Before you fly
Domestic and bush flights in Tanzania
How the small aircraft between parks work, the baggage rules that come with them, which of our safaris fly, and how to decide between flying and driving.
- 15 kg / 33 lb
- Typical limit per person, soft bags only
- Bush airstrips
- Close to your camp or lodge
- Two ways
- Scheduled routes, or a private charter
- Weather matters
- Schedules can shift in remote places
The short answer
Some itineraries use small aircraft to link parks. It saves long hours on the road and gives you a remarkable view of the landscape from above. The flights usually land on bush airstrips close to your camp or lodge, and they run either as scheduled services on set routes or as charters when your group or timing calls for a private plane.
The trade-off is baggage and cost. Light aircraft have strict weight limits, commonly around 15 kg / 33 lb per person including camera gear and hand luggage, and bags must be soft. A fly-in safari also adds the cost of the tickets, which is why many trips mix flying and driving.
Which of our safaris include a flight
These itineraries include at least one flight between parks or camps in their day-by-day plan. The price shown is the starting price per person for the whole safari, flights included.
Itineraries whose day-by-day plan includes a flight between parks or camps. Starting prices are per person sharing, at our Trail level.
The main domestic routes
Several scheduled airlines and charter operators fly within Tanzania, and which one flies your leg depends on the route and the day. Your itinerary confirms the flights on your trip.
| Route | How you usually fly it |
|---|---|
| Arusha and the northern parks | Light aircraft to bush airstrips near your camp, for example the Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire |
| Dar es Salaam to Arusha or Kilimanjaro | Scheduled airline flights, about an hour and a quarter to Kilimanjaro |
| Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar | Scheduled flights, a short hop across the water |
| Arusha to Zanzibar | Scheduled flights, handy for a bush-to-beach trip |
| Dar es Salaam and the southern parks | Light aircraft to Nyerere and Ruaha, which are remote and often reached by air |
| Western Tanzania | Flights to Kigoma for Gombe and onward to Mahale, followed by a boat or light aircraft |
Fly or drive between parks?
Neither is better in every case. Most guests mix the two: drive between the nearer northern parks, then fly to a far one.
Flying suits you if
- You want to save hours on the road, and your time is short
- You are heading to a far park, such as the northern Serengeti or the south
- You love the view from above and the bush-airstrip arrival
- You can pack into a soft bag of about 15 kg
Driving suits you if
- You want to see the country change as you go, and keep the total down
- You are travelling with more luggage
- The parks are close together, as in the northern circuit
- You are happy with long days and some bumpy roads
Baggage and rules for light aircraft
Pack like this
- A soft bag, such as a duffel, with no wheels or frame
- About 15 kg / 33 lb per person, including camera gear and hand luggage, unless we tell you otherwise
- Keep valuables, medicine and your camera in a small daypack
- Put heavier items, such as camera lenses, in your hand luggage if the airline allows it
Good to know
- Airlines may weigh passengers and bags for safety, and they set their own rules
- The exact allowance depends on the airline and aircraft, and we confirm it for your trip
- We can often arrange storage in town while you are in the parks
- Your planner builds in sensible connections and allows time for weather or schedule changes
Arusha airport and Kilimanjaro airport
Arusha has its own small airport, which handles domestic flights only. International flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, about an hour away by road. A few light-aircraft services link the two, but for most guests the road transfer is simpler, and it is the one we usually arrange.
Many domestic flights leave from Arusha, Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam, so your flight to a park often begins a short drive from your hotel.
Questions answered
What travellers ask us
Small aircraft that link parks and camps, usually landing on bush airstrips close to your lodge. They run as scheduled services on set routes, or as charters when your group or timing calls for a private plane.
Commonly around 15 kg / 33 lb per person, including camera gear and hand luggage, in soft bags. The exact allowance depends on the airline and aircraft, and we confirm it for your trip.
Rigid suitcases do not fit the cargo holds of light aircraft. Use a soft duffel bag with no wheels or frame.
The table above lists every itinerary that includes at least one flight between parks or camps, with its starting price.
It saves hours on the road and gives a wonderful view from above. It suits shorter trips and far parks. Many guests drive between the nearer northern parks and fly to a far one. Tell your planner whether hours saved or money saved matters more.
Yes. Weather and schedules can change in remote places. Your planner builds in sensible connections and allows time for it.
Often, yes. We can usually arrange storage in town while you are in the parks, which helps if you have extra luggage.
Arusha has its own airport for domestic flights, and a few light-aircraft services link it with Kilimanjaro, but most guests simply take the road transfer of about an hour.
Keep planning
Where to go next
Flights to Tanzania
Which airport to fly into, who flies there and how to plan your routing.
Read moreArrival and transfers
What happens when you land, and how long the transfer takes.
Read moreTanzania safari cost
What flying and driving do to the price.
Read moreTrip dates calculator
Pick a safari and a start date to see every date of the trip.
Read more
Free guides
Take the planning with you
A free PDF to read at your own pace: where to go, when, and what each park is best for. Tell us where to send it.
Free PDFFree guide
The Tanzania Safari Planning Guide
Where to go, when, and what each park is best for: a clear primer before you choose a safari.
- The best months for every park, park by park, on one page
- A profile of each destination: the landscape, the wildlife to expect and the size of the park
- The ways to travel, from classic game drives to walking, beach and combination trips
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