How to get to Serengeti National park in Tanzania – Travelling to Serengeti National park
How to get to Serengeti National park – Serengeti National Park is located in a rather remote corner of planet earth and is easily accessible through driving and flying.
You can start your Serengeti Adventure Safari at either Kilimanjaro International Airport or bustling Arusha Airport. From here you may either travel to your preferred Safari Lodge by domestic flight or by a safari vehicle. It is also possible to combine the two and enjoy the best experience of both.
Visiting Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is one of the few places left where nature’s ancient rules and seasonal cycles have been more or less unaltered; the Serengeti National Park is fairly easy to access. The most convenient option is to take a flight from Arusha to one of the National Park’s seven Airfields. It is also possible to book an overland safari in a 4×4 safari vehicle from Arusha town to Serengeti National Park and visit one or two other National Parks along the way. It is also possible to combine these options; book a one-way Serengeti Overland Safari and fly back to Arusha town.
Getting to Serengeti by Air
- International Air Travel
The main point of entry is Kilimanjaro International Airport which lies between Arusha town and Moshi town. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located about 200 miles / 320 kilometers from the National Park’s southern entrance. There are a couple of international flight options such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (daily), Kenya Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines a few times per week. Kilimanjaro International Airport also has daily connections with Nairobi city in Kenya, which offers more International flight possibilities. Additional Airlines such as British Airways, Emirates, and others fly into Tanzania’s capital Dar-es-Salaam (DAR). Please note that arriving at Dar es Salaam may require an extra overnight and a domestic flight on a small regional Airline with luggage restrictions.
- Regional Air Travel
The recommended route for a Serengeti fly-in safari is by flying from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. From here it will take approximately 1-2 hours to fly to one of seven Airstrips within the Serengeti National Park. All flights are operated by local airlines such as Grumeti Air or Coastal Aviation. Once landed at the airstrip, the Lodge staff will pick you up and transfer you to Lodge where a welcoming cold drink will be served before checking in for your stay.
It is also possible to fly from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport or Wilson Airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport. When traveling from the Lake Victoria Area, the recommended Airport is Mwanza Airport. There are also direct flights from the Serengeti National Park to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and other National Parks in Tanzania such as Lake Manyara and Tarangire.
- Serengeti fly-in Safaris
If you are looking for a faster and even more convenient option to get to the Serengeti, a scheduled or private charter flight is the way to go. Some of the more exclusive lodges own airstrips and can arrange direct scheduled and/or private charter flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to their airstrip.
Getting to Serengeti National Park by Road
- Serengeti drive-in safaris
This is the most popular way to travel to Serengeti is by booking drive-in safaris where you will start from the town of Arusha. As it will take approximately eight hours to travel from Arusha town to the Serengeti National Park, an overnight stay at one or more wildlife sites en-route is usually part of your safari itinerary if time allows.
Serengeti National Park access entry
- Naabi Hill Gate
Serengeti’s main gate, and therefore also the busiest: Naabi Hills Gate is located approximately 45 kilometers from Seronera. Gate is open between 06:00 and 18:00 daily.
- Ndabaka Gate
Main access gate for the Western Corridor Area: This is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Mwanza and 145 kilometers from Seronera. This gate opens between 06:00 and 18:00 daily but please note that the last entry is at 16:00.
- Klein’s Gate
Klein’s Gate is located in the far north-east of the Serengeti National Park. This gate opens between 06:00 and 18:00 daily but please note that the last entry is at 16:00.
Immigration and visa information: Tanzania
Most international travelers require a Visa when arriving in Tanzania, which can be acquired upon arrival at one of the major airports. However, queues for these Visas usually entail wasted hours spent at the airport. Alternatively, you may download your Visa application from your local Tanzanian embassy website and submit these via post. Applications require two passport-sized photographs, payment for the Visa, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope for the return of your passport, Visa, and other materials. More information about the Visa application can be obtained from your nearest Tanzanian Embassy or Consulate. The current Tanzanian Visa rates are USD50.00 to USD100.00 for a single entry depending on your country of origin. Please note that these rates are subject to change.
