Last updated 12 August 2026 · 10 min read
For a Northern Circuit safari, fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). It sits between Arusha and Moshi, roughly an hour from the Arusha hotels where almost every safari starts.
The four airports, compared
| Airport | Code | Use it for | Transfer to Arusha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilimanjaro International | JRO | Northern Circuit safaris, Kilimanjaro climbs | About 1 hour by road, 46km |
| Julius Nyerere, Dar es Salaam | DAR | Southern Tanzania, business, some cheaper long-haul fares | 1h 15m domestic flight to JRO or ARK, plus transfers |
| Arusha Airport | ARK | Domestic and light aircraft only, bush flights to the Serengeti | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Abeid Amani Karume, Zanzibar | ZNZ | Beach-first trips and our fly-in safaris from the island | Direct light aircraft to the Serengeti |
Airlines that land at JRO
KLM from Amsterdam, Qatar Airways via Doha, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Ethiopian via Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways via Nairobi, RwandAir via Kigali, and Precision Air domestically. From North America, the Amsterdam, Doha and Addis routings are the common ones. From Europe, KLM's direct evening arrival is the most popular flight our guests take.
When Dar es Salaam makes sense
- The fare is materially cheaper and you are happy to add a domestic hop. - You are combining Zanzibar first and flying up to the safari afterwards. - You are arriving on an airline that does not serve JRO.
Budget an extra half day and roughly USD 120 to 220 per person for the DAR to JRO or ARK domestic flight.
Bush flights: ARK, not JRO
Light aircraft to Seronera, Kogatende and Ndutu leave from Arusha Airport (ARK), not from JRO. If your itinerary includes a fly-in leg, you will be driven the 45 minutes across town. Baggage on these aircraft is limited to 15kg per person in soft bags, including hand luggage.
Arrival logistics at JRO
- Visa on arrival is available, USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 100 for US passport holders (multiple entry). An e-visa applied for in advance saves queueing. - Yellow fever certificate is only required if you are arriving from or transiting more than 12 hours in a yellow fever country. - Most long-haul flights land in the evening. We meet every guest in the arrivals hall and transfer to Arusha, so the first safari morning starts fresh. - ATMs and SIM cards are available in the terminal; USD cash from 2009 or later is accepted widely.
The routing we book most
Home to Amsterdam, Doha or Addis, overnight to JRO, transfer to an Arusha hotel, safari starts the next morning, and either drive out or fly out to the Serengeti depending on the itinerary. On beach-and-bush trips we usually end at Zanzibar and fly home from ZNZ, which avoids backtracking.
“Nine out of ten of our guests should fly into JRO. It is 46 kilometres from Arusha and about an hour in the car. Landing in Dar for a Northern Circuit safari adds a domestic flight and most of a day for no reason.”
Ready to turn this into a trip?
FAQ
Which airport is closest to the Serengeti?+
For international arrivals it is Kilimanjaro International (JRO). Inside the park itself, the airstrips are Seronera, Kogatende, Ndutu and Grumeti, all served by light aircraft from Arusha Airport (ARK).
How far is Kilimanjaro Airport from Arusha?+
About 46km, roughly one hour by road. We include the transfer on every safari that starts in Arusha.
Should I fly into Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam?+
Kilimanjaro for a Northern Circuit safari. Dar es Salaam only if the fare is much cheaper or you are starting in Zanzibar, and then you add a domestic flight and most of a day.
Can I fly from Zanzibar to the Serengeti?+
Yes. Light aircraft run daily between Zanzibar and the Serengeti airstrips, which is how our 3-day and 4-day fly-in packages from the island work.
What is the baggage limit on bush flights?+
15kg per person including hand luggage, in soft-sided bags. Hotels in Arusha will store the rest of your luggage free of charge until you return.
Can I get a visa on arrival at JRO?+
Yes, USD 50 for most nationalities and USD 100 for US citizens. Applying for the e-visa in advance is faster on the day.
