The quick answer: how to fly from London to Dar es Salaam
There are no direct flights from London to Dar es Salaam — every itinerary has at least one stop, most commonly Nairobi, Amsterdam, Addis Ababa or Istanbul. The cheapest tracked returns right now start from £615, with typical returns of £662–£771 (KAYAK, fares checked 9 October 2026). Kenya Airways via Nairobi (from £633) and KLM via Amsterdam (from £653) are the fares to beat; the quickest routings take around 12 hours door to door.
London to Dar es Salaam: airline-by-airline fare comparison
Real tracked benchmarks for London–Dar es Salaam returns (fares checked 9 October 2026). All prices are benchmarks, not guarantees — compare live fares for your exact dates.
| Airline | Routing from London | Total journey time | Indicative return | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya Airways | 1 stop, Nairobi (NBO) — from Gatwick or Heathrow | ~12h 40m (fastest 1-stop) | From £633 return (KAYAK, 19 Nov–4 Dec dates; fares checked 9 Oct 2026) | Cheapest tracked 1-stop fare; SkyTeam, good East Africa onward links |
| KLM | 1–2 stops, Amsterdam (AMS) | ~13h 20m | From £653 return (KAYAK, 1 Nov–27 Nov dates; fares checked 9 Oct 2026) | Often matches Kenya Airways on price; reliable Schiphol connections |
| Ethiopian Airlines | 1 stop, Addis Ababa (ADD) | ~11h 45m–12h (quickest) | $1,082 tracked on selected dates (KAYAK; fares checked 9 Oct 2026) | Fastest routing on the route; useful if combining Tanzania with Ethiopia |
| Oman Air | 1 stop, Muscat (MCT) | ~15h 55m | $831 tracked on selected dates (KAYAK; fares checked 9 Oct 2026) | Strong service and a viable cheaper Middle East routing |
| Turkish Airlines | 1 stop, Istanbul (IST) | Varies | $925 tracked on selected dates (KAYAK; fares checked 9 Oct 2026) | Generous baggage on many fares — useful if you are travelling heavy |
| Emirates | 1–2 stops, Dubai (DXB) | ~18h–19h | Compare live fares | Premium-economy option worth pricing on this route |
| Qatar Airways | 1 stop, Doha (DOH) | Varies | Compare live fares | Good for combining Dar es Salaam with Zanzibar or the northern circuit |
What flights to Dar es Salaam from London cost right now
KAYAK's London–Dar es Salaam route data (fares checked 9 October 2026):
- Cheapest tracked return: £615 London–Dar es Salaam.
- Typical returns: £662–£771, most commonly with Oman Air and Kenya Airways.
- Cheapest travel month: January — demand is lowest just after the festive season.
- Most expensive month: December — Christmas and New Year push fares to their peak, so book early if you are travelling then.
- Booking timing: travellers who book at least 2 weeks in advance save around 4% compared with booking last minute on this route.
The 7,493 km journey means fares are steadier than on short-haul routes, but the gap between the cheapest and typical fare still rewards comparison: the same trip can cost £615 or £771 depending on the date and airline you pick.
Why there are no direct London–Dar es Salaam flights (and which hub to pick)
No airline currently flies non-stop between London and Dar es Salaam — every option routes through one hub. Your choice of hub is the real decision:
- Nairobi (NBO) — Kenya Airways' daily Nairobi service feeds short hops down to Dar es Salaam (about 1h 20m in the air). The fastest total journey, and the route with the cheapest tracked fares right now.
- Amsterdam (AMS) — KLM's Schiphol routing is the most reliable European connection; fares from £653 track Kenya Airways closely.
- Addis Ababa (ADD) — Ethiopian's quickest routing at under 12 hours total, and the natural choice if your trip continues elsewhere in East Africa.
- Muscat (MCT) — Oman Air's $831 tracked fare makes it the cheapest Middle East routing currently visible.
Avoid routings with two stops unless the saving is significant — total journey time balloons past 26 hours on some double-connection itineraries, which costs more in fatigue than it saves in pounds. Also see our flights to Harare from London and flights to Kigali from London pages for more East Africa routes.
Dar es Salaam as a gateway: Zanzibar and safari combinations
Many travellers fly into Dar es Salaam as the starting point for two bigger trips:
- Zanzibar: the Azam Marine fast ferry runs from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar in about 1h 45m, four times a day, with economy tickets from $35 — often cheaper and simpler than booking a separate flight.
- Northern-circuit safaris: KLM's routings via Amsterdam and Kilimanjaro/Arusha, plus domestic links, make Dar es Salaam the natural entry point for Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro itineraries.
The dry season — June to October — is the best safari window, with the long rains falling March to May. Tell us your full itinerary when you request a quote and we will build the flights around the safari or island legs. For Nairobi connections see cheap flights to Nairobi from Manchester and flights to Entebbe from London.
Why book your Dar es Salaam flights with AdventureFlight
- WhatsApp booking: message us your dates and get a real fare quote fast — no card details needed upfront.
- Extra baggage: safari gear, gifts or relocating? We arrange extra baggage allowances that most comparison sites cannot add.
- Group bookings: wedding parties, church groups, corporate teams, tour groups — 10 or more seats on one negotiated fare, seated together.
- Contracted fares: we work directly with Kenya Airways, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates, so we see fare options the aggregators miss.
Tanzania entry requirements for UK travellers
UK passport holders need a tourist or business visa for Tanzania: apply for an e-visa before you travel, or get a single-entry visa on arrival at the main ports of entry including Julius Nyerere International Airport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date with at least one blank page (GOV.UK Tanzania travel advice, checked 9 October 2026). You may be asked to show proof of your return journey at the border.