Flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport

If you choose to climb Kilimanjaro with us you will be required to purchase your flights yourself and to send us details in order to confirm precise dates for your climb, if you are not climbing on one of our scheduled climbs.

Booking the Cheapest Flights to Kilimanjaro

The following flight comparison and booking sites are worth comparing prices on before deciding to book your seats. However, once you find the best flights you're strongly recommended to book them directly with the airline, as if anything goes wrong with your booking, the airline staff will generally be powerless to assist you if you've booked with an intermediary.

Booking Flights with Kenya Airways to Kilimanjaro

And, while on the subject of booking directly with airlines, we would strongly advise you not to book with Kenya Airways, even if tempted by a slightly cheaper option with this airline. With our experience of having assisted climbers over the last 22 years in reaching Tanzania, we would estimate that the likelihood of something going wrong with your Kenya Airways booking is somewhere between 20 and 30%, as the airline appears to operate quite ruthless policies where a flight is deemed unlikely to be profitable. This may mean deliberately cancelling a flight and blaming it on a 'technical issue' or a 'bird strike', and delaying your holiday by around 24 hours with no explanation or apology. (For a more detailed explanation of how and why Kenya Airways pursues these policies travel industry representatives are advised to contact Kenya Airways and ask for Céline Ndile).

Ethiopian Airlines is a reliable alternative.

1. ⭐⭐⭐ Kayak - This has recently become TK's recommended flight search engine. Results load quickly and - very helpfully - colours on dates indicate cheap times to fly. ⭐
2. ⭐⭐⭐ Google Flights - Super fast and easy to use. $45 higher than cheapest, but the best presentation of the cheapest alternative dates. A good option for climbers with flexible schedules.
3. ⭐⭐⭐ Momondo - Quick site. Helpfully shows price comparisons with alternative dates. A good option if needing to work to exact dates.
4. ⭐⭐ Expedia - Reliable. Good mobile app. But around $75 higher than cheapest.
5. ⭐⭐ TripAdvisor Flights - Quick site. Around $10 higher than cheapest.
6. ⭐⭐ Kiwi - Slow, slightly buggy site. Around $20 higher than cheapest.
7. ⭐⭐ Fare Compare - Strange algorithms and cookie behaviour. Same seats vary by $15 within minutes. Disable cookies and pay $110 more!
8. ⭐⭐ Skyscanner - Around $40 higher than cheapest. Searches load slowly.
9. ⭐⭐ Booking.com - Convenient one-stop booking with flights and hotels stored in one reliable app. Around $50 higher than cheapest.
10. ⭐ Cheap Flights - Around $45 higher than cheapest. Slow buggy site. 
11. ⭐ Travelocity - Around $70 high than cheapest. Identical engine to Expedia.
12. ⭐ CheapOair - Quick site, but around $80 more than cheapest. Useful cheapest dates option.
13. ⭐ OneTravel - Identical site and prices to CheapOair. 
14. 👎 Travelzoo - Very hard to navigate if looking only for flights.

Getting to Kilimanjaro Using Flights Within East Africa

If flying into Nairobi or Dar es Salaam as opposed to Kilimanjaro International Airport, or if wishing to visit Zanzibar after climbing Kilimanjaro or going on safari with us, you may wish to obtain onward flights within East Africa. Team Kilimanjaro are not air traffic organisers and can only arrange places with third party aviation companies on domestic flights that are part of a safari itinerary. However, these are also possible to book directly:

• Alternative Airlines - Only useful for domestic flights or fares that don't show up on major flight comparison sites as long-leg flights show at around $130 higher than the cheapest prices available. Useful for connections to Rwanda and Uganda if going on a gorilla tracking safari after Kilimanjaro.
• Coastal Aviation - Only useful for connections on the safari circuit as flights for non-Tanzanian residents between Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are around double the cost when compared with Precision Air. Buggy site. Note also that you need to book at least 48 hours if buying online.
• Precision Air - Most usually booked for connecting flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Airport, and for other legs within East Africa.

Getting to Kilimanjaro by Bus from Nairobi

If unable to find affordable flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport an alternative is that you fly to Nairobi, spend the night at a hotel there and transfer to Arusha via a six hour bus journey, crossing the border at Namanga. You’ll need a Kenyan tourist visa for this option which you can purchase at Nairobi airport when you arrive.

A reliable and centrally situated hotel that is very conveniently located for pickup by the Shuttle Bus service to Arusha is the Comfort Hotel with whom you are encouraged to book directly.

If you wish to take the Shuttle Bus from Nairobi to Arusha you can either book and pre-pay for this via their website: www.riverside-shuttle.com or else request Team Kilimanjaro to book this on your behalf, if happy to commit yourself to an exact departure time. If you wish us to do this you will need to specify whether you wish to use the morning (leaves Nairobi at 0800 and arrives into Arusha around 1400) or afternoon (usually leaves at 1400 - though currently suspended during COVID) Nairobi departure and you will need to have ready the (variable) fare of USD 25-35 per person in cash on boarding the bus.

Private Vehicle Transfers to Kilimanjaro from Nairobi

If you’re arriving into Nairobi too late in the day to catch the Shuttle Bus departures to Arusha, and you don’t want to lose time spending a night in Nairobi, another option is to use a private vehicle transfer from Nairobi Airport to your hotel in Arusha. This option usually takes a little over four hours and costs between USD 250 (for a small car) and USD 500, depending on availability, the size of the vehicle requested, and the time of day you wish to travel.

Travelling at night is possible in the case of climbers who are very pressed for time, however the roads are not very well serviced between Nairobi and Arusha, and in places there are potholes which, in our view, makes this option much riskier than most would be happy with. Team Kilimanjaro are able to arrange private vehicle transfers on climbers’ behalves, by subcontracting Kenyan transit operators.