A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dar es Salaam vs. Hibiscus Coast for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dar es Salaam and Hibiscus Coast can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast?

Dar es Salaam

Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.

Hibiscus Coast

The Hibiscus Coast, or KwaZulu-Natal, is located on the southeast coast of South Africa, just south of Durban. The area is rich in beautiful beaches and lush nature reserves which offer fantastic opportunities for hiking, swimming, and other outdoor adventures. The Hibiscus Coast experiences their summer from December-February, with temperatures in the 70's Fahrenheit, making these the best months to visit.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Hibiscus Coast, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Hibiscus Coast much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hibiscus Coast would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hibiscus Coast and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Hibiscus Coast.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Hibiscus Coast Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast?

Dar es Salaam has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hibiscus Coast. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam and Hibiscus Coast, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast?

Hibiscus Coast has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dar es Salaam experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Hibiscus Coast. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Dar es Salaam is around the same temperature as Hibiscus Coast. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Hibiscus Coast averages at about 25°C (76°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dar es Salaam this time of the year. In the summer, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than Hibiscus Coastin January. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hibiscus Coast receives 184 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Hibiscus Coast. Dar es Salaam usually gets less rain in July than Hibiscus Coastin January. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Hibiscus Coast receives 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast in the Autumn?

Both Hibiscus Coast and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year.

In October, Dar es Salaam is generally a little warmer than Hibiscus Coastin April. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and Hibiscus Coast fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Hibiscus Coast. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Hibiscus Coast during autumn. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Hibiscus Coast receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dar es Salaam usually receives less rain than Hibiscus Coastin April. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Hibiscus Coast receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast in the Winter?

Both Hibiscus Coast and Dar es Salaam during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Hibiscus Coast in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Hibiscus Coast fluctuates around 17°C (62°F)in July.

In Hibiscus Coast, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dar es Salaam. In the winter, Dar es Salaam often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hibiscus Coastin July. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hibiscus Coast receives 230 hours of full sun.

Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in January than Hibiscus Coastin July. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Hibiscus Coast receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Hibiscus Coast in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Hibiscus Coast. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round.

In the spring, Dar es Salaam is a little warmer than Hibiscus Coast. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Hibiscus Coast averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.

Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than Hibiscus Coast during spring. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Hibiscus Coast receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

Hibiscus Coast receives a lot of rain in the spring. Dar es Salaam gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Hibiscus Coastin October. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Hibiscus Coast receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hibiscus Coast and Dar es Salaam