How to Get to Arusha City

How to Get to Arusha City , Arusha is the closest significant city to the renowned parks of Northern Tanzania, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Manyara. The bulk of safari tours in Tanzania commence from Arusha, where most tour providers and guides are situated.

Prior to begin your Tanzania safari, we advise arriving in Arusha one day early to recuperate in the city.

Here are various methods for getting to Arusha city:

Traveling to Arusha via Air Travel:

Arusha is readily reachable through two airports. Arusha Municipal Airport (ARK) is a domestic airport, whereas Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) serves international flights. Hotels in Arusha are located about 15 to 60 minutes from these two airports.

Arusha Airport (Domestic)

The predominant choice for travelers traveling to Arusha is to fly to Arusha Airport (ARK). It operates daily flights from multiple local destinations and maintains connections with nearly all major airports and airstrips in Tanzania.

Arusha Airport has numerous daily flights from major towns such as Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. The airfare varies from $100 and $300 per individual. Flights to Arusha Airport may be located and reserved on Kayak.

Your Tanzania safari can commence right from Arusha airport if you arrive in the morning, or we can provide a drive to your hotel in Arusha for $25 per vehicle (Toyota Alphard or equivalent).

Kilimanjaro International Airport

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the closest international airport to Arusha, has daily flights from domestic, African, and worldwide carriers. Hotels in Arusha will be approximately a one-hour drive from JRO.

JRO maintains consistent links with prominent cities in Tanzania, such as Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar, as well as key East African towns including Nairobi, Entebbe, Kigali, and Addis Ababa. It also offers flights from major cities in Europe and Asia, including Amsterdam, Istanbul, Dubai, and Doha.

Your Tanzania safari can commence right from Kilimanjaro Airport if you arrive in the morning. An additional fee of $30 is applied for pickup at Kilimanjaro Airport to commence your safari, as well as for drop-off at Kilimanjaro Airport on the final day immediately following the safari. We recommend resting for the night in Arusha if you arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport in the afternoon, then commencing your safari the following morning. We provide transportation from the airport to your hotel in Arusha for a fee of $50 per vehicle (Toyota Alphard or equivalent).

Traveling to Arusha via Road:

Traveling to Arusha by road is feasible from Nairobi (Kenya), Moshi (Tanzania), or Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania).

From Moshi to Arusha:

Moshi serves as the primary base for ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro. Should you be trekking Kilimanjaro prior to your safari, your Kilimanjaro operator will transport you to Moshi on the final day of the trek. The distance from Moshi to Arusha is around 85 kilometers, with a travel time of around 2 hours each direction. The fee for a private transfer from Moshi to Arusha in a Toyota Alphard or comparable car is $100.

We recommend that customers concluding their Kilimanjaro trek travel to Arusha on the final day, recuperate there, and commence their safari the following day. Commencing your Northern Tanzania Safari from Arusha rather than Moshi will conserve around 2 hours of transfer time.

From Nairobi to Arusha:

Nairobi is the preeminent metropolis in East Africa and possesses robust international flight connectivity. Alternatively, you may contemplate flying to Nairobi and subsequently traveling to Arusha by car. Note that Nairobi is located in Kenya, thus a separate visa is required for both Kenya and Tanzania if you intend to travel by road from Nairobi to Arusha. You will require a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate to present at the border while traveling from Kenya to Tanzania.

A shuttle is available from Nairobi to Arusha. The shuttle duration is around 6 to 6.5 hours, encompassing border crossings (30 to 45 minutes) and visa requirements at the Namanga border. The shuttle often departs at 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM from Nairobi to Arusha, with a fare of approximately $35 per individual. Private transportation can be arranged from Nairobi to Arusha for $250 per vehicle (Toyota Alphard or equivalent).

From Dar es Salaam to Arusha:

The distance from Dar-es-Salaam to Arusha is approximately 620 kilometers, requiring an estimated travel time of 11 to 12 hours by car. Bus services operate between these cities, with tickets priced at approximately $45 per individual. The bus typically departs at approximately 6:00 AM in the morning. Due to the extended duration of these bus journeys, air travel is the preferred choice from Dar es Salaam to Arusha. Direct flights are available from Dar es Salaam to national parks such as Serengeti, allowing you to commence your safari immediately.

Bypass Arusha and proceed directly to the parks!

Numerous routes exist to reach Arusha, contingent upon your location.

If you intend to embark on a safari in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania, you may bypass Arusha and opt for direct flights to bush airstrips located in or near national parks such as Serengeti, Tarangire, and Manyara. As only domestic planes operate at these airstrips, you must fly from one of Tanzania’s domestic airports—commonly Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, or Arusha—to the airstrips located within Tanzania’s national parks.

We may collect you at your arrival airfield and commence your safari adventure. This option would incur higher costs, as flights to bush airstrips are pricier than those landing in Arusha. Supplementary fees may be incurred for the transportation of your Land Cruiser from Arusha to your designated pickup place in the bush upon your arrival.