How Do You Get to Kilimanjaro: Flights/Road – Complete Guide

To get to Mount Kilimanjaro, you must travel to Tanzania in East Africa, where your journey will almost always begin by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Located right between the primary gateway towns of Moshi and Arusha, this airport acts as the central hub for all trekking expeditions.

To reach Kilimanjaro you have to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). CODE (IATA: JRO, ICAO: HTKJ) is operated daily by several airlines. The nearest large towns to Kilimanjaro National Park are the town of Moshi and the city of Arusha.

You can usually fly direct to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) via the Gulf (Qatar airlines, Emirates) or via Europe (KLM) depending on where you are travelling from.

Alternatively, fly into Dar-Es-Salaam (DAR), the capital of Tanzania, for a short domestic trip to (JRO) or fly into Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) airport for a connection to JRO (Kenya Airways, Precision Air).

One of the greatest ways to find inexpensive tickets to Kilimanjaro International Airport is to fly into Nairobi Kenya. You can also drive in from Kenya having flown into the country. There are plenty of bus and shuttle alternatives that will take you to Moshi town or the city of Arusha, but be aware that the roads may be rather bumpy at times. You might choose this if you’re feeling adventurous, wanting to save money and have ample time.

Where to fly to climb Kilimanjaro – International Flights to Kilimanjaro

To travel to Kilimanjaro you’ll first have to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). There are direct flights from a few European towns (Amsterdam and Zurich) and Middle Eastern cities (Doha and Turkey) but more likely you will have to fly via another African city such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Nairobi.

Below we have listed airlines that fly directly to Kilimanjaro airport (JRO).

  • KLM: Direct flights from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Condor Air: Direct flights from Frankfurt to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Turkish Airlines: Direct flights from Istanbul to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Kenya Airways: Direct flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Precision Air: Direct flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Qatar Airways: Direct flights from Doha to Kilimanjaro airport
  • Ethiopian Airlines: Direct flights from Addis Ababa to Kilimanjaro airport
  • RwandAir: Direct flights from Kigali to Kilimanjaro airport

If you can’t locate direct flights to Kilimanjaro airport, then you can fly to the airport via Dar Es Salaam or Nairobi (Kenya). Mount Kilimanjaro is much nearer to Nairobi than it is to Dar Es Salaam. Kilimanjaro Airport has much less flight traffic than Nairobi, hence it is more expensive.

Best way to fly to Kilimanjaro from US, Europe and UK

The easiest way to do for climbers in the US, Europe and the UK is to fly from a big local airport hub near you to Amsterdam (most major airports in US, Europe and the UK have flights to Amsterdam) and then grab the KLM Airlines to JRO connecting flight.

Domestic flights within Tanzania and Kilimanjaro airport (JRO)

The following airlines offer domestic flights within Tanzania region:
Precision Air, Fly540, Regional Air, Fast jet, Zan Air, Coastal Aviation, and Air Excel

Bus transfers from Nairobi

We may organise private transportation or shuttle bus transfers from Nairobi to Moshi or Arusha, and vice versa, at an additional cost.

The bus departs from the Park Side Hotel in Nairobi but we are happy to pick up our clients from selected hotels in the Nairobi city center or Nairobi airport at no extra cost. We can arrange to pick you up or drop you at most hotels in the city center area of Arusha or Moshi town.

Private transfers

Private transports to Arusha or Moshi from Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam or Mombasa and vice versa can be arranged at extra cost.

Where do the Mount Kilimanjaro Climbs Begin?

For any Kilimanjaro expedition in Tanzania, Moshi and Arusha are the main departure locations. There are plenty of nice hotel alternatives, restaurants, stores and marketplaces, and most tour operators make their base in one of these sites, which are bustling with activity. You can also read more about where is Mt Kilimanjaro

Moshi town is nearer to the Kilimanjaro international airport (JRO), approximately 40 minutes by car (45 km), while Arusha town is around 90 minutes away (70 kilometres).

Kilimanjaro International Airport

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is the main airport serving Mt Kilimanjaro. It is approximately 50 kilometres east of Moshi and 70 kilometres west of Arusha where you will be staying before and after your climb.

Other Considerations For Mount Kilimanjaro

  • We highly recommend checking your Visa & Passport requirements well in advance of your booking, including any visa requirements for transit countries.
  • Make sure you are up to date with vaccinations, including Yellow Fever, particularly if you have a layover in a country at risk (eg. Kenya)
  • We recommend arriving a couple of days ahead of your climb. This allows for any unexpected delays and gives you an opportunity to be properly rested before the start of your climb.

We’re here to help. We can help you plan your travel itinerary, book local options and any questions you’ve got!