How to get to Serengeti National park
How to get to Serengeti National park : Most safaris to the Serengeti depart from Arusha town. Flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), which is located about 46 kilometers (29 miles) from Arusha, is the best way to get there. Another option is to fly into the nearby Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) and then take a domestic flight to Arusha Airport (ARK).
You have the choice of taking a less expensive flight that lands in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and one of the continent’s major transportation hubs, and then taking a shuttle bus to the town of Arusha. Typically, your tour guide will pick you up from the airport in Tanzania and arrange for all of your ground transportation needs.
Taking a small charter plane to one of the many airstrips in the park is the most practical way to travel from Arusha to the Serengeti. It will take 8 hours to drive the 325 kilometers (202 miles) from the Serengeti to Arusha. Although the majority of the trip is on bumpy dirt roads, the scenery is stunning. Additionally, it’s uncommon to complete a car trip in a single day. Your safari tour will typically include a day or two in another park along the way, cutting the travel time in half.
WHERE IS SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK LOCATED?
Tanzania, which is on the east coast of Africa, is home to Serengeti National Park. There are three main sections to the park, which has a surface area of almost 15,000 square kilometers. The plains are in the south; the Grumeti River and its thick forests are to the west; and the Lobo region, which is bordered by Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, is to the north. Two World Heritage Sites, two Biosphere Reserves, and the oldest ecosystem on the planet can all be found in Serengeti National Park.
WHAT AIRPORT IS CLOSEST TO THE SERENGETI?
Kilimanjaro International Airport, located nearly 300 kilometers from Serengeti National Park, is the closest international airport. Kilimanjaro International Airport is frequently served by flights from KLM, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and other airlines.
Serengeti International Airport would be much closer to the park if it were built, but several organizations have expressed concern about the plans’ potential impact on animal welfare. Serengeti National Park currently has several airstrips, and guests can fly in small aircraft from Arusha Airport to the park.
WHAT CITY IS CLOSEST TO THE SERENGETI?
Arusha is the closest city and where the majority of safari tours start. Arusha, a city with a little over 400,000 residents, is home to some of Tanzania’s greatest wonders. The enormous volcano Mount Meru, which towers over the city, is located here. In Arusha, you can also find people getting ready to climb the formidable Mount Kilimanjaro or embarking on safari tours.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE SERENGETI?
Kilimanjaro International Airport is the closest international airport to Serengeti National Park. However, it takes about eight hours to travel between them. Although it is less direct, travelers can choose to fly domestically into Arusha Airport, which is closer to the park.
By car from Arusha: Suitable for explorers
It will take you about eight hours to get from Arusha Airport to Serengeti National Park, but you’ll see some amazing scenery along the way! We strongly advise visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a protected area ideal for spotting wild animals and home to a sizable volcanic crater, while driving to the Serengeti.
By plane from Arusha: Suitable for travelers with a tight schedule
The quickest way to get to the Serengeti is to fly a small aircraft from a nearby airport, like Arusha Airport, to one of the numerous tiny airstrips that are situated inside the park. Taking a domestic flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is the best way to get to Arusha Airport.
By plane from Dar es Salaam: Suitable for travelers with a tight schedule
You can also fly domestically from Dar es Salaam to the Serengeti instead of taking a flight from Arusha. Each day, more than eight flights with a two-hour flight time depart for Serengeti National Park. The largest and busiest airport in Tanzania, Julius Nyerere International Airport, is 12 kilometers from Dar es Salaam. This airport is home to international carriers like Turkish Airlines, Emirates, KLM, and Qatar Airways.
By bus from Nairobi: For budget travelers
Flying into Nairobi, Kenya, and then taking a shuttle bus to the park are additional options. The primary transportation hub in Eastern Africa is Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which offers scheduled flights from more than 50 nations. Nairobi and Serengeti are separated by a 360-kilometer drive, which requires eight hours to complete from point A to point B. Take a local shuttle bus to Arusha (about a five-hour drive) after arriving in Nairobi. Make sure to find out in advance if you need a visa to cross the Kenya-Tanzania border.