Daily ferry and hydroplane services connect Dar es Salaam with the island of Zanzibar. Travel to natural and prehistoric sites in East Africa, such as Serengeti National Park, Olduvai Gorge, or snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, is possible during vacations. Tanzania has a tropical climate with a hot season that occurs between December and March, and a rainy season with cooler weather between March and June. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly advised. The academic year is divided into trimesters, beginning in late September and ending in June.
Students can select courses in a variety of disciplines.
In addition to taking regularly scheduled courses, seniors may develop an independent study project under the guidance of a UDSM professor and with the consent of the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Independent study may involve an off-campus project or documentary research in the rich collection of the East Africa library. The latter is of particular interest to students in history, politics, and economics. Most University of Dar es Salaam courses last the entire academic year and are followed by final exams. Students are expected to take a full load of courses, generally five.