Almost everyone who travels with us lands at the same airport, and the ones who do not usually wish they had. Here is how the map actually works.
Which airport should you fly into?
For a Kilimanjaro climb or a northern safari, fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, code JRO. It sits between Moshi and Arusha and it is the front door to everything we run. From there it is a straightforward road transfer to your hotel, which we arrange as part of your trip.
Dar es Salaam, code DAR, is the country’s main hub but it is a long way south of the northern parks. It makes sense if you are going to the southern parks or connecting onward to the coast. Zanzibar, code ZNZ, has its own international airport, so if the island is the end of your trip you can often fly home from there rather than doubling back.
There is also a small airstrip in Arusha itself, code ARK, used mostly for light aircraft to the parks. You will not fly there from overseas, but you may fly from there.
What happens when you land?
Immigration, then baggage, then someone from our crew with your name on a sign. Have your visa arrangements, your passport and your yellow fever certificate if your route requires one ready before you join the queue, because the queue is where people discover they do not.
Arrival can be slow at busy times. Build the evening after your flight into your plan rather than scheduling anything that matters.
How do the internal legs work?
Two ways. By road, in your safari vehicle, which is how most northern circuit trips run and lets you see the country between the parks. Or by light aircraft, which turns a long drive to the Serengeti into a short hop and is worth it when days are tight. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits and prefer soft bags, so pack accordingly.
Zanzibar is a short flight from Arusha or from an airstrip in the Serengeti. To be clear about what we do and do not sell: we arrange your ground transfers and your trip, but we do not sell international flights. Book those yourself, then send us the details.
When should you arrive?
A day before anything begins, especially before a climb. Missed connections and delayed bags happen, and a spare day turns a disaster into an inconvenience.
Send us your flight times once they are booked and we will build the transfers around them.
