Air Travel in Tanzania
Getting around in Tanzania by air is safe and straight forward. There are several air carriers that connect major Tanzanian cities as well as safari airstrips and islands like Pemba, Mafia and Zanzibar. Regional aircrafts operate from terminal 1 Dar es Salaam Airport.
If you plan to visit Northern Circuit safari parks, then best airport to arrive is Kilimanjaro airport. While visiting southern Tanzania and Zanzibar only, best airport to arrive is Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar Airport.
Within Tanzania is possible to fly to other cities and towns as well as airstrips in National Parks, usually with small aircrafts.
The cheapest and latest air carrier is Fastjet, famous for low plane ticket prices and never disappointed us with delays or other inconvenience.
Prices vary, flights to smaller airstrips are more expensive and sometimes require at least two passengers for booking. Many air carriers do private charters on request.
Luggage allowance with small aircrafts is usually 15 kilos, (33 lbs) appreciated soft bags!
Tanganyika Air Company Routes in Tanzania
At the moment of writing Tanganyika flying company covers 13 destinations within Tanzania and abroad.
They are known as safari flight company. Tanganyika routes include flights to smaller airstrips within national parks in Tanzania and Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Nairobi. They also connect Mozambican island route.
- Flights to Kogatende are operating all year except in April & May
- Flights to Ndutu are operating all year but between June and November, minimum four passengers are required for the flight.
- In April there are no afternoon flights to Serengeti.
Aircraft type is Cessna Grand Caravans. Booking online with online payment available!
Price range $$$
Fast Jet Routes in Tanzania
Fastjet – Low Cost Airline and Synonym for Cheap Flights in Tanzania!
Many of you will most definitely travel at some point with FastJet. Their website is by far most user friendly among all airlines in Tanzania. Their air travel routes in Tanzania connect cities like Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro.
However, be a little careful when planning flights with Fastjet between Mwanza and Kilimanjaro. This route seems not so popular and cancelations within less than 24 hours were the biggest annoyance some travellers experienced (including me).
Right now flights to Zanzibar and Arusha are not covered. But FastJet takes you for affordable price also out of Tanzania, latest, long waited route is between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe. FastJet also flies to Entebbe (Uganda), Johannesburg (South Africa), Lusaka (Zambia) and Harrare in Zimbabwe.
Book early for the lowest rates! At the end of online booking you have option either pay online or pay at the office!
Flights between September 2015 and January 2016
- Daily flights between Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg
- Daily flights between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka
- Daily flights between Dar es Salaam and Harare
- Daily flights between Kilimanjaro and Mwanza
- 5x daily flights between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza
- 5x daily flights between Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro
- 4x weekly flights between Dar es Salaam and Lilongwe
Price range: $ – $$
Fastjet Planes:
Zan Air Travel Routes in Tanzania
ZanAir is the only one who accepts (beside credit cards) Paypal payments for bookings made online. Zanair flies between Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha, Pemba, Sadaani and Selous.
Connecting Flights To Zanzibar With Turkish Airlines, KLM, FastJet & Egypt Air
From June 2015 ZanAir is more flexible and has adjusted flight times for passengers that arrive with Turkish, KLM and Swiss Air late arrivals with Zanzibar Airport. Update 2017 – Turkish Airlines launched direct flights to Zanzibar!
NEW FLIGHTS:
ZNZ – DAR departing 19:15 and 01:30
DAR – ZNZ departing at 20:00 and 05:00
- Late evening flights connect to KLM and Swiss Airlines.
- Early morning flights connect to Turkish Airlines, Fast Jet and Egypt Air.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Regional Air Travel Routes in Tanzania
Regional Air flies to many locations within Tanzania as well as to Nairobi Wilson.
Those who plan to see Selous Game Reserve, will be booking flights with Regional Air.
Regional Air Flies to Several Loations Within Selous
- Beho Beho
- Matambwe
- Mbuyu
- Mtemre
- Siwandu
- Stanglers
- Sumbazi
- Kibu
Airstrips in Selous are closed in rainy season between March and May.
Other destinations include Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Fort Ikoma, Kilimanjaro airport, Kogatende, LAmai, Manyara, Ndutu, Sasakwa, Serengeti South, Seronera, Tarme, Zanzibar and Pemba Island.
Regional Air is also affiliated with Aerolink Uganda.
Luggage allowance: 15 kg in soft bags
Price range: $$ – $$$
Air Excel Air Travel Routes in Tanzania
Air Excel is private air-charter specialist, offering services within Tanzania and East Africa.Scheduled flights by Air Excel have similar routes like Tanganyika Flying Company – covering airstrips in the Northern Circuit including Sasakwa and Southern Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.
Air Excel operates DAILY FLIGHTS between:
- Dar es Salaam and Arusha
- Zanzibar and Arusha
Flying Scenic Flights
Air Excel operates scenic flights over Tanzania. They take you up in the air over:
- Kilimanjaro
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Lake Natron
- Oldonyo Lengai
- The Great Rift Valley
It is possible to book flights online, looks like they are using same booking interface like Tanganyka Flying Company. Timetables are not available online,it is hard to find flights by dates.
Price range: $$ -$$$
Aircraft type: Cessna
Precision Air Travel Routes in Tanzania
Precision air has mixed online reputation. Some travelers like it, some hate it. We travelled several times with Precision Air and there were never major problems, except the airline has reputation for delays and incompetent customer support when problems arise.
Online booking with Precision Air is straight forward, they accept credit cards. However, for Zanzibar office we can confirm there are no credit cards accepted, only cash, which is at least to say unprofessional.
Precision air connects Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Mtwara, Bukoba,Mtwara, Arusha, Nairobi.
Currently suspended destinations: Comors, Mbeya, Entebbe.
Coastal Aviation Travel Routes in Tanzania
Coastal Aviation is known among frequent fliers as the most reliable company among small aircrafts.
- Direct flights between Zanzibar and Serengeti
- Direct flights between Nairobi and all airstrips in Serengeti
- Direct Flights between Arusha and Ruaha National Park
Flying Safaris and Short Beach Holidays
Coastal aviation also offers affordable 2 or 3 day flying safaris and beach holidays. Flights and accommodation are included in the price.
Auric Air Travel Routes in Tanzania
Auric air offers 30 routes within Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. In addition to scheduled flights Auric air provides charter flights and medical evacuation in Tanzania.
Ther extensive air travel routes include popular airports like:
- Dar es Salaam,
- Arusha,
- Zanzibar,
- Mafia Island,
- Pemba Island
At the time of writing there are no flight connections with Kilimanjaro Airport.
As well as other cities in Tanzania: Dodoma, Bukoba, Iringa, Morogoro,Katavi, Kigoma, Mwanza, Songea, Sumbawanga, Tanga and Tabora
Of course safari airstirps are covered too. They take you to Grumeti, Kogatende, Lobo, Manyara, Mpanda, Ndutu, Ruaha / Msembe airstrip, Rubondo, Sasakwa, Seronera, Maasai Mara
2018 Schedule Auric Air Flights
- Dar Es Salaam – RUAHA National Park – Dar Es Salaam
Flight Schedule – (Daily)
Departure 07:00 Dar Es Salaam to Ruaha National Park
Departure 09:45 Ruaha National Park to Dar Es Salaam - RUAHA National Park to Zanzibar
Flight Schedule – (Daily)
Departure 09:45 Ruaha National Park to Zanzibar - RUAHA National Park to SELOUS Game Reserve
Flight Schedule – (Daily)
Departure 07:45 Selous Game Reserve to Ruaha National Park
Departure 09:45 Ruaha National Park to Selous Game ReserveRUAHA National Park to Pemba Island
Flight Schedule – (Daily)
Departure 09:45 Ruaha National Park to Pemba Island
Auric Air Features:
- Daily Flights from Serengeti to Maasai Mara
- 5x daily flights to Zanzibar
Aircraft: Cessna
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Note to readers: Please note we try to keep up with accurate routes and update post whenever we can, however routes and schedules may change or get cancelled. Please visit air carrier’s sites for latest info on flights in Tanzania.
I would like to share experiences with airlines I have made in Tansania:
– Precision: Frequent delays on most flights. On our last flight they wanted to see the credit Card I used for the booking. I did not have that Card with me because it was expired. And they wanted us to bring(!) a photo copy of our passports. We had to leave the Airport to find a shop that would make These copies.
– Coastal Aviation: I can recommend this Airline. On all my flights always on time. Competent and friendly Service.
– FastJet: Very cheap. I have bought 1 ticket from them and I could not use that ticket. They rescheduled the flight to a new departure time that did not match my travel plans. They would not refund the ticket. I had no choice but buy another ticket with a different Airline. I have never actually flown with them. I do not think I ever will.
Please excuse the capitalization in this message. Internet Explorer is doing that.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing your experience! You really had a little bit of bad luck with expired card but otherwise is in the terms of all airlines, if you book by credit card, you must show it at the check in if asked.This was the only reason i took credit cards with me. And am not surprised about Fast Jet, am wondering which route did you want to fly with them that was cancelled?