Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s largest city and its main gateway — the arrival point for most UK travellers heading to the coast, to Zanzibar, or on safari into the northern parks. If you’re booking flights from the UK to Dar es Salaam (airport code DAR), the route you choose makes a real difference to what you pay, because there’s no daily nonstop from the UK and almost everyone connects through a hub.
How the route works
From the UK you’ll fly one-stop, typically out of London Heathrow. The most popular and often best-value routing is via Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines, whose hub connects neatly onward to Dar es Salaam. Other one-stop options run through Gulf and European hubs, but for price the East African routing is usually hard to beat — and it keeps you on a single ticket, which matters if a connection runs late.
What you’ll pay
Return economy fares from the UK to Dar es Salaam generally land around £540 when booked in advance, moving up in the July–August and December peaks and easing in the quieter spring and late-autumn windows. As with most long-haul African routes, the sweet spot for booking is roughly six to ten weeks ahead — early enough for good availability, late enough to avoid the very first (often pricey) fare loads.
Onward to Zanzibar
Plenty of travellers use Dar es Salaam as the stepping stone to Zanzibar. The short hop across to the island is quick and frequent, and you can often have it added to your booking so it’s covered on one itinerary. If Zanzibar is your real destination, tell your travel agent up front — sometimes a through-fare works out cheaper and simpler than booking the island leg separately.
Visas and arrival
UK travellers normally need a visa for Tanzania. A visa on arrival has long been available at Dar es Salaam, and there’s also an online e-visa option which many people now prefer to avoid airport queues. Rules can change, so always check the current requirement before you fly and carry proof of onward travel. Have a pen handy for the arrival card, and expect the usual queues after a big inbound flight.
Tips for a smoother trip
Baggage is the thing to get right — confirm your checked allowance at the time of booking rather than at the airport, where extra bags cost far more. If you’re heading on to Zanzibar or a safari, pack with the onward leg’s luggage limits in mind, as smaller aircraft can have tighter allowances. And build a sensible connection time at your hub; a slightly longer layover is cheaper insurance than a missed flight.
Book it the easy way
At Ethiopian Flights we put these one-stop Tanzania itineraries together every week, fully ATOL protected so your trip and your money are covered. Take a look at our London to Dar es Salaam route page for current options, or send us your dates for a tailored quote.
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