Travel Advice How To Get To Kilimanjaro 3rd May, 2022

So you have decided to climb Kilimanjaro. You have researched the best time to visit Kilimanjaro. You have chosen a reputable and reliable travel company.

To reach the mountain you need to first land at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). The map below shows the airport in relation to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Situated southwest of the park, Kilimanjaro Airport is located approximately equal in distance between Arusha and Moshi. Moshi is roughly 45 minutes drive away from the airport and most trekkers will spend the night there before continuing on to Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Probably the best and most reliable option for Northern Hemisphere trekkers is to fly direct to Kilimanjaro from Amsterdam using KLM Airline.

Departing Amsterdam each day at 10am, the flight arrives into Kilimanjaro International Airport around 20.30pm on the same day - plenty of time to get to your hotel and get settled.

KLM is a great option for flights, you can find out more about flying to Tanzania with them here.

For all trekkers from the UK, Europe and the US, this flight is probably the best option as any local airport hub will offer flights to Amsterdam in which you can take the connecting flight to JRO.

The other positive point in flying from Amsterdam is that KLM are very professional and reliable when it comes to baggage and delay issues (plus Amsterdam is a super cool city!).

Find KLM flight prices here

British Airways fly direct from London, UK to Nairobi. This flight is fairly expensive though. You can then take a 6 hour bus from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro which will include purchasing a Kenyan visa. Connecting flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro are available but will come at a cost.

Like British Airways, both Ethiopian Airways and Kenyan Airways offer indirect flights to Kilimanjaro Airport. Operating in most major airport hubs across Europe and the United States, both airlines fly direct to Nairobi (Kenya) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and then connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The downside here is the connecting times and the reliability of the airline which frequently reports delays and lost/stolen baggage which can be a nightmare for trekkers on a schedule.

Whilst there are no direct flights to Kilimanjaro from anywhere in Southern Africa, there are many airlines, including South African Airways, Emirates and Kenyan Airways that fly direct to Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa or Nairobi from which you can take a connecting flight.

There is now a direct flight from Doha International Airport in Qatar to Kilimanjaro Airport. This is not a bad idea for UK residents living near Manchester or London as the flight options to Doha are quite fair. Obviously this is a great option for trekkers from India, the Middle East or Eastern Europe, however, the layover times can be quite long.

Turkish Airlines have opened up a direct flight to Kilimanjaro from Istanbul International Airport. The flights are generally cheaper than others but sadly the arrival time into Kilimanjaro Airport is 2am with the returning flight leaving at 3am! Therefore, any money you save on the flight is likely to be spent on an extra night hotel in Moshi or Arusha unless you are planning on climbing Kilimanjaro in a sleep deprived haze of jet lag (not recommended).

If the cost of flying direct to Kilimanjaro International Airport outweighs the benefits then your best (and cheapest) option is to fly into Nairobi, relax the night at a local hotel, then take the 6 hour connecting bus to Arusha, crossing the border at Namanga. This option requires you to have a Kenyan tourist visa which can be purchased upon arrival at Nairobi Airport.

The bus leaves twice a day, one in the morning and once in the afternoon, and costs between US$25-30 which can be paid in cash when embarking the bus. You can either turn up and hope the bus is not full or pre-book on their website www.riverside-shuttle.com

If you arrive late into Nairobi after the last bus has departed and you're on a super tight schedule, then don't panic, there is the option of a private transfer. The private transfer will take you directly from your hotel in Nairobi to your hotel in Arusha/Moshi for somewhere between US$350 - 500 and takes just over 4 hours. There is an option on vehicle size and the time of day you wish to travel. Travelling at night is certainly an option for any trekkers in a hurry, however, the roads are notoriously bumpy and littered with potholes, therefore, driving at night is a risk and we would not recommend it.

That's it folks! There are a number of options for flights to Kilimanjaro and there are certainly a number of indirect ways to reach the mountain. The most painless way is probably the KLM flight from Amsterdam, but no matter how frustrating your journey is, the roof of Africa makes up for it tenfold! So get booking!