Our African safari specialists are more than happy to assist in planning your international and domestic flight routes to access the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. Aside from booking flights, we can also organise local transfers and accommodation to create the perfect safari itinerary.
In this guide, we’ll outline flight details for Tanzania’s major international airports, along with connecting domestic flight information. We’ll also share with you some of our top recommended hotels for overnight stays and information related to ground transfers.
INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHT ROUTES TO THE CRATER LODGE
Tanzania is served by a number of international airlines, including the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. If you’re travelling to the Ngorongoro Crater, the Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north of the country is the closest access point.
Depending on your arrival time, you may need to overnight in Arusha (near the Kilimanjaro International Airport), Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar before continuing on to the Ngorongoro Crater the following day.
ARRIVING INTO KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL (JRO)
Kilimanjaro International airport is served by a number of international airlines, including Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, Fastjet, Kenya Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Safarilink, Turkish Airlines, RwandaAir and Fly Dubai.
From the Kilimanjaro International Airport, it’s around four hours on a well-sealed road to the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge or just over an hour to Arusha if you want to spend a night there before continuing. Our safari team is on hand to arrange domestic flights, airport transfers and local accommodation to suit your itinerary.
Suggested Arusha Accommodations:
ARRIVING INTO JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL IN DAR ES SALAAM (DAR)
Julius Nyerere International airport is served by a number of airlines, including Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, Malawian Airlines, Precision Air, Qatar Airways, South African Airlines, Turkish Airlines. It offers plenty of connecting domestic flights throughout the day to Kilimanjaro International Airport from where you can proceed to the Ngorongoro Crater.
If your international flight doesn’t allow for a same-day connection to Kilimanjaro International Airport, you can overnight in Dar Es Salaam. Our safari team is on hand to arrange domestic flights, airport transfers and local accommodation to suit your itinerary.
Suggested Dar Es Salaam Accommodation:
• Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam
• The Oysterbay Hotel
ARRIVING INTO ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL
Zanzibar International Airport is served by a number of airlines, including Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, MANGO, Meridiana, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Oman Air, Ethiopia Airline and Turkish Airlines.
If your international flight doesn’t arrive in time for a connection to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will need to spend the night in Zanzibar. Our safari team is on hand to arrange domestic flights, airport transfers and local accommodation to suit your itinerary.
Suggested Zanzibar Accommodations:
Zanzibar is famed for its beach resorts where you can kick back for a few days overlooking the Indian Ocean before or after your safari. Alternatively, you can opt for a convenient overnight stay in the capital, Stone Town, which is just a 10-minute drive from the airport.
• Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Stone Town
ARRIVING INTO NAIROBI AIRPORT (JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL)
Situated in neighbouring Kenya, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is served by a number of airlines, including Air Mauritius, British Airways, China Southern, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways and KLM. It also offers direct flights tothe Kilimanjaro International from where you can continue directly to Ngorongoro or overnight in Arusha before continuing the following day.
If your international flight doesn’t arrive in time for a connection to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you canspend the night in Nairobi and board the early morning flight the following day.
Suggested Nairobi Accommodations:
• Sankara Nairobi
• Tribe Hotel
• Hemingways Hotel
DOMESTIC FLIGHT CONNECTIONS TO THE NGORONGORO CRATER
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area can also be visited in combination with the Lake Manyara National Park, which is accessible by domestic flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip . It’s around 1½ hours drive to the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge from the Lake Manyara Airstrip, due to the bad weather at Ngorongoro Crater Airstrip most scheduled charter use Lake Manyara Airstrip as the the alternative airstrip closest to Ngorongoro.
There are four main airports in Tanzania that offer connecting flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip: Arusha Airport (ARK), Julius Nyerere International in Dar Es Salaam (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).
TRAVELLING FROM ARUSHA AIRPORT (ARK)
Several daily flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip: are offered from the Arusha Airport, with the latest departure currently scheduled at 1:00 pm. The direct flight time between the Arusha Airport and Lake Manyara Airstrip: is approximately 20 minutes.
TRAVELLING FROM KILIMANJARO (JRO)
There are currently a number of morning flights from Kilimanjaro to the Lake Manyara Airstrip:, with the latest departure at 11:00 am. Alternatively, ground transfers can be arranged to Arusha where additional domestic fights are scheduled.
TRAVELLING FROM DAR ES SALAAM (DAR)
A number of morning flights are available from Dar Es Salaam to the Lake Manyara Airstrip:, although most stop at various other airstrips en route and won’t arrive into Lake Manyara Airstrip: until the early afternoon.
TRAVELLING FROM ZANZIBAR (ZNZ)
There is one direct flight that departs daily from Zanzibar to the Lake Manyara Airstrip: in a pressurised aircraft, which allows for a faster flying time (around 2 hours 50 minutes). There is limited availability on this flight and non-direct flight routes may be more accessible.
DOMESTIC FLIGHT CONNECTIONS TO LAKE MANYARA
The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge can also be visited in combination with Lake Manyara National Park, which is accessible by domestic flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip (LKY). It’s around 1.5 hours drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from the Lake Manyara Airstrip.
There are three main airports in Tanzania that offer connecting flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip: Arusha Airport (ARK), Julius Nyerere International in Dar Es Salaam (DAR)and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).
TRAVELLING FROM DAR ES SALAAM (DAR)
A number of early morning flights are available from Dar Es Salaam to the Lake Manyara Airstrip, with the journey taking around two hours.
TRAVELLING FROM ARUSHA AIRPORT (ARK)
Several daily flights to the Lake Manyara Airstrip are offered from the Arusha Airport, with the latest departure currently scheduled at 1:00 pm. The direct flight time between the Arusha Airport and Lake Manyara Airstrip is approximately 30 minutes.
TRAVELLING FROM KILIMANJARO (JRO)
There are currently a number of morning flights from Kilimanjaro to the Lake Manyara Airstrip for international flights arriving before 12:00 pm. The direct flight time between the Kilimanjaro International Airport and Lake Manyara Airstrip is approximately 45 minutes. Alternatively, ground transfers can be arranged to Arusha where additional domestic fights are scheduled.
TRAVELLING FROM NAIROBI AIRPORT (JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL)
If your international flight arrives in Nairobi before 7:00 am, you may be able to connect on a direct flight to the Lake Manyara Airstrip. Alternatively, you can board a short flight to the Kilimanjaro International Airport and connect from there.
CHARTER FLIGHTS
In addition to scheduled flight routes, it’s possible to charter a private aircraft directly to the Lake Manyara Airstrip, then continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from there. Charter flights aren’t restricted byluggage weight limits and you can choose the time of the flight during daylight hours (sunset is between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm).
LOCAL AIRLINES AND LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS
Local Tanzanian airlines include Air Excel, Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Auric Air and Flightlink, all of which use Cessna Grand Caravans (or similar aircraft) that are capable of carrying 9 to 13 passengers. Luggage is strictly limited to 15 kg per passenger and must be carried in soft-sided bags or suitcases (no hard shell cases are permitted).
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