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Fly-In Safari Tanzania: How Bush Flights Work and When They Are Worth It

How a fly-in safari in Tanzania works: routes, baggage limits, costs and when flying beats driving. Sample itineraries from Arusha and Zanzibar.

· Golden Memories Safaris

On a fly-in safari you take a short scheduled flight between the parks instead of spending a long day on the road. You arrive in the Serengeti earlier, with more time for wildlife, and you often land closer to the place you actually want to be. This page explains how fly-in safaris work in Tanzania, which routes we use, what they cost and how to decide between flying and driving.

What is a fly-in safari?

A fly-in safari replaces some or all of the road transfers with flights on small scheduled aircraft that land on airstrips inside or beside the parks. A guide and a safari vehicle meet you at the airstrip, so the game drives are the same as on any other private safari. The difference is how you get between the places you visit.

There are three common patterns:

Scheduled flights serve airstrips inside and next to the parks.

Why choose a fly-in safari?

You save time

The northern Serengeti is a long way from Arusha by road. Getting to the Mara River area, where river crossings take place from about July to October, takes a long overland journey, often split over two days. Flying turns that into one short flight and an extra game drive. If you only have a week, that time can be spent with the animals instead of in a vehicle.

You can place yourself in the right part of the park

The Great Migration moves, and the Serengeti is huge. A flight lets you land where the herds are likely to be and sleep near them. For crossings that is the north. For the calving season it is the south. Read more on our Great Migration safari page or in the month-by-month migration calendar.

It is comfortable if you do not enjoy long drives

Some travellers, including older guests and families with young children, find a long transfer day tiring. Flying keeps the days shorter and the safari more relaxed.

It makes short trips from Zanzibar possible

If your main holiday is on Zanzibar, a fly-in safari lets you see the Serengeti, Ngorongoro or Mikumi in two to four days without going through Arusha. We list these on our safaris from Zanzibar page.

From the air you see how large the Serengeti is.

Great Migration safaris

Routes and packages we offer

Prices are the “from” prices published on our website on 22 October 2026. They depend on dates, group size and accommodation. Check each package page for what is included. For example, the 5 day Arusha package includes the one-way flight from Arusha Airport to the Kogatende airstrip, park fees, the Ngorongoro Crater vehicle and service fee, accommodation and meals.

Safaris from Zanzibar

How a typical fly-in day works

You are collected from your hotel in Arusha and taken to the airport for a morning flight. Small scheduled aircraft stop at several airstrips, so the flight may include a landing or two on the way, and the timetable can change with weather and demand. At the Serengeti airstrip your guide meets you with the safari vehicle and you head straight into a game drive. In the evening you sleep at a camp or lodge near the area you are exploring. On the day you leave, you take a flight back or begin the road journey, depending on the itinerary.

Practical points to know before you book

  • Baggage limits. Light aircraft have strict weight limits, usually around 15 kilograms per person in a soft bag. Leave hard suitcases at your hotel in Arusha or Zanzibar. We can arrange storage.
  • Flights can change. Schedules are affected by weather and by the number of passengers. We build a little slack into the itinerary and keep you informed.
  • Park fees are still payable. Flying saves time, not park fees. Government fees are published by TANAPA and, for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, by NCAA.
  • Camp choice matters more. When you fly in you rely on the camp being in the right place. Our team chooses camps by location first.
  • Insurance. Make sure your travel insurance covers small aircraft and evacuation. See our explainer on mandatory travel insurance in Tanzania for the new government rule.

Tanzania safari packing list

Fly-in or drive? How to decide

Choose a fly-in safari if…

  • You have five days or fewer and want the Serengeti.
  • You want the northern Serengeti for river crossings.
  • You find long drives tiring.
  • You are starting from Zanzibar.

Choose a road safari if…

  • You have seven days or more and enjoy the journey.
  • You want to see Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro on the way.
  • You want the lowest price. Road safaris cost less, and group joining safaris cost less.
  • You are starting from Arusha with a flexible schedule.

Many guests choose a mix: they drive the circuit and fly out, or fly in and drive out. We will explain the trade-offs in a quote. For more help, read the blog on safaris from Zanzibar and our guide to northern and southern circuits.

Northern vs southern Tanzania safari

Choosing camps and timing for a fly-in safari

Because you do not drive between the parks, the camp you choose matters more. Pick a camp close to the area you want to explore, so that your game drives start at the camp and not after a long transfer. Ask us how far each camp is from its airstrip and from the sightings you hope to see.

Small aircraft can be delayed by weather. Do not book an international flight home on the same day as a bush flight, and leave a buffer night in Arusha, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar before a long-haul departure. We build that slack into the itinerary and keep you informed if a schedule changes.

Is a fly-in safari worth the extra cost?

Flights add cost, so we compare the options honestly. If you have only a few days, the time saved usually makes a fly-in safari good value, because you spend that time at the sightings you came for. If you have more time and a tighter budget, a drive-only safari is cheaper, and you may enjoy seeing the landscape change from the window. For luxury trips, flying between camps is part of the experience; see our luxury safari Tanzania page.

Three sample fly-in itineraries

These are real itineraries from our website. Each one shows how flights and game drives fit together, with the camps we use. Open the package page for prices, inclusions and booking.

5 days: fly in to the northern Serengeti for the river crossings

This 5 day fly-in migration safari flies from Arusha straight to the Mara River area, then drives back through the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.

  • Day 1: Arusha to Northern Serengeti. Your safari adventure begins with a hotel pickup in Arusha and a transfer to Arusha Airport for a one-hour flight to Kogatende Airstrip in Northern Serengeti. Stay: Moyo Migration Camp.
  • Day 2: Full Day Game Drive, Northern Serengeti. Wake up early for an unforgettable Northern Serengeti game drive, with the main goal of witnessing the spectacular Mara River crossings of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Stay: Moyo Tented Camp.
  • Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Central Serengeti. Wake up in the heart of the Central Serengeti and enjoy a full day game drive through the legendary Seronera Valley, one of Tanzania’s premier wildlife viewing areas. Stay: Moyo Tented Camp.
  • Day 4: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater. After breakfast, begin your journey from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater with an exciting transfer game drive through the beautiful Tanzanian wilderness. Stay: Farm of Dreams Lodge.
  • Day 5: Tarangire National Park Game Drive & Return to Arusha. After breakfast, depart for a scenic 90-minute drive to Tarangire National Park, one of Tanzania’s most spectacular wildlife destinations.

4 days: fly in and fly out from Zanzibar

The 4 day fly-in, fly-out Serengeti safari gives you three days in the park without ever going to Arusha.

  • Day 1: Fly from Zanzibar to Serengeti National Park. Your 4 day Serengeti safari from Zanzibar begins with a hotel pickup and transfer to Zanzibar Airport for your scheduled flight to the Serengeti. Stay: Nakupenda Luxury Camp.
  • Day 2: Full Day Serengeti Wildlife Safari. After breakfast, embark on another exciting day of game viewing in Serengeti National Park. Stay: Nakupenda Luxury Camp.
  • Day 3: Full Day Serengeti National Park. Enjoy another full day exploring the spectacular landscapes and wildlife of the Serengeti. Stay: Nakupenda Luxury Camp.
  • Day 4: Early Morning Serengeti Game Drive & Flight to Zanzibar.

7 days: drive the northern circuit and fly out

The 7 day northern circuit luxury safari drives through the parks and flies out of the Serengeti, so you do not repeat a long road journey on the last day.

  • Day 1: Arrival in Arusha. Your Northern Tanzania safari begins with a warm welcome from the Golden Memories Safaris team at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport. Stay: Grand Melia Arusha.
  • Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park. After breakfast, your private safari guide will pick you up at approximately 7:30 AM and begin the drive to Tarangire National Park, approximately two hours from Arusha. Stay: Mawe Mawe Manyara Lodge.
  • Day 3: Lake Manyara & Cultural Experience. Wildlife, Nature & Local Culture After breakfast, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of your lodge before continuing your Lake Manyara safari experience. Stay: Mawe Mawe Manyara Lodge.
  • Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Safari. After breakfast, depart for the magnificent Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the world famous Ngorongoro Crater. Stay: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge.
  • Day 5: Ngorongoro to Serengeti National Park. After breakfast, leave Ngorongoro and continue towards Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s most famous wildlife destinations. Stay: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge.
  • Day 6: Full Day Serengeti National Park. Wake early for an exciting Serengeti sunrise game drive, one of the most memorable experiences of a Tanzania safari. Stay: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge.
  • Day 7: Serengeti Morning Game Drive & Fly Out. Fly Out of Serengeti Your final safari morning begins early with a sunrise game drive in Serengeti National Park.

Fly-in safaris for families, honeymooners and photographers

Families with young children often choose a fly-in safari because short flights replace the longest car days. Check the minimum age and the weight limits for each flight when you plan, and read our family safari guide for the rest of the trip.

Honeymooners like the mix of a flight over the plains and a few nights in a camp close to the wildlife; our honeymoon safaris and the Tanzania honeymoon guide show how couples combine the safari with the beach. Photographers gain time at sightings, because time that would be spent driving goes into game drives; see our photographic safari guide.

Questions to ask before you book a fly-in safari

  • Which airstrip do we land at, and how far is the camp from it?
  • What is the baggage limit on each flight, and can we store larger bags?
  • What happens to the itinerary if a flight is delayed by weather?
  • Are the flights, park fees and airstrip fees included in the price?
  • How many nights do we spend at each camp, and is that enough for the Serengeti?
  • Does our international flight leave the same day as our last bush flight? (It should not.)

How to choose a Tanzania safari company

Common questions about fly-in safaris

What is a fly-in safari?

A safari where you use short scheduled flights between airstrips instead of long road transfers. You still go on game drives with a guide in a safari vehicle.

How much does a fly-in safari in Tanzania cost?

On our website, fly-in packages start from {{from}} per person for a day trip from Zanzibar and rise with the number of days and the level of the camps. Each package page shows the current price.

How much luggage can I take?

Plan on about 15 kilograms in a soft bag. Larger bags can usually be stored at your hotel.

Which month is best for a fly-in safari?

For Mara River crossings, July to October in the northern Serengeti. For calving, January to March around Ndutu in the south. Fly-in trips work all year, and our best time to visit Tanzania guide explains each month.

Can I combine a fly-in safari with Zanzibar?

Yes. Several of our packages start or end in Zanzibar, and you can add beach days before or after. See the 10 day Tanzania and Zanzibar itinerary.

Plan your fly-in safari with a local team

Tell us your dates and where you would like to start, and we will suggest the best mix of flying and driving.

Get a free safari plan

Request this trip

Keep planning your Tanzania trip

These guides cover the next questions most travellers ask.

Best time to visit Tanzania, month by month

The Great Migration, month by month

Safari from Zanzibar: fly-in trips and tips

Northern vs southern Tanzania safari

What a Tanzania safari costs

Tanzania travel insurance checklist

More guides and pages for this trip

Tanzania safari packages

Luxury safaris

Safaris from Zanzibar

Great Migration safaris

Serengeti safari

Mikumi National Park

National parks of Tanzania

Book a safari

Sources and further reading

Fees, schedules and rules change, so check the official sources below before you book or travel.

TANAPA official tariffs

NCAA official tariffs