Are you climbing Kilimanjaro and wanting to know how to get there? Most trekkers stay in the town of Moshi before and after the climb but it is also possible to stay in nearby Arusha. In this post, we focus on the town of Moshi and give two options on how to get there.

Getting to Kilimanjaro and the Nearby Town, Moshi

a. Flying into Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)

Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) is located halfway between two major towns in Tanzania – Arusha and Moshi. While this airport receives direct international flights, there are no direct international flights to Kilimanjaro Airport which, unfortunately, drives up the price. Moshi is a 45-minute drive from the airport, and we will spend the night at a guesthouse here the night before we begin our trek on Kilimanjaro. This is why most trekkers fly into Kilimanjaro Airport. When you book your flights and send me your flight arrival details, I will arrange for you to be collected at JRO airport and taken to our guesthouse. PS. In case you might notice, there is a small domestic airport in Arusha which receives a couple of connecting flights from Kenya but this is a rare option for international arrivals.

b. Travelling to Kilimanjaro via Nairobi, Kenya (Flight+ Bus)

It is possible to fly into Nairobi Airport in Kenya and then travel down to Moshi by bus. This option will take much longer as you will need to take a shuttle bus from Nairobi to Moshi (likely the day after you arrive) and then apply for a Kenya visa online in advance. You will also need to go through visa processing for Tanzania at the Namanga border crossing and there is not a combined single entry visa for Kenya and Tanzania, so it is necessary to obtain 2 separate visas.

Which option is best? Flying into Kilimanjaro (JRO) Airport is the straightforward option and should ensure you have less to think about and arrive better rested for our trek. I would only consider arriving in Nairobi if you plan to travel Kenya before our trip or plan to arrive several days in advance and are willing to undertake a longer (maybe uncomfortable) journey to our start point in Moshi. If you would like to arrive a day early, I think this will also help you prepare better for the climb and avoid any complications due to delays. Either way, please only book flights which will ensure you arrive in time for your pre-departure briefing/equipment check.