November30° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In November, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 96 mm. On about 13 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in November47December30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In December, Dar es Salaam is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 97 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam in DecemberDar es Salaam compared
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Dar es Salaam vs. Zanzibar
In October the holiday weather in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar is about equally good (score 66 vs. 68). During the day Zanzibar is 1 °C cooler than Dar es Salaam. The sea is about equally warm. Zanzibar gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Dar es Salaam | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 66 | 68 |
| Daytime high | 30° | 29° |
| Sea | 27° | 27° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 10 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Jan – Feb, Jun – Oct |
Through the year
Tanzania in October: the best places
In October, Dar es Salaam ranks 5 of 5 destinations in this country.
- Arusha26°87
- 2Zanzibar29°27°86
- 3Dodoma31°75
- 4Ngorongoro Conservation Area22°73
- 5Dar es SalaamThis page30°27°66
Planning a trip to Dar es Salaam
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Dar es Salaam in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Dar es Salaam has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 45).
- 45
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 60
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 84
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 66
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 53
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7.9 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 35 min
- Distance
- 7,510 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Dar es Salaam
When is the best time to visit Dar es Salaam?
The best time to visit Dar es Salaam is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Dar es Salaam?
The sea temperature in Dar es Salaam ranges from 25.6 °C in August to 29.3 °C in March. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Dar es Salaam in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Dar es Salaam?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 26 °C. July is the coolest month at 27 °C.
When does it rain most in Dar es Salaam?
Rain is most frequent from March to May and from November to December; the wettest month is April with 217 mm. The driest month is July with 20 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Dar es Salaam get?
Dar es Salaam gets around 2,670 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is December with 8.2 hours a day; in April there are 5.6 hours a day.
What time zone is Dar es Salaam in?
Dar es Salaam uses the time zone Africa/Dar_es_Salaam, at UTC+3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Dar es Salaam?
A nonstop flight from London to Dar es Salaam takes about 9 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,510 km.
Which school holidays are best for Dar es Salaam?
Dar es Salaam has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 45). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 45, May half-term 60, Summer holidays 84, October half-term 66, Christmas holidays 53.
Near Dar es Salaam
Other destinations close by.
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Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Dar es Salaam's – good alternatives.