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The Ultimate Kilimanjaro Logistics Guide: From Airport Transfers to Visa Requirements

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Kilimanjaro is a big trip to prep for, whether you are climbing to the summit, going on safari, or just exploring the town. This is your ultimate Kilimanjaro logistics guide from flights, to visas, to money, and where to stay.

Keep reading for all the nitty gritty details you need to before leaving for Kilimanjaro!

How to Get to Kilimanjaro

🛩️ Flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

The great thing about Kilimanjaro is that it has its own international airport. The airport itself is relatively small and easy to navigate.

Kilimanjaro (JRO) offers many direct routes from Europe and the Middle East, as well as regional hubs like Dar es Salaam. Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and KLM are some of the most popular carriers to JRO.

Of the many airlines that fly into JRO, you will likely fly on Qatar Airways through Doha if you’re coming from the US.

I took a flight from Chicago (ORD) connected through Doha, Qatar (DOH), had an 8-hour layover, and arrived into Kilimanjaro (JRO) after 23 hours.

If you do fly Qatar through Doha, you will likely have an 8+ hour layover, which sounds like no fun, but Qatar Airways offers really great city tours that I would highly recommend.

💡 Pro Tip: Every single store and restaurant in Doha (DOH) will ask to scan your boarding pass before you pay, so make sure to have it handy!

Flights to JRO can get pricey, so it’s better to book ahead of time, or with credit card/loyalty points. I paid $1,300 USD plus 20k points for my round-trip flight. This was a pretty average cost for economy, and I did not see it get much cheaper.

Qatar Airways is known for their Q Suites in first class with the fancy lay flat bed, but honestly, the economy seats were pretty roomy and comfortable.

Meals – The (vegan) meals were great, along with the amenities kit (pillow, blanket, socks, etc), so for me the economy ticket was just enough.

Checked Bags – 1 checked bag was included in the economy fare. I checked one large roller bag and had a backpack with my essentials as a personal item under the seat. Read more about everything I packed for my 2-week trip here Gear That Failed Me on Kilimanjaro (And What I’d Do Differently Next Time).

⏰ Recommended arrival time before climbing Kilimanjaro

Since you will likely have 1-2 layovers getting to Kilimanjaro, it’s super important to arrive at least a couple days early so that you don’t miss your climbing window, or any other plans you have.

Qatar is a very reputable airline and I did not have any issues with delays, but there are always other factors like weather to consider.

I arrived in Kilimanjaro about a week before climbing, because I chose to go on Safari first. This ended up being a perfect amount of time because I was well adjusted to the time zone before climbing.

💡 Pro Tip: The best time to arrive in Kilimanjaro is at least 2 days before you start climbing. This will leave time for you to acclimate to the time and do any last gear checks.

If you’re only visiting Tanzania for Safari and not climbing Kilimanjaro, you can get away with arriving 1 day early as there’s not as much prep to do.

Tanzania Visa and Entry Requirements for Kilimanjaro Travelers

✅ Applying for an e-Visa before your trip

Tanzania requires a travel Visa for anyone visiting from outside the country. The best way to get your visa is to apply for it online at least a few months before your trip. You can Apply Here.

The immigration website is very archaic and may crash a couple times before letting you pay, but hang tight! It’s better to have the visa now than to apply at the airport.

You can apply for the online visa as early as you know your travel dates, and the visa is generally good for 90 days in the country. It costs about $100 USD.

When your visa is granted, you will need to have a printed copy for immigration, along with your passport.

💡 Pro-Tip: Download your visa and all other relevant documents in ‘Files’ on your phone so you don’t have to worry about service or WiFi to pull it up at the airport

It took about 2 weeks for my Tanzania visa to be granted. I applied in January and traveled in July. Others applied in May and it took more than 4 weeks to be returned before the trip in July. Moral of the story, apply early!

If for whatever reason you can’t apply for your visa online, there is an option to apply at the airport in Kilimanjaro. I would not recommend this as it will take a lot longer, and you will need to make sure you have all the right documents; if you don’t, they’ll deny you entry.

💊 Vaccinations and Other Medication

There are currently no necessary vaccinations that are needed to enter Tanzania. Malaria is one disease present in Tanzania, so some people choose to take Malaria pills leading up to the trip.

I opted not to have any additional vaccinations or take Malaria pills after consulting with my doctor. If I were traveling in rainy season, I would’ve likely taken malaria pills. Consider rainy vs. dry season when deciding what medicine to take.

If you are traveling to nearby Kenya, then you will need extra vaccinations to enter the country. Read more about what may be needed here and always consult with a doctor.

The only other medication that I brought with me was Diamox (altitude sickness medication) specifically for climbing Kilimanjaro. I got this via prescription in the US before flying, but you can get Diamox over the counter in Tanzania.

When getting the US prescription, they will likely prescribe you 125mg tablets, but it is recommended on the mountain to take 250mg per dose. Again, consult with your doctor to determine the appropriate amount, but aim to get extra, otherwise you’ll need to stop at a Tanzanian pharmacy.

Kilimanjaro Airport Transfers and Transportation Tips

🚌 Pre-booked transfers vs. taxis at the airport

Kilimanjaro airport transfers are crucial, and I would highly recommend arranging for airport pickup before you arrive. You will be jet-lagged and will not want to scope out a taxi to take you where you need to go safely.

The good news is, you’re likely using a tour company for climbing Kilimanjaro or going on Safari, so they will be able to arrange for pickup for you.

Typically, airport pickup/drop off will be included in your overall tour price, but tipping is always appreciated. You’ll want to carry small bills to tip $3-5 USD to drivers.

Most people will take USD and Tanzanian Shilling, but very few places take credit or debit card so it is crucial to carry cash. More on that in a bit.

🚌 Travel time from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi and Arusha

After you arrive in Kilimanjaro, you’ll likely be staying in one of the two larger towns, Moshi or Arusha.

Arusha is the larger of the two and serves as the main bus and commercial hub for the region. Moshi is the town at the base of Kilimanjaro, smaller than Arusha, but less touristy.

Traveling by car from the airport JRO, it takes about 1 hour to Moshi and about 1 hour and 20 minutes to Arusha.

The roads from the airport to town are BUMPY! Even if you don’t get carsick, you might get carsick… coming from someone who thought they had a stomach of steel.

🚌 Shuttle services and group transfers with trekking companies

I would highly recommend booking your airport transfer directly with whatever trekking company you are going with.

I trekked with Kili Backcountry Adventures and would 10/10 recommend them to anyone visiting the area. Abdul and his team are top-tier, having led tours for over 10 years.

They arranged for airport pickup and drop off in a private and air-conditioned minibus, helped check into accommodations, coordinated the 3-day safari, and trekked the 7-day Machame Route to the top of Kili.

Most tour companies will offer similar packages, but it is super important to go with a reputable and fair company, so that the guides get paid. The best option is to look for locally owned companies that are transparent about how they pay their guides.

Where to Stay Before and After Climbing Kilimanjaro

🏘️ Moshi vs. Arusha: Which is better?

Moshi Town

Moshi and Arusha are very similar in the sense that they both have hotels, grocery stores, and transportation, but they are ‘better’ for different reasons.

Moshi is the town at the base of Kilimanjaro and is only about a 45-minute drive to the Machame trailhead of Kilimanjaro. It has a local feel with not too many tourists. As a female traveler, I felt very safe here. The locals are very kind and helpful.

Arusha is the bus hub for the area and has a lot more going on. Arusha is a good place to stay before going on Safari because it is about 1 hour closer to the Serengeti than Moshi.

I used Moshi as my hub from Safari to Kilimanjaro and it worked well. However, if I were to go again, I would stay in Arusha one night before the safari to cut down some driving time.

🏨 Recommended hotels in Moshi

🏨 Recommended hotels in Arusha

Money, SIM Cards, and Connectivity in Tanzania

💵 Currency in Tanzania (Tanzanian Shilling vs. USD)

Most places you go to eat or buy souvenirs will accept either Tanzanian Shilling or USD, but the Shilling is preferred. DO NOT expect to use a credit card anywhere besides a hotel. Even then, some of the smaller hotels or hostels only take cash.

Having a debit card is SUPER important to pull out more cash as you go, so that you’re not carrying around too much at once.

ATM’s in Moshi are not hard to find, and the same thing in Arusha. The farther out of town you go, don’t expect to find one, so grab cash in town for the coming days.

💰 How much cash to bring for Kilimanjaro (tips + extras)

The minimum tipping amount for Kilimanjaro guides is $300 USD. However, I would highly recommend tipping more to specific guides/porters who helped you the most.

After you see how hard they work, you’ll want to give them everything you have, trust me. The porters also appreciate any gear you can donate, so that can be a form of tipping in addition to the minimum cash.

Before and after you climb, you’ll also have daily expenses. I spent about $200 USD over 3 days between food, souvenirs, and laundry at the hotels.

Food is very cheap in Moshi; you can get a nice meal with a drink for under $10 USD. There are also many street markets where you can get fruits, veggies, and street food for very cheaply. Don’t forget small bills!

Souvenirs are not cheap, and negotiating price is part of the culture.

Negotiating can be awkward sometimes, but you do want to make sure that you are still paying a fair price for you and the artisan.

My best advice is to think about what you would pay for the souvenir in the US and start your first offer a bit lower than that. You’ll go back and forth a couple of times, and it is ok to walk away if it’s not within your price range!

📲 Staying connected: SIM cards, eSIMs, Wi-Fi access

If you have an international phone plan, your phone will likely automatically switch over when you arrive in the country. I have t-Mobile and was connected to service almost the entire time from Moshi to Kilimanjaro and on Safari.

There is WiFi in the town at the hotels, which was nice to be able to connect at the end of the day.

If you want service outside of the hotels and don’t have an international phone plan, look into getting an eSIM or physical SIM card.

Part of the reason Kilimanjaro is so special is that you get to be disconnected for a full week. Sounds a little scary, but I highly recommend only going on your phone to take pictures for that week.

Conclusion

Kilimanjaro logistics can be a lot to plan, but Tanzania is such an incredible country that makes it all worth it. Whether you are climbing Kilimanjaro or going on Safari, plan the logistics ahead of time so that you can fully enjoy the country.

Want to hear more about the day-to-day experience on the mountain? Check out Climbing Kilimanjaro: My Honest Day-by-Day Experience on the Machame Route.

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