Terminal 2

Domestic flights still use the old Terminal 2 at DAR

Most domestic and some regional flights at Julius Nyerere International still run through Terminal 2, the pre-T3 international building that regulars describe as older and slower. If you’re landing here on Air Tanzania or another local carrier and later flying long-haul from Terminal 3, forums suggest treating T2 as the potential bottleneck, not the newer terminal.

Layout and getting between Terminals 2 and 3

Terminal 2 sits separately from Terminals 1 and 3 on the same airport grounds, and a landside transfer between T2 domestic arrivals and T3 international departures can easily chew up an hour before you even factor in queues. Reddit regulars now say to allow 4–5 hours between a T2 domestic arrival and a T3 international departure, especially in the evening when baggage claim and immigration lines can both stack up.

Check-in, security, and timing

Check-in counters in Terminal 2 line the ground floor, with security just beyond and a small airside concourse feeding the domestic gates. This part of DAR has a reputation for slower processing than Terminal 3, so for a morning departure before 09:00 from T2, arriving 2 hours ahead is smart, and if you’re on the last flights of the day give yourself even more leeway in case an earlier arrival blocks the single baggage belt.

Food and drink: basics covered, not much more

Food options are clustered after security, with Coffee Corner and Karibu Café the main stops for espresso and snacks if you’re near the central gates. For a sit-down meal, Flamingo Restaurant and Safari Bistro both serve standard rice-and-stew plates plus grilled chicken in the T2 departures area, while International Bistro and Spice Kitchen add some simple continental dishes at slightly higher prices than in town.

Quick bites and takeaway options

If you just want something to carry on board, Coastal Deli typically has pre-made sandwiches and samosas, while Coffee Corner sells bottled water and soft drinks you can grab in under 5 minutes. Expect airport pricing, with a basic coffee running higher than in central Dar es Salaam cafés and a sandwich often landing in the mid single-digit USD range, so locals sometimes eat before reaching T2 and use the terminal only for a drink.

Lounges: better than the public seating

Terminal 2 packs several small lounges into the departures level, including a Domestic Premier Lounge and basic VIP Lounge close to the domestic gates. Sky Lounge, Serengeti Lounge, and an Executive Lounge round out the options, and while none match the newer facilities in Terminal 3, frequent flyers use them mainly for power outlets, air-conditioning, and slightly quieter seating than the main gate area.

Shopping: last-minute local goods and basics

Fashion Boutique and Electronics Store in T2 carry simple travel clothes, chargers, and adaptors, which helps if a phone cable dies just before a safari flight. For local souvenirs, Maasai Craft Market and Serengeti Art Gallery sell beadwork, carved animals, and paintings, while Coffee & Spice Traders stocks ground Tanzanian coffee and spice mixes, and Beach & Bush Outfitters plus Luggage Point cover sun hats, flip-flops, and replacement bags.

What regulars do and one tip

FlyerTalk users now try to route their long-haul tickets through Terminal 3 and keep Terminal 2 for short domestic hops, sometimes even adding an overnight in Dar es Salaam to avoid a tight T2-to-T3 same-day link. If you must connect off a domestic leg in T2 to an international flight in T3, build a 4–5 hour buffer and keep a printed or offline copy of your onward ticket handy for staff at both terminals.