Getting Here

INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHT ROUTES TO THE SERENGETI

Tanzania is served by a number of international airlines, including the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. The Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north of the country is the closest for connections to the Serengeti, although you’ll need to take a domestic flight from all of the international airports to reach the Seronera Airstrip in the heart of the Serengeti National Park.

Depending on your arrival time, you may need to overnight in Arusha, Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar prior to flying to the Serengeti the following day.

ARRIVING INTO KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL (JRO)

Kilimanjaro International airport is served by a number of international airlines, including Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, Fastjet, Kenya Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Safarilink, Turkish Airlines, RwandaAir and Fly Dubai.

If your international flight arrives before 11:00 am, it’s possible to make a same-day connection to the Seronera Airstrip (minimum of two passengers). The flight time from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Seronera Airstrip is approximately one hour.

If your international flight doesn’t allow for a same-day connection to the Seronera Airstrip, we can arrange a road transfer to Arusha. You can comfortably spend the nighthere before connecting to the Seronera Airstrip the following morning.

Suggested Arusha Accommodations:  

    •    Arusha Coffee Lodge

    •    Legendary Coffee Lodge

ARRIVING INTO JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL IN DAR ES SALAAM (DAR)

Julius Nyerere International airport is served by a number of airlines, including Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, Malawian Airlines, Precision Air, Qatar Airways, South African Airlines, Turkish Airlines.

For international flights arriving before 5:00am, it’s possible to get a connecting flight to the Seronera Airstrip from Dar es Salaam. However, you’ll need to transfer to the airport's domestic terminal, which is a five-minute taxi ride from the international terminal. The flight time from the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam to the Seronera Airstrip is around three hours.

If your international flight doesn’t allow for a same-day connection to the Seronera Airstrip, you can book a connecting domestic flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport and proceed from there. Alternatively, we can arrange an airport transfer to your chosen accommodation for the night. You can then connect to the Seronera Airstrip the following morning from the Julius Nyerere International Airport.

Suggested Dar Es Salaam Accommodation:

    •    Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam

    •    The Oysterbay Hotel

ARRIVING INTO ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL

Zanzibar International Airport is served by a number of airlines, including Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, MANGO, Meridiana, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Oman Air, Ethiopia Airline and Turkish Airlines.

For international flights that arrive before 5:00 am, it’s possible to connect on a domestic flight to the Seronera Airstrip on the same day. If your international flight arrives after 5:00 am, you will need to spend the night on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. It boasts a number of beach resorts where you can relax overnight or for a few days if you so wish. Alternatively, you can overnight in the charismatic capital of Stone Town, which is just a 10-minute drive from the airport.

Our safari team is on hand to arrange domestic flights, airport transfers and local accommodation that suits your flight itinerary.

Suggested Zanzibar Accommodations:

    •    Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Stone Town

ARRIVING INTO NAIROBI AIRPORT (JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL)

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is served by a number of airlines, including Air Mauritius, British Airways, China Southern, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways and KLM.

If your international flight arrives in Nairobi before 5:00 am, you can connect on a domestic flight to the Seronera Airstrip the same day. Alternatively, you can board a short flight to Kilimanjaro International and travel to the Seronera Airstrip from there, either on the same day or after spending a night in Arusha.

Alternatively, you may opt to stay the night in Nairobi and board the early morning flight to the Seronera Airport the following day. If your international flight arrives in Nairobi in the early afternoon, you may also charter a private flight directly to the Seronera Airstrip the same day.

Suggested Nairobi Accommodations:

    •    Sankara Nairobi

    •    Tribe Hotel

    •    Hemingways Hotel

DOMESTIC FLIGHT CONNECTIONS TO THE SERENGETI

The Melia Serengeti Lodge is located in the centre of the Serengeti National Park and just 50 minutes’ drive from the Seronera Airstrip (SEU). There are four main airports in Tanzania that offer connecting flights to the Seronera Airstrip: Arusha Airport (ARK), Julius Nyerere International in Dar Es Salaam (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).

TRAVELLING FROM ARUSHA AIRPORT (ARK)

Several daily flights to the Seronera Airstrip are offered from the Arusha Airport, with the latest departure time currently scheduled at 1:00 pm. The direct flight time between the Arusha Airport and the Seronera Airstrip is approximately 70 minutes.

TRAVELLING FROM KILIMANJARO (JRO)

Morning flights depart from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the Seronera Airstrip, with the latest departure currently scheduled at 3:15pm. Alternatively, ground transfers can be arranged to Arusha (one-hour away) where additional domestic fights are scheduled.

TRAVELLING FROM DAR ES SALAAM  (DAR)

Morning flights are available from Dar Es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport to the Seronera Airstrip. Some are directwill others stop at various other airstrips en route and won’t arrive at the SeroneraAirstrip until the early afternoon.

TRAVELLING FROM ZANZIBAR (ZNZ)

Direct flightsdepart daily from Zanzibar to the Seronera Airport, with the journey taking around 2 hours 15 minutes. Alternatively, there are various options available for non-direct flights.

CHARTER FLIGHTS

In addition to scheduled flight routes, it’s also possible to charter a private aircraft directly to the Seronera Airstrip from various airports in Tanzania. Unlike scheduled flights, these private charters have the benefit ofno luggage weight restrictions, which makes them a good choice for those who can’t pack light. You can also select the flight time that’s convenient for you, with the option to land at the Seronera Airstrip at any time during daylight hours (sunset is between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm).

LOCAL AIRLINES AND LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

Local Tanzanian airlines include Air Excel, Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Auric Air and Flightlink. They all use Cessna Grand Caravans or similar aircraft that can accommodate 9 to 13 passengers. Luggage is restricted to 15 kgs per passenger and must be carried in soft-sided bags or suitcases (no hard shell cases are permitted).