Flights to Tanzania — routes, airlines and when to book
The airport: Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam?
For safari travellers, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is almost always the best choice. It's 45 minutes from Arusha — the starting point for virtually all northern safari circuits (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara).
Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR) is useful if you're visiting southern parks (Nyerere, Ruaha) or as a departure point after an extended circuit. For the classic safari traveller, however, it's a detour.
Zanzibar has its own airport (ZNZ). For combined safari-and-Zanzibar trips, the most common route is: land at Kilimanjaro → safari → internal flight to Zanzibar → depart from Zanzibar towards Europe. This is logistically most efficient.
The best routes from the Netherlands and Belgium
The most popular routes from Amsterdam (AMS):
Via Nairobi (NBO) with Kenya Airways or KLM codeshare: about 9 hours to Nairobi, then onwards to Kilimanjaro (1 hour). This is the most direct option and well-priced. KLM flies daily to Nairobi.
Via Addis Ababa (ADD) with Ethiopian Airlines: one of the most reliable African airlines. About 7 hours to Addis Ababa, then 1.5 hours to Kilimanjaro. Often the sharpest price.
Via Doha (DOH) with Qatar Airways: longer layover but excellent service and frequent flights. About 7 hours to Doha, then 3.5 hours to Kilimanjaro.
Via Istanbul (IST) with Turkish Airlines: good prices, comfortable business class. About 4 hours to Istanbul, then 5 hours to Kilimanjaro.
Direct from Amsterdam: there are no direct flights Amsterdam–Kilimanjaro. Always at least one stopover.
When to book for the best price?
Book early for peak season. For July–August flights (safari high season), I recommend booking 6–9 months in advance. Prices in this season range from €700–1,400 per person return from Amsterdam, depending on airline and class.
Book later for the green season. November–May flights are more flexible and cheaper — sometimes €550–900 per person. You can book closer to the travel date without much price increase.
Christmas and Easter are also peak. Book these periods at least 6 months ahead.
A good approach: set up a price alert on Google Flights for the Amsterdam–Kilimanjaro route. When the price drops to your target level, book immediately.
Internal flights in Tanzania
For travelling between parks or to Zanzibar, there are two options:
Aircraft: Coastal Aviation, Auric Air and Air Excel offer frequent flights between Arusha Airport, Serengeti (airstrips), Ngorongoro, Manyara and Zanzibar. An internal flight costs approximately $100–400 per route. Time saving: a flight Arusha–Serengeti takes 1 hour vs 6 hours driving.
Car: for shorter distances (Arusha–Tarangire: 2 hours) driving is more comfortable and cheaper. And you see the bush from the car.
If you're combining northern Serengeti with Ngorongoro and then want Zanzibar, an internal flight is highly recommended. Ask us to plan this — we have good contacts with local airlines.
What does a return flight cost?
Indicative overview for flights from Amsterdam:
Economy: €700–1,400 pp (depending on season and airline) Premium Economy: €1,200–2,000 pp (KLM and Qatar Airways have good options) Business Class: €2,500–4,500 pp
Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways often have the sharpest economy prices. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines score highly for economy long-haul comfort.
My personal advice
I always book with an airline that has a good transit hub. Nairobi and Addis Ababa are both excellent hubs. Doha is comfortable but layovers can be long.
For families: plan a layover of at least 2 hours. With children, a tight connection is more stressful.
Always check the baggage allowance for internal flights. Some small planes (Cessnas and Caravans in Tanzania) have a weight limit of 15kg per person. Packing light then becomes extra relevant.