Airstrips in Serengeti | Transfers & Taxi
Serengeti National Park
One of Africa’s seven natural wonders and one of world’s 10 travel wonders. The Serengeti covers an area of over 30 000 sq km (11 500 sq m), ranges from northern Tanzania and crosses into south western Kenya – where it becomes known as the Masai Mara – and has the biggest terrestrial mammal migration in the world. Serengeti is known as ‘Masailand’.
This region is known for its great annual mammal migrations where over 2 million animals and their predators / dependents move from the Ngorongoro region in the south east, westwards into the Serengeti and then north into the Masai Mara and back again.
The Serengeti is home to over 70 large mammal and 500 bird species, making it amongst the most densely populated wildlife areas in the world. The climate in this region is dry and warm with cooler temperatures in the higher areas. With even temperatures across the year, the drier months are typically from May to October and the wettest being March and April.
There are nine airstrips found inside the park. The Seronera airstrip serves Central Serengeti; the Lobo, Kleins and Kogatende airstrips provide access to the north; the Grumeti, Kirawira and Sasakwa airstrips offer service to the Western Corridor; and the Kusini and Ndutu airstrips are situated in Southern Serengeti. Regional Air Services, Air Excel and Auric Air Services operate daily flights to several of the park’s airstrips from Arusha – a bustling city near Kilimanjaro International Airport. Round-trip flights generally cost between $396 and $435 per person
Airstrips in Serengeti
Seronera Airstrip:
The Seronera airstrip is located in a small settlement within the Serengeti National Park. Little can be said that has not been said before about the Serengeti.
The wildlife and scenery cannot fail to astound even the most hardened traveler. The National Park covers almost 15‚OOO km2‚ while the whole ecosystem which includes the Ngorongoro and Masai Mara‚ is more than double the size.
Following the Seronera River you may have the opportunity to see leopard‚ lion‚ cheetah‚ giraffe‚ hippo‚ buffalo and elephants alongside thousands of wildebeest‚ zebra‚ Thomson gazelle‚ hartebeest and impala.
Kogatende Airstrip:
To the south of the Mara River lies the Kogatende ranger post‚ built like an ancient fort. This part of the Serengeti was heavily poached by a neighboring tribe called the Wakuria in the 1950s and 1960s. The Lamai Triangle was added to the Serengeti National Park in 1965 resulting in the loss of access of the Wakuria tribe into their traditional hunting areas. Kogatende was constructed to protect the Serengeti rangers and anti poaching patrols‚ hence its formidable appearance.
The ultimate destination for the migratory herds is the Lamai Triangle‚ which is a triangular shaped watershed area just north of the Mara River. The river forms the bottom of the Lamai Triangle‚ which is a critical refuge for the migration during the long dry season.
Groups of hippos numbering over 50 individuals are commonly seen in the Mara‚ which is approximately 1-mile east of the Kogatende ranger post. Large herds of giraffes are commonly seen feeding on the acacia trees that dot the floodplains along the river. Lumbering elephants and graceful elands are also regular visitors to the Mara River.
Map Arusha airport to Serengeti
Sasakwa Airstrip:
Sasakwa airstrip serves the prestigious Singita Grumeti Reserve properties – Sasakwa Lodge‚ Serengeti House‚ Faru Faru Lodge and Sabora Tented Camp.
Singita Grumeti Reserve is a concession area which borders the western side of Serengeti to the north of the Western Corridor. It spans a vast wilderness of 350‚000 acres (140‚000 hectares). The area is relatively untouched‚ and the famous “migration” passes through from around June to August.
This region of the Serengeti has breathtaking and vast open plains‚ rocky outcrops‚ riverine forest and woodland. Due to its size‚ it supports a resident population of wildlife throughout the year.
The reserve is open to residents of the lodges and camp and offers unrivalled privacy and exclusivity for game viewing. The lodges and camps are five-star quality‚ offering hot air balloon trips‚ horse riding and a range of sporting activities like tennis‚ archery‚ mountain biking‚ croquet and badminton.
Serengeti Kusini Airstrip:
A small airstrip that is located near the Kusini kopjes of Serengeti national park, that serves as a convenient way of getting to an area with otherwise less reliable road networks. It also sits in an area where the wildebeest migration starts from, thus enabling visitors in the area to view their large numbers from above.
Other features nearby that you could visit by plane include lakes Ndutu, Masek, Elemeti and El dabash – all of which serve as a calving area for wildebeest and zebra.
Fort Ikoma Airstrip:
Fort Ikoma airstrip is a small airstrip located North West of Serengeti National Park and is near the Seronera airstrip. The Fort Ikoma airstrip is not commonly used, given its nearness to the Seronera airstrip.
Fort Ikoma airstrip is about 3kms from Retima Hippo pool.
This airport has no ICAO code, we use TZ-0026 as reference. Nearby other airfields are Sasakwa Airport, Mugumu Airport, Kirawira B Aerodrome, Seronera Airport and Lamai Airport.
Kirawira Airstrip:
Kirawira B Airstrip also known as Kirawira Aerodrome is a rather small airstrip on the western corridor of Serengeti national park, just a stone’s throw away from the Grumeti river. It serves as one of few air access points into the park.
If you’re planning a visit to the Serengeti National Park and looking for a convenient and quick way to get there, the Kirawira B airstrip might just be what you need. This small airstrip, located on the western end of the park, is one of the few air access points into the park. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about Kirawira B airstrip, including the best time to visit, location, how to get there, and more.
Lobo Airstrip:
Lobo is located in the North of Serengeti National Park‚ only 28 km from the Masai Mara‚ the most spectacular scenario of wildlife in its pure essence. Lobo is ideally set in the migratory route of over two and a half million of wildebeest in their desperate struggle for survival.
The Lobo area is dominated by rolling hills. Owing to the undulating nature of the landscape‚ it is an ideal area to view animals from a distance‚ especially around Lobo Kopjes kopjes are eroded granite hills that were created millions of years ago when volcanic bubbles broached the surface and solidified they were then eroded by rains‚ creating singularly beautiful forms. These higher grounds provide fantastic views of the migration in the grasslands to the east. The waterholes spread all over the area attract a variety of wildlife such as elephant‚ zebra‚ buffalo and gazelle.
Grumeti Airstrip
Grumeti is situated in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti National Park.
The Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see. While the river stops flowing‚ some pools remain throughout the dry season providing refuge for these giants‚ who may not eat for a year.
In June/July when the migration arrives‚ these giants engage in their annual feast‚ and gorge on Wildebeest and Zebra as they come to drink or attempt to cross the river.
Unsurprisingly, activities in this wildlife-rich reserve focus on wildlife viewing, through game drives and walking safaris. However, at some properties you can also enjoy community visits.
Ndutu Airstrip
Ndutu Airstrip in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania will be closed for maintenance until December 14th. Though the timing is not convenient for travelers wanting to see the great migration as it heads south, Coastal Aviation will work with its customers to create alternative options. For existing and future bookings, the airline is offering flights into Lake Manyara airfield, or to the closest airstrips in the Serengeti. Travelers should note that landing in Serengeti Park makes them liable to pay park fees.
The Ndutu Region forms part of the northern section of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and stretches to the unfenced southern reaches of the Serengeti National Park, a meeting point between these two incredible wilderness areas. This section of the park is made up of rolling grasslands peppered with alkaline lakes that attract flocks of flamingos, as well as acacia woodlands.
How to get to Lodges in Serengeti from the Airstrips?
We get a lot of emails/calls for people asking about how to get to Serengeti, and specifically in Lodges like: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Meliá Serengeti Lodge, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Mbalageti Serengeti, Kenzan Tented Camp Ikoma, Mbali Mbali Soroi Serengeti Lodge, andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas, Kisura Serengeti Camp, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Singita Serengeti House, Serengeti Bushtops Luxury Camp , Serengeti Tanzania Bush Camp, Ole Serai Luxury Camps, Moru Kopjes, Ole Serai Luxury Camps, Turner Springs , Serengeti Mawe Tented Camp, Melia Serengeti Lodge Member of Melia Collection, One Nature Nyaruswiga Serengeti, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Osero Serengeti Tented Camp, Soroi Serengeti Lodge, Cherero Camp Thorn Tree, Kirawira Serena Camp, Kenzan Tented Camp, Osero Serengeti Tented Camp, Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Savannah Camps, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.
Important Point to note:
- It is difficult to get Transport/Transfer from any Strip in Serengeti ( Seronera Airstrip, Kogatende Airstrip, Sasakwa Airstrip, Lobo Aistrip, Serengeti Kusini Aistrip, fort Koma Airstrip and Kirawira Airstrip) to any lodge/tented Camp in Serengeti
This means that, if you book a flight to Serengeti, and you need a transfer from any of the above airstrip, the Safari Vehicle has to drive from Arusha or Karatu to Serengeti ( It may drive for: 450km from Arusha), to pick you up, and transfer you for a distance of about: 50km or more depending with the location of the lodge/tented camp.
- You may need a Safari Vehicle for game drive in Serengeti: As you visit Serengeti, you need a safari vehicle to drive around Serengeti, in this case, my best advice would be, why don’t land in Kilimanjaro airport, or Arusha, and drive in to Serengeti with your private Vehicle that will do both transfer and game drive?
This means, there won’t be flight cost to Serengeti, and at the same time you enjoy the drive from Arusha to Serengeti which is so very beautiful experience, you will have this Vehicle for all the days you will be in Serengeti, for less cost.
Transport Hubs and Directions:
PLANNING YOUR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT CONNECTIONS: Tanzania is serviced by a number of international airlines, with Kilimanjaro International Airport being the closest airport for connection to the Serengeti, yet Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar also providing alternative options. From each international airport, you will need to take a domestic flight into the Serengeti National Park. Depending on the time of your international flight arrival, it may be necessary to overnight in Arusha, Dar Es Salaam or Zanzibar, prior to flying to the Serengeti the next day.
ARRIVAL FROM KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL (JRO)Kilimanjaro International is serviced by a number of international airlines, including Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Edelweiss Air. Should your flight arrival time not allow for a same-day connecting flight to Seronera Airstrip, contact our Reservations Team for airport transfer and overnight accommodation assistance.
ARRIVAL FROM NAIROBI AIRPORT (JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL) Jomo Kenyatta International airport, in Nairobi, Kenya (NBO), offers a number of international flight connections. From there, you may transit to Tanzania via numerous connections throughout the day to Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO). International airlines include Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, South African Airlines and Swiss.
ARRIVAL FROM JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL IN DAR ES SALAAM (DAR)Julius Nyerere International is serviced by a number of international airlines, including Emirates, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, South African Airlines and KLM. For international flight arrivals before 7:30 am, you may board a connecting flight to Seronera Airstrip from the airport’s domestic terminal (five-minute taxi ride from the international terminal), with a flight time of approximately two hours.
Airstrips in Serengeti FAQ's
There are nine airstrips found inside the park. The Seronera airstrip serves Central Serengeti; the Lobo, Kleins and Kogatende airstrips provide access to the north; the Grumeti, Kirawira and Sasakwa airstrips offer service to the Western Corridor; and the Kusini and Ndutu airstrips are situated in Southern Serengeti.
YES, you can fly from Serengeti National Park to Zanzibar. Serengeti to Zanzibar is one of the most popular travel destinations. The trip is though time-consuming even by air it is worth taking a shot. From cafes to hotels there are different parts of the city of Zanzibar that can be explored. Zanzibar is, therefore, a one-stop shop for entertainment and enjoyment for which the island is known.
The Lobo Airstrip, The Lobo (LOB) airstrip is located in northern Serengeti and allows access to the following lodges: &Beyond Klein’s Camp, &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas and Taasa Lodge. Transfers from and to the Lobo airstrip are usually included when staying at any of these lodges but please note that additional fees may apply.
The Kogatende (KOG) airstrip is located in the northern Mara sector of the Serengeti and allows access to several lodges, including: Singita Mara River Tented Camp, Lemala Kuria Hills, Serengeti Bushtops, Nomad Lamai and Kimondo Migration Camp. Transfers from and to the Kogatende airstrip are usually included when staying at any of these lodges but please note that additional fees may apply. More flight options are available in peak season
The Ndutu (NDT) airstrip is located in the southeastern sector of Serengeti National Park and allows access to the following lodges: Sanctuary Kusini Camp, Kimondo Migration Camp, Serengeti Under Canvas and Nomad Serengeti Camp. Transfers from and to the Ndutu airstrip are usually included when staying at any of these lodges but please note that additional fees may apply.
YES! Arusha Airport offers several daily local airline flights to Seronera Airstrip, with the latest departure time currently scheduled at 1:00 pm and a direct flight time of approximately 45 minutes.
Local airlines include Air Excel, Coastal Aviation, Regional Air, Northern Air and Auric Air. These airlines use Cessna Grand Caravans or similar aircraft, which carry nine to 13 passengers. Luggage is restricted to 15 kg (33 lbs) per passenger and must be carried in soft-sided bags or suitcases (no hard-shell cases).
YES! The Tanzania National Parks Authority requires all visitors to the Serengeti National Park to pay a National Park entrance fee along with a Concession Fee for overnight stays. All below fees are quoted in USD, are inclusive of VAT and are applicable per person, per day. A 5% surcharge will occur in the event The Lodge arranges for guests’ Park Fees and Concession Fees.
The Seronera (SEU) airstrip which is located in the cental sector of Serengeti National Park and allows access to a multitude of lodges, including: Four Seasons, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, One Nature Nyaruswiga, Lemala Ewanjan Camp, Siringit Camp, Lemala Nanyukie, Ehlane Plains and Namiri Plains. Transfers from and to the Seronera airstrip are usually included when staying at any of these lodges but please note that additional fees may apply.
The Sasawka (SSK) airstrip is located in Grumeti Game Reserve and allows access to the following lodges: Singita Sabora Tented Camp, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Singita Faru Faru and &Beyond Grumeti Tented Camp. Transfers from and to the Sasakwa airstrip are usually included when staying at any of these lodges but please note that additional fees may apply.
YES! Apart from shuttle flights, we also offer private charter services for maximum convenience and privacy. Private flights allow you the flexibility to competely customise your safari itinerary to your needs and route. Do not hestitate contacting us when you are interested in this option.
Safari to Serengeti national park, one can either choose to fly to Serengeti or to drive to the national park. Due to the long driving distance and time spent on the road, longer safaris in Serengeti national park are recommended and for those who have a short time for safari, they can choose flights to Serengeti national park during their Tanzania safaris. Serengeti national park can be by also driving from the wildlife viewing destinationswhich are found close to the park such accessed as the Ngorongoro crater, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and also Arusha national park.
After getting to Serengeti national park for safaris, there is so much to explore including the vast savannah plains where numerous wildlife species like the big five (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos) can be seen during a safari. The national park covers over 14750 square kilometers, drives are among the activities which are carried out during safaris in Serengeti national park and they can be done in the morning or afternoon and during the evening time while enjoying the sunset over the endless savannah plains of Serengeti national park. wildlife species which can be spotted during game drives around the national park include elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, kudu, waterbucks, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, hartebeests, dik dik among others
Popular Lodges and Tented Camps in Serengeti
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Meliá Serengeti Lodge, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Mbalageti Serengeti, Kenzan Tented Camp Ikoma, Mbali Mbali Soroi Serengeti Lodge, andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas, Kisura Serengeti Camp, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Singita Serengeti House, Serengeti Bushtops Luxury Camp , Serengeti Tanzania Bush Camp, Ole Serai Luxury Camps, Moru Kopjes, Ole Serai Luxury Camps, Turner Springs , Serengeti Mawe Tented Camp, Melia Serengeti Lodge Member of Melia , One Nature Nyaruswiga Serengeti, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Osero Serengeti Tented Camp, Soroi Serengeti Lodge, Cherero Camp Thorn Tree, Kirawira Serena Camp, Kenzan Tented Camp, Serengeti River Camp, Kon Tiki Serengeti Camp, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Savannah Camps, Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Wildbeest Camp , Pumzika Luxury Safari Camp , Serengeti Kifaru Tented Camp , Gnu Mara River Camp , One Nature Narusigwa Serengeti, Briston Serengeti Hotel , Serengeti Kamwene Tented Camp , Serengeti Budget Campsite & Safari, Kananga Special Tented Camp, Serengeti Sametu Camp , Yellow Barbet Tented Camp, Serengeti Pioneer Camp, Aurari Camp, Serengeti Woodlands Camp , Cherero Camp, Serengeti Wild Camp, Little Okavango Camp Serengeti , Grumeti Migration Camp , Serengeti Safari Lodge , Serengeti Migration Camp, Africa Safari Maasai Boma Zawadi Camp Serengeti , Asanja Moru , Africa Safari Maasai Boma Camping , Mbuzi Mawe Serena Camp, Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma