Dar es Salaam Airport hasthree terminals. The buildings are separate and relatively far apart.

It is easy to get between Terminals 2 and 3 via a 200-metre-long covered walkway (public section only), but Terminal 1 is more than 1 km away.

Which terminal?

The individual terminals are organised by airline.

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Terminal 1

The smallest and oldest terminal is used primarily by small regional Tanzanian airlines.

The terminal has only basic facilities, but on the other hand it is the most straightforward to navigate and the distances to the aircraft are minimal.

Flights operated by the following airlines are handled here:

• As Salaam Air, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, Tropical Air, Unity Air, ZanAir

Terminal 2

The former main terminal now serves mainly domestic flights and some regional international routes.

The building is old and not particularly attractive, but the check-in process is simple and very straightforward.

The domestic area beyond security is often crowded, with a shortage of seats.

You’ll use Terminal 2 if you’re flying with the following airlines:

• Air Tanzania– all domestic flights
• Flightlink – domestic and international flights
• Precision Air– domestic and international flights

Terminal 3

The largest, most modern and spacious terminal is mainly used by foreign airlines.

The terminal is very easy to navigate and the check-in process here is usually quick

However, the queue for immigration on arrival can take more than 45 minutes.

• Tip: find out everything you need to know about visas for Tanzania

The following airlines operate flights from Terminal 3:

• Air Tanzania– all international flights
• Air Zimbabwe,Airlink,Egyptair,Emirates,Ethiopian Airlines,Flydubai,Kenya Airways,KLM,LAM Mozambique Airlines,Malawi Airlines,Oman Air,Qatar Airways, Rwandair, Skyward Express,South African Airways,Turkish Airlines,Uganda Airlines,Zambia Airways

Airport map

The map below provides an overview of the airport grounds and all its terminals.

Connecting flights

Dar es Salaam is a fairly important transit point, particularly for flights to Zanzibar, but thanks to Air Tanzania, international transfers can also take place here.

Below, we describe the procedures if you have a guaranteed connection (i.e. both flights have been booked as part of a single reservation) or if you are travelling with hand luggage only and already have a boarding pass issued for your connecting flight.

International <-> International

The transfer is very simple and quick. After disembarking, follow the ‘Transfer’ signs, which will lead you to the security checkpoint designated solely for transfer passengers.

You will then find yourself in the departure gates area.

• Average transfer time –20 to 40 minutes
• Luggage during a transfer –will be transferred automatically

International <-> Domestic

When transferring from an international flight to a domestic one, or vice versa, you must always leave the transit area, go out into the public area and check in again.

With the exception of flights operated by Precision Air or Flightlink, which check in both domestic and international flights at Terminal 2, in all other cases you must also walk along the 200-metre-long walkway between Terminals 2 and 3.

The distance between the terminals is a maximum of a 5-minute walk, and transfer between terminals is only possible via the public area.

When transferring from an international to a domestic flight, or vice versa, you must always collect your luggage and check it in again.

• Average transfer time –45 to 90 minutes (up to 120 minutes for Terminal 1)
• Luggage when transferring –you must collect it and check it in again

If you are transferring to or from Terminal 1, the distance on foot is approximately 1.5 km. In this case, we recommend taking a taxi or using Bolt/Uber for around 10 000 tzs.

Domestic <-> Domestic

There are flights from Dar es Salaam to many domestic destinations in Tanzania, and several airlines offer guaranteed connections here.

After disembarking, you must make your way down to the baggage reclaim area.

From there, follow the ‘Transfer’ signs, which will lead you to the security checkpoint designated for transfer passengers only. From there, take the escalator up to the departures area.

• Average transfer time –15–25 minutes
• Luggage during a transfer –will be transferred automatically

Overnight stay at the airport – opening hours

International Terminal 3 is open 24/7, but there are virtually no comfortable seats in the public area for spending the night.

You can usually go through security no earlier than 4 hours before your flight departs.

Hotels near the airport

There are currently no hotels directly next to the terminals.

The nearest hotel offering a free private transfer to and from the airport is situated approximately 3 km towards the centre of Dar es Salaam.

• Hotel Blue Sapphire **** – check prices and book a room