Well prepared for your trip
Flying to Tanzania
How long does the flight take: 8 to 9 hours nonstop, or 12 to 16 hours with a layover? Night flight or day flight? And is flying back from Zanzibar a smart choice? Everything you want to know about the flight, including the tips we give to our own travelers.
Ndege - Plane
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Safari njema - Safe travels
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Karibu - Welcome
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Pole pole - Take it easy
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Hakuna Matata - No worries
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Travel with meaning
Your trip begins with the ticket
The flight is often the first thing you arrange, and immediately one of the trickiest choices. Prices vary a lot, journey times differ and so does the experience along the way.
Good to know: if you book your safari with us, we arrange the flight as part of it. Prefer to book it yourself? That’s fine too, but do it in consultation with us, so you know for certain the vehicle, your guide and the accommodation are available on those dates.
Unsure about your flight or route? Just ask. We’re happy to think it through with you, even before you book anything.
What does it cost?
Ticket prices by season
What a return flight from the Netherlands costs depends mainly on the season, and on how early you book. These are the prices we see regularly.
Low season · March · April · May
€850 – €1,100
Often the best fares, more availability and a quiet time to travel.
Booking advice: 3 to 5 months ahead is usually fine.
Mid season · June · Sept · Nov
€1,000 – €1,300
A good balance between price, weather and how busy the parks are.
Booking advice: 4 to 6 months ahead is a good moment.
High season · July · Aug · Oct · Christmas
€1,200 – €1,600+
Sometimes higher still during school holidays: for families especially, tickets add up quickly.
Booking advice: book 6 to 9 months ahead.
Book in good time ✦
Don’t wait for a last-minute deal. That sometimes works for Spain, but rarely for Tanzania. If you see a good flight at a fair price and roughly know when you want to travel, waiting is usually not wise, certainly not in the school holidays.
Flight time to Tanzania
How long is the flight to Tanzania?
From Schiphol, you can fly non-stop to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) with KLM in 8 to 9 hours. With a layover in Doha, Istanbul, or Addis Ababa, the journey takes 12 to 16 hours. The non-stop flight to Zanzibar (ZNZ) is about 9 hours, and from Brussels or Düsseldorf, you can expect 13 to 17 hours via a hub. What you choose depends on comfort, budget, and how much travel time you find acceptable.
8–9 hours
Direct with KLM
KLM flies non-stop from Schiphol to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), with a flight time of 8 to 9 hours. KLM also flies non-stop to Zanzibar (ZNZ) in approximately 9 hours.
+ No connection stress, the shortest journey time
+ Less chance of delayed baggage
+ Easier for families and older travellers
− Often more expensive
− Less flexibility on price
Travellers who put comfort and ease first usually choose KLM.
12–16 hours
With a stopover
Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines or Kenya Airways, with a layover in, for example, Doha or Istanbul. If you depart from Brussels or Düsseldorf, this is your only option: expect a travel time of 13 to 17 hours.
+ Often cheaper
+ More choice of departure times
+ Regularly attractive premium fares
− Longer total journey time
− Risk of long layovers, more tiring
Qatar Airways via Doha is often found comfortable, with convenient connection times.
Our best tip
Out to Kilimanjaro, home from Zanzibar
Combining your safari with Zanzibar? Then book what’s known as an open-jaw ticket: you fly into Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) and home from Zanzibar (ZNZ). No detour back to Arusha, no holiday days wasted.
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Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro
You land at JRO, the starting point for safaris in northern Tanzania. A quiet first night in Arusha.
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Safari in the north
Tarangire, Ngorongoro, the Serengeti: your route, at your pace, with your own guide.
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Bush flight to Zanzibar
From an airstrip in the Serengeti straight to the beach. The view along the way is worth the flight on its own.
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Zanzibar → Amsterdam
Home rested, direct from ZNZ. No detour back to Arusha.
Safari and relaxation transition so beautifully into one another. Travelers almost always experience this sequence as the most pleasant. We arrange the domestic flight and coordinate everything. Do you mainly want to know how to get to the island? Read flying to Zanzibar.
Where do you land?
Three airports, three kinds of trip
Which airport do you need? For a classic safari in the north, Kilimanjaro Airport is almost always the best starting point.
Kilimanjaro Airport
The most popular airport for safaris in Northern Tanzania: Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and Arusha National Park. From JRO, it is about a one-hour drive to Arusha.
By far the most safaris start here: our standard advice.
Zanzibar Airport
Perfect when the beach holiday is the main event, or when you finish your safari by the sea and fly home from here.
The ideal second half of an open-jaw ticket.
Dar es Salaam
More often used for southern Tanzania or business travel. For a classic northern safari it is usually not the logical choice.
Considering the south? We’re happy to think it through with you.
Baggage
Take less than you think
The most common mistake: too much luggage. You need surprisingly little on safari, and many places to stay offer a laundry service.
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Choose light, comfortable clothing in muted colours and avoid bright colours
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Bring a jumper or fleece for the cool early mornings
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Good walking shoes are enough, hiking boots aren’t needed
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Leave the second suitcase at home: less really is more on safari
Hard suitcase or soft bag?
Choose a soft holdall (duffel bag). On domestic flights, from the Serengeti to Zanzibar, for example, 15 kg including hand luggage is very common, and a soft bag fits more easily into the small aircraft. Internationally you can usually take 23 kg.
Domestic flights
Many routes combine a safari with a bush flight. The Serengeti to Zanzibar is the classic. Airlines such as Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, Flightlink and Air Tanzania fly daily. Small aircraft are completely normal, departure times can shift and weight limits are taken seriously.
For many travellers the bush flight turns out to be one of the best parts of the trip: the view across the Serengeti is unforgettable. If you book with us, this flight is simply part of your itinerary and we keep an eye on any changes.
Frequently asked questions
Flying to Tanzania in brief
Answers to the questions we get most often. Can’t find your question? We’d love to hear it.
How long is the flight to Tanzania?
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From Schiphol, you can fly non-stop with KLM to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) in 8 to 9 hours. With a layover in Doha, Istanbul, or Addis Ababa, the journey takes 12 to 16 hours, transfer time included.
How long is the flight to Zanzibar?
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Nonstop from Schiphol takes about 9 hours, on a limited number of days per week. If you combine Zanzibar with a safari, you first fly 8 to 9 hours to Kilimanjaro and then take a 1.5 to 3 hour domestic flight to the island.
Can you fly directly to Tanzania?
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Yes. KLM flies non-stop from Schiphol to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) in 8 to 9 hours. KLM also flies non-stop to Zanzibar, in about 9 hours.
How long is the flight to Tanzania from Brussels?
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There are no non-stop flights from Brussels to Tanzania. Via a hub such as Doha, Istanbul, or Addis Ababa, the journey takes 13 to 17 hours, including the layover. The same applies to Düsseldorf.
Which airport do you need for a safari in Tanzania?
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Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) for the classic northern parks: Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Zanzibar (ZNZ) when the beach is the main focus, and Dar es Salaam (DAR) especially for the south.
Which is cheaper: direct or with a stopover?
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Flights with a stopover are usually cheaper, but cost more travel time: count on 12 to 16 hours in total.
Do you arrange the flight too?
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Yes. If you book your safari with us, we simply arrange the flight as well. Would you rather book it yourself? That is fine too. We then agree the dates together, so that the vehicle, guide and accommodation are certain to be available.
How much baggage can I take to Tanzania?
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On international flights 23 kg of hold luggage is standard, depending on the airline. Domestic bush flights often allow 15 kg including hand luggage, so bring a soft travel bag.
Is flying home from Zanzibar a good idea?
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Yes, especially when you finish your safari with a few days on the beach. With an open-jaw ticket (out to JRO, home from ZNZ) you save travel time and don’t waste holiday days.
When should I book my flight?
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For high season (July, August, October and the Christmas holidays) we recommend 6 to 9 months ahead. In mid and low season you can be a little more flexible.
Safari njema - safe travels
We’ll help you think through your flight
If you book your safari with us, we arrange the flight as well, and if you prefer to book it yourself, we coordinate together. Tell us your plans and we will advise honestly on route, timing and budget.