Flying to Tanzania

Are you going on safari to Tanzania and wondering what the smartest flight option is? Fly direct or choose a layover? How expensive are flights actually? And is it smart to fly back from Zanzibar?

Understandable questions. The flight is often one of the first parts of a Tanzania trip that you arrange and, at the same time, one of the trickiest choices. Prices differ significantly, travel times vary, and the experience along the way can also differ greatly.

Because we at Kembe Safari deal with trips to Tanzania every day, we see in practice what works well and what travellers actually regret later. In this guide, we therefore share not only general information, but especially practical tips and experiences that will help you make the right choice.

How much does a flight to Tanzania cost?

One of the most frequently asked questions is without a doubt: how much does flying to Tanzania cost?

The honest answer: that depends heavily on the season, the airline, and especially how early you book.

Average ticket prices Tanzania

We regularly see the prices below for return flights from the Netherlands.

Low season (March, April, and May)

• Average between €850 and €1,100 per person

• Often more favourable rates

• More availability

• Quieter travel period

Mid-season (June, September, and November)

• Average between €1,000 and €1,300 per person

High season (July, August, October, and Christmas period)

• Often between €1,200 and €1,600+ per person

• Sometimes even higher during school holidays

What we regularly see: travellers who want to depart in July or August and only start searching a few months in advance are often shocked by the prices. Especially for families, ticket costs add up quickly.

Our advice? If you see a good flight at a decent price and you know approximately when you want to travel, waiting is usually not wise.

When is the best time to book?

The right moment to book can literally make hundreds of pounds difference.

Our advice per season

High season (July, August, October, and Christmas holidays) Preferably book 6 to 9 months in advance.

Mid-season Often, 4 to 6 months in advance is a good time.

Low season Here you can sometimes still be reasonably flexible, and 3 to 5 months in advance is often perfectly fine.

A common mistake is waiting for a last-minute deal. For destinations like Spain, that sometimes works fine, but for Tanzania, it usually works less well. Especially when you want to combine popular lodges with a safari and potentially Zanzibar, availability becomes limited more quickly.

Fly direct to Tanzania or take a layover?

The choice between a direct flight and a layover depends mainly on three things:

1. Comfort

2. Budget

3. How much travel time you find acceptable

Fly direct with KLM

KLM flies direct from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

For many travellers, this remains the most comfortable option.

Advantages

• No connection stress

• Less chance of delay between connections

• Less risk of delayed baggage

• Shortest travel time

• Especially pleasant for families or older travellers

Disadvantages

• Often more expensive

• Less flexibility in price

The direct flight takes on average 8 to 9 hours, depending on wind and route.

Flying with a layover

Many travellers choose airlines with a layover, for example:

• Qatar Airways

• Turkish Airlines

• Ethiopian Airlines

• Kenya Airways

Advantages

• Often cheaper

• More choice of departure times

• Regularly more attractive premium or business rates

Disadvantages

• Longer total travel time

• Chance of longer layovers

• More fatigue

Our experience? Those who value comfort and convenience often choose KLM. Travellers who pay a bit more attention to price usually look at Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines.

Qatar Airways via Doha is perceived by many travellers as comfortable and often has pleasant connection times.

Night flight or day flight?

This is also a question we regularly receive.

Personally, many travellers find a night flight pleasant, because you can sleep for part of the journey and have less of a 'travel time feeling'.

At the same time, others deliberately choose a day flight because they want to arrive feeling refreshed.

What we usually advise: always plan one quiet night in Arusha after arrival before the safari begins.

After a long flight, it is simply nicer to quietly land and settle in for a bit before you drive into the national parks.

Smart route: fly into Tanzania and back from Zanzibar

This is perhaps one of the best tips we can give.

When you combine safari with Zanzibar, we almost always advise to:

fly out to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) and fly back from Zanzibar (ZNZ)

This is called an open-jaw ticket.

Why this is smarter

• You don't have to go back to Arusha

• You save travel time

• You don't lose holiday days

• The journey feels more logical

• Safari and relaxation blend nicely into each other

A common route looks like this:

Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro (JRO) Safari in Northern Tanzania Domestic flight to Zanzibar Zanzibar → Amsterdam

We see in practice that travellers almost always experience this setup as very pleasant.

How long is the flight to Tanzania?

Direct flight

Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) On average 8 to 9 hours of flying.

Flying with a layover

On average 12 to 16 hours travel time, depending on:

• duration of the layover

• chosen airline

• route

A layover in Doha (Qatar Airways) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) often feels relatively efficient.

Which airport do you choose in Tanzania?

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

The most popular airport for safaris in Northern Tanzania.

Perfect for:

• Serengeti National Park

• Tarangire National Park

• Ngorongoro Crater

• Lake Manyara

• Arusha National Park

By far the most safaris start here.

Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)

Perfect when your beach holiday is central or when you are wrapping up your safari by the sea.

Dar es Salaam (DAR)

This airport is more commonly used for Southern Tanzania or business trips.

For a classic safari, we usually recommend Kilimanjaro Airport as the starting point.

Baggage: how much do you take with you on safari?

A common mistake is simply: taking too much baggage.

For safari, you need surprisingly little.

Our practical tips

• Choose light, comfortable clothing

• Avoid bright colours

• Bring a jumper or fleece for early mornings

• Good walking shoes are sufficient

• Better not to bring too much

Many accommodations also offer a laundry service, meaning you need fewer clothes than you think.

Hard suitcase or soft bag?

Our clear preference: a soft travel bag (duffel bag).

Why?

When you use domestic flights, for example from the Serengeti to Zanzibar, strict baggage rules often apply.

For bush flights, 15 kg including hand luggage is extremely common.

A soft bag is easier to load into smaller planes and often prevents issues.

Domestic flights in Tanzania

During a safari, many travellers combine their route with a domestic flight.

For example:

• Serengeti → Zanzibar

• Arusha → Serengeti

• Zanzibar → Arusha

Frequently used airlines are:

• Air Tanzania

• Coastal Aviation

• Auric Air

• Flightlink

Good to know

• Weight limits are taken seriously

• Flight times can change

• Small aeroplanes are very normal

• Several airstrips can be visited along the way

For many travellers, a bush flight ultimately winds up being one of the best parts of the trip. Especially the view over the Serengeti is extraordinary.

Frequently asked questions about flying to Tanzania

Can you fly direct to Tanzania?

Yes. From Amsterdam, you can fly direct to Kilimanjaro Airport.

What is cheaper: flying direct or with a layover?

Flights with a layover are usually cheaper but take up more travel time.

How much baggage can you bring to Tanzania?

On international flights, 23 kg checked baggage is standard, depending on the airline.

How many kilos can you bring on a domestic flight?

Often around 15 kg including hand luggage.

Is flying into Zanzibar smart?

Yes, especially when you are wrapping up your safari with beach days.

When should I book my flight?

For high season, we usually recommend 6 to 9 months in advance.

Our experience

The perfect flight doesn't actually exist.

What is smart depends entirely on your wishes, budget, and travel style.

Do you want to travel as comfortably as possible? Then a direct flight is often nice.

Do you want to save? Then a layover can indeed be interesting.

And are you combining safari with Zanzibar? Then we almost always advise flying into Kilimanjaro and travelling back from Zanzibar. That simply makes the route calmer and more logical.

Conclusion

A safari to Tanzania often already starts with booking the right flight.

Those who book on time, look cleverly at airlines, and build the route logically, often get more out of their trip and avoid unnecessary travel time.

Therefore, research the possibilities well and look not only at price, but also at comfort, layovers, and the build-up of your trip.

Often, the difference between a good trip and a relaxed trip already surprisingly lies in the plane ticket.