Getting to Kilimanjaro

One of the most expensive parts of any expedition to Kilimanjaro is getting from your country of residence to Tanzania.

The closest international airport to Kilimanjaro is the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The airport is served by a limited number of African airlines and an even smaller number of European airlines. KLM is the main carrier that operates a daily flight from Amsterdam direct to Kilimanjaro. Flights from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro cost between £550.00 and £1400.00 return depending on what time of year you plan to fly. Edelweiss Air and Condor Air also operate flights from Germany to Kilimanjaro but these flights are seasonal and are used more for package holiday makers.

A cheaper option is to fly to Nairobi and either travel by land to Tanzania or get a connection flight from Nairobi Airport (NBO) to Kilimanjaro. Nairobi is serviced by many European airlines including British Airways, KLM, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Swiss International Airlines and Brussels Airlines. It is also serviced by international carriers that include South African Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Egypt Air and Kenyan Airways. Direct flights from the UK start from around £300.00 per person return which offers a huge saving compared to flying direct to Kilimanjaro.

Connecting flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro can be obtained from either Precision Air or Fly540. Both operate daily flights to Kilimanjaro and prices start at around £100 per person.

The cheapest option is to travel by land from Nairobi to Tanzania. The Impala Shuttle departs Nairobi twice daily destined for Arusha. The Shuttle collects passengers from the Airport at 8.15 am and 2.15 pm daily. The journey takes between 5 and 8 hours depending on the state of the road. A new road is in the process of being constructed and the journey becomes quicker as new sections of the road are completed. The journey costs around £10 per person one way and offers a great way to see East Africa by road. The Shuttle is quite comfortable and if money saving is what you are looking for this is the best option.

If travelling to Tanzania via Nairobi an additional cost at the border will be incurred. You will require a Kenyan visa costing US $50 and a Tanzanian visa costing US $50. It is important to make sure you have US Dollars to purchase you visa as officials charge £50 or 50 Euros if that is the only currency you have. It should be noted that only US dollars post the year 2000 will be accepted at the borders.