How to get to Tanzania: airports, flights and border crossings

Tanzania has three airports most visitors use. Kilimanjaro International (JRO) sits between Arusha and Moshi and is the natural arrival point for the northern circuit: Tarangire, Ngorongoro, the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro climbs. Zanzibar (ZNZ) is the beach and Stone Town airport, with direct seasonal flights from Europe and the Gulf. Dar es Salaam (DAR) is the biggest hub, best for the southern parks (Nyerere, Ruaha), the coast and the cheapest long-haul fares.

Almost all long-haul routes connect once. Common gateways are Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul and Amsterdam; a few European carriers fly direct to Zanzibar in season. If you are combining safari and beach, an open-jaw ticket into JRO and out of ZNZ (or the reverse) saves a back-track. Domestic hops between Arusha, Serengeti, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are short and frequent in the dry season.

There are no non-stop flights from the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, so plan on one connection and a total journey of roughly 20–30 hours door to door. UK and European travellers usually have one stop as well, unless they catch a seasonal direct to Zanzibar.

Overland entry is possible and popular with travellers coming from Kenya. The main crossings are Namanga and Holili from Kenya, Mutukula from Uganda, Rusumo from Rwanda and Tunduma from Zambia. Buses run from Nairobi to Arusha and from Kigali to Mwanza; expect long days, border formalities and a change of vehicle. Check current opening hours and visa rules before you commit, because some smaller posts close at night.

By sea, the regular passenger route is the ferry between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, which is domestic travel once you are already in the country. There are no reliable international passenger ships into Tanzania; cruise calls at Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam exist but are not a way to plan a trip.

Buy the e-visa online before you fly and carry a printed copy. From 1 October 2026 inbound travellers must also hold the mandatory US$44 insurance; confirm the current rule and price on the official portal before booking. Yellow fever vaccination proof is commonly requested if you arrive from a country with transmission risk, so check the requirement for your route.

On arrival, have your accommodation address, onward ticket and enough cash or a card for the visa and insurance fees. ATMs and card acceptance are better in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar than upcountry. Buy a local SIM or eSIM at the airport if you want data from day one.

Match the airport to the trip, not to the cheapest fare alone. A safari-first itinerary should land at JRO and start with one night in Arusha. A beach-first trip should land at ZNZ. If you want the south, Mahale or a cheaper long-haul fare, start at DAR and fly or drive onward.

Build in a buffer night before any domestic connection or safari departure; delays happen and lodge transfers do not wait. If you are combining countries, an open-jaw ticket (in one country, out another) usually costs little more than a return and saves a wasted day.