Recommended airlines and routes
As stated earlier, even though we strongly recommend that our clients fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport near Moshi and Arusha, it is, however, possible to get to Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro by flying into Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. Nairobi may be in Kenya but it is still nearer to Mount Kilimanjaro than Dar es Salaam is.
The distance from Nairobi, Kenya to Moshi, Kilimanjaro is about 328.8 km and it would take you about a 6 h drive.
The distance from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Moshi, Kilimanjaro is approximately 541.2 km and it will take you at least 8-9 hours driving.
Getting to Kilimanjaro from Nairobi, Kenya
Coming from the U.K you can opt for Kenya Airways or British Airways flights that regularly fly from various airports like Heathrow, London in the United Kingdom to Nairobi, Kenya.
From Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya to your Moshi hotel
There are two ways of getting into Kilimanjaro from Nairobi. The first option is you can choose to fly from the Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, to Kilimanjaro International Airport by booking a flight using local carriers like Precision Air, Air Kenya, Air Tanzania or Ethiopian Airways.
The second option is choosing to travel by road from Nairobi to Moshi as there are many shuttle services at the airport. We can also offer to pick you up using our private form of transport from Nairobi, Kenya to Moshi in Tanzania for your Mount Kilimanjaro climb.
Getting to Kilimanjaro from Dar es Salaam
The most popular and frequent flights that jet into Dar es Salaam’s and Tanzania’s largest Airport include Turkish Airlines, Air Emirates and Qatar Airlines that fly regularly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (JRO).
Getting to Kilimanjaro from Zanzibar
From Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro is easier done by booking a flight from Zanzibar’s main airport, the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. There are various flights that fly from Zanzibar including international flights and Charter flights like Air Excel, Coastal Air, Regional Air and even Precision Air among others. Vayama operates great flights across the East African countries, namely, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and the island of Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam’s Airport – JRO.
Zanzibar being an exotic destination with pristine beaches on its coastline bordering the Indian Ocean offers the best Kilimanjaro add-on as you get the chance to relax after your Mount Kilimanjaro Challenge. Tranquil offers amazing combined, Kilimanjaro climbs and Zanzibar packages.
International Flights to Kilimanjaro
Below are some of the International flights from various parts of the world that will get you to Tanzania for your Mount Kilimanjaro trek.
The following airlines fly directly to Kilimanjaro airport:
- KLM
- Direct flights from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Kilimanjaro airport
- Condor
- Direct flights from Frankfurt, Germany to Kilimanjaro airport
- Turkish Airlines
- Direct flights from Istanbul, Turkey to Kilimanjaro airport
- Kenya Airways
- Direct flights from Nairobi, Kenya to Kilimanjaro airport
- Precision Air
- Direct flights from Nairobi, Kenya to Kilimanjaro airport
- Qatar Airlines
- Direct flights from Doha, Qatar to Kilimanjaro airport
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Direct flights from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Kilimanjaro airport
- RwandAir
- Direct flights from Kigali, Rwanda to Kilimanjaro airport
Many climbers choose to fly to Kenya because of the competitive prices they get for flying to Nairobi than any airport in Tanzania because the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is busier and receives a high amount of air traffic. Mount Kilimanjaro is closer to Nairobi than it is from Dar es Salaam and it can be even seen from the Kenyan side of the Amboseli National Park.
Domestic flights within Tanzania
The following local airlines and charter flights offer domestic air transport and flights within Tanzania Airports and airstrips:
- Precision Air
- Auric Air
- Regional Air
- Zan Air
- Coastal Air Aviation
- Air Excel
- Flight Link
- Air Tanzania
Shuttle & Bus transfers to Kilimanjaro, Moshi/Arusha
For an extra charge, we can pick you up from the airport of your arrival be it Moshi, Arusha or Nairobi and vice versa. There are Shuttle transfer services at the airports of your choice in Nairobi, Arusha and Moshi.
Departure and Arrival points for busses to and fro Nairobi are usually at the Parkside Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. As for tranquil Kilimanjaro clients, we can arrange for you to be picked at your Nairobi Hotel in the city centre or in the vicinity. The same applies for bus transfers in Arusha or Moshi town with pickups being at your hotel near or at the city centre.
| Bus schedule (subject to change) |
| Routing | Schedule | Departing | Arriving |
| Nairobi to Arusha | Daily | 08:00 | 14:00 |
| Nairobi to Arusha | Daily | 14:00 | 18:30 |
| Nairobi to Moshi | Daily | 08:00 | 15:30 |
| Moshi to Nairobi | Daily | 06:00 | 14:00 |
| Arusha to Nairobi | Daily | 08:00 | 14:00 |
| Moshi to Nairobi | Daily | 10:30 | 18:30 |
| Arusha to Nairobi | Daily | 14:00 | 18:30 |
Private transfers
We can arrange private transfers, pickups and drop-offs to and from Arusha, Moshi, Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam or Mombasa at an extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Getting to Kilimanjaro
Since all our climbs begin from Moshi Town in Tanzania which also happens to be the closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro itself you will need to get to Tanzania first by flying to the closest airport to Moshi Town which is the Kilimanjaro International Airport.
The other ways to get to Kilimanjaro is by either flying to Nairobi, Kenya then travelling to Tanzania or flying to Dar es Salaam then travelling again to Moshi. Whichever you will need to first get to Moshi at least a day before you begin your climb meaning if you cannot get into Kilimanjaro International Airport from a direct flight, you choose the first fly to either Nairobi or Dar es Salaam then choose the most appropriate way to get to Moshi, either by choosing to fly or travel by road.
The following airlines fly directly to Kilimanjaro airport:
