Dar es Salaam weather in December
December in Dar es Salaam: sweltering, rainy, with clean air — a gamble, with 20 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#10 of 12 months in Dar es Salaam · #957 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 61/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 32°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 20
- Sun
- 11.1 h
- Humidity
- 81%
- Daylight
- 13 h

Traveller notes on Dar es Salaam in December
Other months in Dar es Salaam
Forum posters describe January in Tanzania as hot and humid, sitting in the middle of the region's summer, with typical daytime highs in the 80sF and lows ranging from the upper 50s to low 70sF depending on location. Posters describe January as marking the end of the shorter 'vuli' rains and the start of a short, drier season that lasts a few months before heavier rains return in earnest around March, though posters note some lingering rain is still typical in January and February. Posters describe northern Tanzania specifically as often the hottest and most humid part of the country this time of year. Posters generally recommend short sleeves and light clothing for a January visit to Dar es Salaam, packing for heat and humidity as the dominant conditions.
July is winter on the Tanzanian coast, which sounds worse than it is: days near 27°C, nights around 23, and a sea still at 26°C. It sits inside the dry season, roughly June to October, and the forum describes it as sometimes cloudy but rarely raining — the best stretch of the year for beach days, snorkelling and diving, and noticeably more comfortable than the hot, humid months. Two practical notes regulars add: the coast stays warm and humid day and night whatever the "winter" label suggests, and evenings mean long sleeves — for mosquitoes rather than for warmth. The coast fills up as July goes on.
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Dar es Salaam climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Dar es Salaam in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyDecember–January long break in Tanzania, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Dar es Salaam's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherDar es Salaam's weather peaks July–September.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Dar es Salaam in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Vuli, the short rains
1 Nov – 20 Dec · usuallyMonsoonRiskShort heavy storms in the late afternoon rather than days of grey. They are enough to put Jangwani and the Msimbazi valley under water and to stop the bus lanes for a couple of hours. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Dar es Salaam — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Dar es Salaam?
Dar es Salaam in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Dar es Salaam?
- December in Dar es Salaam: sweltering, rainy, with clean air — a gamble, with 20 rainy days. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Dar es Salaam on SeasonMap's comfort score (61/100).
- What is the weather like in Dar es Salaam in December?
- In December, Dar es Salaam averages a daily high of 32.3°C and a low of 25.4°C, with about 118 mm of rain over roughly 19.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Dar es Salaam in December?
- Dar es Salaam has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 46 in December.
Within 300 km: Zanzibar's Kaskazi, the calm season around 1 Dec – 28 Feb.