Getting Here & Around

The main gateway to Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), located between Arusha and Moshi. It is served by several international airlines including KLM, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Kenya Airways with connections from major hubs worldwide.

Arusha is the safari capital of Tanzania, approximately 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport. Most safaris depart from Arusha, and we arrange airport transfers for all our guests.

Internal Flights: Tanzania has a well-developed network of light aircraft flights connecting the major safari destinations. These flights significantly reduce road travel time — for example, flying from Arusha to the Serengeti takes about 1.5 hours versus an 8-hour drive. Regional Air, Coastal Aviation, and Auric Air operate regular scheduled services.

Road Travel: Safari vehicles are custom-built 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs for optimal game viewing. Roads between parks are a mix of paved highways and unpaved tracks. Game drives within parks are on unpaved roads that can be bumpy — this is part of the adventure!

Zanzibar: Daily flights connect Arusha/Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar (1.5 hours). Alternatively, you can fly from the Serengeti directly to Zanzibar, which is the most time-efficient option if combining safari and beach.

Transfers: All transfers between airports, hotels, and safari departure points are included when you book a package with Africa Merit. We use comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles for all transfers.