
Tanzania flying in Safari
By definition, ‘fly-in safaris’ refer to the fact that your transfers to and from your final safari destination will be by plane rather than road. Fly-in safaris are a much more convenient and time-saving option, maximising your time on the ground and allowing you access to remote, off the beaten track parts of Africa Although typically more expensive than a drive-in trip, it can well worth spending the extra cash for such a sensational trip.
Typically, a fly-in safari package will include flights via a small Cessna or Caravan aircraft from the international airport where you first land – and the journey across beautiful landscapes on a tiny plane is a unique experience in itself. You’ll head out into the bush by air, sometimes landing on just a dirt airstrip in the middle of the wild, which adds another edge to the spirit of adventure. This is a really fantastic way to see the wilderness and you’ll get some awesome views from the air on the way.
Here, you’ll be met by a representative from your camp or lodge for a short to the accommodation to get settled in before getting stuck into game drives and the fun activities. At the end of the trip, you’ll transfer back to your departing airport by light aircraft, or choose to travel onwards to another camp on your itinerary, anywhere in Africa!
TOP TANZANIA FLYING IN SAFARIS
A fly-in safari is perfect for travellers who only have a few days to see the wild. Swap hours of tedious travel in a car for a short transfer flight and you’ll be saving all that time up to spend on game drives and at your camp where the real safari adventure lies. With a fly-in option, safari holidays don’t need to be epic 12 or 14-day vacations – you can see and do everything in a short break of three or four days.
If you do have plenty of time for a safari, a fly-in trip can also allow you to travel vast distances between different camps for more than one adventure on your holiday. Don’t limit yourself to one national park or even one country! Many fly-in safari packages allow you to cross borders and hundreds of miles for a really complete experience.
Another advantage of flying in is the destination – you can experience remote areas that would otherwise be inaccessible by jeep. Get away from the crowds and back to nature, right out in the bush. You can’t beat a sundowner looking out from your camp or lodge with nothing but the wilds of Africa in sight, stretching for miles over the horizon.
Top Fly-in Safari in Tanzania:
- #1. Nothern Tanzania flying in Safaris
- #2. Southern Tanzania flying in Safaris
- #3. Western Tanzania flying in Safaris
- #4. Eastern Tanzania flying in Safaris
Tips for Fly-in Safaris
- #1. Even short trips of two or three days can be arranged with fly-in transfers.
- #2. Beware that the price will be a lot higher – typically $200 to $500 more per person than a drive-in trip.
- #3. Work out the balance of cost against time saved on the ground for the best value for money.
- #4. An eight or 10-hour drive can be covered in less than two hours by plane – value for money.
- #5. For maximum flexibility, look into a private tour for your family, or even as a couple.
- #6. As with all package deals, check what’s included before you book.
- #7. Remember that light aircraft are used for the transfer, which are very different from a jet.
- #8. There will be limited cargo and cabin space on small planes.
- #9. If you need to save on a long trip you can travel by land vehicle between destinations.
More Fly-In Safari Resources
- Fly-in safaris options throughout Tanzania and nearby countries.
How to get to Tanzania?
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 50km/31mi east of Arusha, the gateway of Tanzania’s popular Northern safari circuit. The drive from the airport to Arusha takes about 1½ hours*.
Tanzania’s main airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), located 13km/8mi southwest of Dar es Salaam. This is the entry point for visitors to the southern parks.
From Arusha or Dar es Salaam, you can fly or drive between reserves. Some domestic flights out of Arusha will leave from Kilimanjaro International Airport, while others leave from the much smaller Arusha Airport (ARK) located 8km/5mi west of town. However you choose to travel, in most cases, your local tour operator will pick you up from the airport and arrange all further transportation as part of your safari package.
Tanzania National Parks Map

Tanzania flying in Safari FAQ
You are to arrive in Tanzania from 3 major international airports and from them, you can take a charter flight into a national park. starting of your fly-in safaris
- Zanzibar is one of the most sought destinations in Tanzania and a tourist hub you can fly to and from most national parks.
- Dar es salaam, being the financial hub & a ferry away from Zanzibar, from here you can get flights to & all working airports and airstrips in Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro airport is the closest international airport to the Tanzania northern circuit parks. From this airport, you can get charter flights to the northern parks
- Arusha, being Tanzania safari hub, indeed a hub popular to those visiting the Tanzania famous northern parks. You can get charter flights to all northern parks, Serengeti, Manyara & Tarangire national parks
- Mwanza, being an airport in a port city & Tanzania second largest city by economic size from this airport you can get a charter flight to popular parks like the Serengeti
- From national parks to national parks, you can also fly from parks to park, Example you can fly from Manyara national parks to Serengeti national park to Selous national park.
Note: these scheduled charter flights do run round trips & direct trips to & from the parks so your logistics should be keenly maintained.
Fly-in excursions cost about $4,500 per person. For camping, visitors can expect to pay US$1,000 a person for a 7-day communal tour, and up to US$3,000 per individual for a mid-range personal tour.
The pricing of a safari in Tanzania is determined by a variety of variables. Joining a group camping excursion is the most cost-effective alternative. These can be a great deal of fun, but there is wonderful lodging available, and staying at safari lodges is also part of the experience.
There are resorts in various pricing ranges that provide various degrees of luxury and convenience. The most common type of accommodation is mid-range lodging at reasonable pricing.
Some national parks are very large in size & can have multiple airstrips so it is important to communicate with us & know which airstrip you should land to as some may be closer to parts of interest of the park at the particular time.
Routes
- Arusha to manyara to Serengeti
- Arusha to Serengeti
- Manyara to tarangire
- Serengeti to manyara to Arusha to dar es salaam to Zanzibar
- Serengeti to selous to dar es salaam to Zanzibar
- Dar es salaam to mafia
- Dar es salaam to Zanzibar
- Dar es salaam to pemba
- Dar es salaam to Serengeti
- Dar es salaam to manyara
- Dar es salaam to mikumi
- Dar es salaam to ruaha
- Zanzibar to dar es salaam
- Zanzibar to selous
- Zanzibar to Serengeti
- Zanzibar to mikumi
- Zanzibar to ruaha
- Selous to Mikumi
These are some routes; they are other routes that can be induced with a minimum of 2
Tip: as some parks have multiple airstrips you can also fly from an airstrip to the other in the same park. however, this is not the most economically sound decision.
If so, then this is the perfect option for you. Flying in and out of each destination on your Tanzania safari with ease. You will be able to maximize time at each location and minimize travel time between destinations. The use of a light aircraft allows one to cover vast distances in just an hour or two! This enables one to enjoy a long morning game drive before departure and an extended afternoon game drive on arrival, with vast distances in Tanzania between destinations being covered in a matter of an hour or two.
This is the most exciting way to explore the country’s iconic wildlife game reserves, national parks and, of course, wildlife attractions and idyllic Indian Ocean Islands. With our fly-in packages, we can take care of all arrangements from start to finish, including; flight bookings, transfers, and accommodation at every destination on your itinerary – making booking a Tanzania itinerary as painless as possible!
Any of the flying safari experience options below take in some of Tanzania’s best attractions, including; Serengeti (for the great migration), Ngorongoro Crater, Ruaha, Selous, Tarangire, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Victoria, Mafia Island, Pemba, Zanzibar and of course, Mount Kilimanjaro.
We offer bespoke Tanzania safari packages and safaris explicitly tailored around what you want from your trip; whether it’s luxury lodges, family or honeymoon safaris or beach and bush options, we have something for everyone!
The fly-in aspect of a holiday package in Tanzania or East Africa can either be a commercial route or, should one wish, we can incorporate a private chartered aircraft for all destinations on one’s Tanzania itinerary. Most Tanzania safari lodges and camps have direct access to a private or shared landing strip located not too far from the establishment itself especially designed for those flying in.
Let us know what kind of packages you would like, and we will do everything possible to make sure it happens. There is no better way than by air when exploring East Africa and/or Tanzania and its iconic destinations and attractions!
The terrain of Tanzania is just as appealing as the species, and it’s much more stunning from above, but don’t forget your binoculars, as there’s an astounding diversity of wildlife concealed in these arid plains.
A plethora of wildlife congregates around the waterholes, and game drives give several views of lions, wildebeest, giraffe, and zebra from among numerous plains animals. Meanwhile, the game reserves are home to large numbers of elephants, leopards and rhinos.
Also keep a look outside for springbok and oryx, as well as rarer wildlife like the aardwolf. Buffalo, eland, gazelles, impala, and waterbuck were also discovered. Visitors will undoubtedly enjoy viewing these majestic animals in their natural surroundings.
The Cessna 210, a highly engineered small airplane with a single engine, is the most preferred for charter flights. It has a great reputation and is a six-seater that can accommodate up to four individuals. Perfect for beautiful flights.
The Baron is a slightly bigger and faster aircraft that is similarly flown by a single pilot but it has two engines. It can accommodate up to five persons.
A Cessna 404 can carry up to eight people. It is the Cessna 210’s elder sibling, with twin engines and two pilots. Ideal for bigger parties that want to fly in the same plane. More room and comfort.
The Cessna Caravan is a superb aircraft that accommodates up to 12 people and one pilot. The ‘4×4’ of small planes, capable of operating from rough airstrips, has a high-winged single turbine aircraft that is great for picturesque aerial photography.
On bush flights, luggage capacity might be quite restricted. The Cessna 206, for example, has just a tiny space under the seats, and bags are frequently squeezed in to fit within. As a general rule, soft duffle bags are preferable over hard-framed suitcases with wheels.
Some providers set quite strict weight limitations and will count your hand bags and even coats in the total. Most employers allow roughly 15kg per person as a general rule. Don’t be startled if an airline inquires about your own weight.
This is frequently done in order to securely balance the smaller aircraft. If you have too much luggage, you may be able to pay for a cargo ticket on safari routes.