Getting to Tanzania Is Simpler Than You Think
Tanzania is more accessible than most first-time safari travellers expect. Direct flights from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro operate seasonally; year-round connections via Doha, Addis, and Istanbul are reliable and well-priced. The key is choosing the right airport — and for any northern Tanzania safari or Kilimanjaro climb, that is always Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
Entry points
Tanzania's Three International Airports
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Near Arusha, northern Tanzania
Best for: All Tanzania safari itineraries and Kilimanjaro climbs — this is the airport you want for a northern Tanzania safari or Kili climb.
Airlines & Routes
Julius Nyerere International Airport
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Best for: Zanzibar connections, southern Tanzania itineraries (Selous, Ruaha), and as a transfer hub. Dar es Salaam is not a safari gateway — for northern Tanzania, fly to Kilimanjaro instead.
Airlines & Routes
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Zanzibar Island, Tanzania
Best for: Beach extensions before or after a safari. Zanzibar is not a safari hub — you will still need to connect to Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam for your safari or climb.
Airlines & Routes
By origin
Flight Routes From Your Country
United States
Typically via Europe (Amsterdam, Doha, or Istanbul) — no direct US-Tanzania flights.
Recommended Route
KLM flies direct Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro (seasonal, usually Dec–Mar). Otherwise, connect through Doha (Qatar Airways) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) to Kilimanjaro. Add 1–2 hours for the Kilimanjaro connection via Dar es Salaam.
Typical Travel Time
14–20 hours total travel time to Kilimanjaro
Pro Tip
KLM's direct Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro route is the fastest option for US travelers in the northern hemisphere winter season.
United Kingdom
KLM (Amsterdam), Qatar Airways (Doha), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), or Ethiopian Airlines (Addis).
Recommended Route
KLM Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro direct (seasonal). Otherwise, Qatar Airways London → Doha → Kilimanjaro (via Dar es Salaam). Allow 2–3 hours connection in Doha.
Typical Travel Time
11–14 hours total travel time to Kilimanjaro
Pro Tip
British Airways operates a seasonal direct service London Gatwick ↔ Kilimanjaro/Zanzibar, May–October 2027 (three times weekly) — ideal for travellers who prefer a single carrier in Club World. Outside that window, KLM via Amsterdam is the next-most-convenient one-stop option.
Germany / Europe
KLM (Amsterdam) or Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) are most reliable.
Recommended Route
KLM Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro (seasonal, best May–October). Turkish Airlines Istanbul → Kilimanjaro via Dar es Salaam (year-round, typically cheaper).
Typical Travel Time
9–13 hours
Pro Tip
Lufthansa does not fly direct to Tanzania. Swiss and Austrian passengers typically connect via Istanbul or Addis.
Australia / New Zealand
Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa is usually the most direct routing.
Recommended Route
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa → Kilimanjaro (daily). Add 4–6 hours from Australian east coast to Addis, then 4 hours to Kilimanjaro.
Typical Travel Time
18–22 hours
Pro Tip
Qatar Airways via Doha is also an option. Avoid routing via Europe — it adds 6–8 hours unnecessarily.
East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda)
Precision Air or Air Tanzania regional flights.
Recommended Route
Nairobi (Wilson Airport) → Kilimanjaro (45 minutes, Precision Air). Kigali → Kilimanjaro (via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, Precision Air/Air Tanzania).
Typical Travel Time
45 minutes – 3 hours depending on connection
Pro Tip
Kenya Airways flies Nairobi → Dar es Salaam but not directly to Kilimanjaro. For the Kenya–Tanzania overland border crossing at Namanga, the road is 4 hours from Nairobi to Arusha.
Seasonal route · 2027
London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar — One Carrier, No Connection
For the 2027 season only, British Airways is operating a direct Gatwick service that touches both Kilimanjaro (JRO) on the outbound and Zanzibar (ZNZ) on the return. It runs three times a week — Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays — from 29 May through 31 October 2027, aligning neatly with the northern-Tanzania dry season and the calmest weeks on Zanzibar's east coast.
For travellers who prefer a single carrier end-to-end, or who specifically want Club World on the long sector, this is the cleanest one-ticket routing from the UK to a Tanzania itinerary that combines safari and beach. The service sits outside the main UK–Tanzania routings we list in the route guides above; it is a seasonal overlay rather than a year-round option, so it is worth booking early if your dates fall within the window.
BA's seasonal schedule is published in their own systems closer to the operating window; for a ballpark figure on the safari + Zanzibar side of the trip, our Tanzania safari cost calculator gives the land-arrangement pricing that this flight pairs with.
Outside the May–October window, the standard year-round UK options remain KLM via Amsterdam, Qatar via Doha, Turkish via Istanbul, or Ethiopian via Addis Ababa.
Booking advice
How to Find the Best Flights
Book early for peak season
July–October and December–February are peak safari seasons. Flights to Kilimanjaro fill up 3–6 months in advance, especially KLM's direct Amsterdam route. If you are planning a peak season safari, start watching flight prices 6 months out and book 3 months before travel at the latest.
Consider Kilimanjaro vs Dar routing carefully
Flying to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) directly is always preferable to flying to Dar es Salaam and connecting — it saves 1–2 hours of travel and avoids a domestic connection. However, sometimes flying to Dar es Salaam and connecting internally is cheaper. Compare the total journey cost and time, not just the international fare.
Internal flights within Tanzania
For multi-destination Tanzania trips (e.g., Serengeti + Zanzibar), you will need internal flights. Precision Air and Air Tanzania operate the main domestic routes. Coastal Aviation and Flightlink serve safari airstrips. Domestic flights in Tanzania are not cheap — budget $150–$350 per person per flight segment. Book internal flights at least 2 weeks in advance.
Safari charter flights
For Serengeti and Ngorongoro trips, many visitors use charter flights that depart from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport to remote airstrips inside the parks. These are small aircraft (5–13 seats) and are booked as part of a safari package — your operator handles them. Allow 45–90 minutes for each charter flight segment.
Arusha Airport (ARK)
Arusha Airport (ARK) is the hub for northern Tanzania safari departures. Many charter flights to Serengeti and Ngorongoro depart from here rather than Kilimanjaro Airport. This is a small airport handling mostly charter traffic — it is not accessible via commercial airlines. Your operator will arrange transport from your Arusha hotel to Arusha Airport as part of your safari.
How to find the best fares
Use Google Flights to track prices on the Kilimanjaro route. For KLM direct flights (Amsterdam → JRO), check KLM.com directly during sales periods (January and September sales are common). Ethiopian Airlines via Addis is typically the most consistently cheap option from most European cities. Set up AirFair alerts for Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) specifically — many aggregators default to Dar es Salaam (DAR) which is a different airport 45 minutes away.
Common questions
Flight Questions Answered
What is the best airport to fly into for a Tanzania safari?
Is there a direct flight to Kilimanjaro from Europe?
How long is the flight from the US to Tanzania?
Can I fly into Dar es Salaam and travel to the Serengeti overland?
What is the baggage allowance on internal Tanzania flights?
Is it safe to fly within Tanzania?
What is the best time to book flights to Tanzania?
Does British Airways fly to Tanzania?
Visa
Tanzania Visa Requirements
Which visa you need, costs, application process, and what to expect at immigration.
Packing
Safari Packing Checklist
What to pack for your Tanzania safari — and what to leave behind.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar Beach Extension
The perfect add-on after your safari — and how to get there from Kilimanjaro.
Plan Your Safari
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