The highlight of a trip to Tanzania must be the Serengeti. Flying in and out of the Serengeti is incredibly convenient—you land right in the grasslands, saving a lot of fatigue from long drives. 👀
Here’s a quick rundown:
### Domestic Flights in Tanzania & Airlines Experienced This Time
#### **🇹🇿 Major Airports**
1️⃣ **Dar es Salaam (DAR)**
– The largest international airport, close to the city center. Half a day is enough for transit and visiting main attractions.
– China’s only direct flight route: Guangzhou-Zanzibar-Dar es Salaam-Guangzhou.
2️⃣ **Kilimanjaro (JRO)**
– A major international airport and the gateway to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. One hour to Arusha city.
3️⃣ **Zanzibar (ZNZ)**
– A key international airport, just 20 minutes from the UNESCO-listed Stone Town.
4️⃣ **Arusha (ARK)**
– A safari hub with many tour agencies offering last-minute trips to national parks.
5️⃣ **Seronera (SEU)**
– Located in the heart of the Serengeti, perfect for witnessing the Great Migration.
6️⃣ **Lake Manyara (LKY)**
– The entrance to Lake Manyara National Park and the closest airport to Ngorongoro.
7️⃣ **Mwanza (MWZ)**
– By Lake Victoria and a gateway to the northern Serengeti. Offers international flights to Rwanda, etc.
#### **✈️ Flight Reviews**
1️⃣ **Air Tanzania**
– ✈️ Aircraft: A220
– 🌐 Route: Kilimanjaro – Dar es Salaam
– 🌟 Experience: The A220 features business/economy class, with a giraffe painted on the tail—highest standard for domestic flights.
2️⃣ **Precision Air**
– ✈️ Aircraft: Mostly ATR turboprops
– 🌐 Route: Zanzibar – Seronera
– 🌟 Experience: Reliable service, best value for money.
3️⃣ **Flightlink**
– ✈️ Aircraft: Cessna and other light aircraft
– 🌐 Route: Seronera – Arusha
– 🌟 Experience: A small bush plane—arriving 30 mins early is enough, but the flight is very bumpy. [😱]
#### **📒 Tips for Domestic Flights in Tanzania**
✅ All three airlines can be booked on domestic platforms, sometimes cheaper than their official websites.
✅ Multi-city searches may be much cheaper than booking separate legs. For example, searching for **[Zanzibar-Seronera] + [Kilimanjaro-Dar es Salaam]** together could yield better deals on Precision Air.
✅ Many foreign airlines (e.g., Turkish, Qatar) don’t allow booking only domestic Tanzanian segments on triangular routes.
✅ If flying directly to a national park (e.g., Seronera) for independent travel, arrange transfers in advance—finding transport last-minute is tough.
✅ No need to disembark during domestic layovers.
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