Direct operator since 1978
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Trusted by 4,000+ travelers since 1978
Private safaris from $1,400/person
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Tanzania safari, elevated
Tanzania Flying Safari
Cover more ground, see more wildlife, waste less time on roads. A flying safari is not a luxury indulgence — for many routes it is the practical choice that gets you to better game viewing faster.
The practical case
Why Consider a Flying Safari in Tanzania?
The standard Tanzania northern circuit by road takes 7–10 days to properly cover Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. The driving time between some parks — particularly from the Serengeti back to Arusha — can consume an entire day. On a tighter schedule, or for travellers who have already done the road route once before, flying closes that gap dramatically.
A flying safari does not replace the road safari experience. The morning game drive in a 4×4 with your guide is irreplaceable — that is where you learn an animal's behaviour, where the conversation with your guide deepens, where the African bush becomes real. Flying is what you do between those moments, or when you are connecting two distant parks.
For the Serengeti specifically, flying is often the better choice once you are in the park. The park is 14,750 square kilometres. Internal flight routes between Serengeti airstrips and Ngorongoro or Tarangire are well-established and safe. Safaris Tanzania has been running flying safaris for clients since 1978 — we know every landing strip in the northern circuit.
What you need to know
Flying Safari: How It Works
Domestic Flights Within Tanzania
Small propeller aircraft — typically Cessna 208 Caravan or similar — operate between all major park airstrips. Flights are scheduled to connect with your game drives. You fly in the morning, land, and your guide meets you on the tarmac with the safari vehicle.
Airstrip Locations
Every major park has an airstrip: Serengeti (multiple: Kogatende, Lamai, Sasakwa), Ngorongoro (Manyara Airstrip, a short drive from crater), Tarangire (Kuro Airstrip), Lake Manyara (Mto wa Mbu). Safaris Tanzania has landing permissions and relationships at all of them.
Luggage Restrictions
Most safari aircraft have a 15kg luggage limit in soft bags. No hard suitcases. We send you a packing briefing before your trip. This is standard across all operators — it is a weight and safety restriction, not a Safaris Tanzania policy.
Connecting with Road Sections
Most flying safaris combine the best of both: road transfers for short hops (Arusha to Tarangire, 90 minutes — not worth flying) and flights for long hauls (Serengeti to Ngorongoro, or adding a fly-in from Dar es Salaam).
Weather and Scheduling
Airstrips in the Serengeti are dirt or grass. Heavy rain can delay flights — usually by a few hours, occasionally by a day. We build weather buffer days into all flying safari itineraries. We do not over-promise on tight flying schedules.
Cost Compared to Road
Flying safaris cost more — the aircraft charter is an added expense. However, they reduce hotel costs (one less night of accommodation on long transfers) and, on the right itinerary, may not cost significantly more overall while delivering a much better experience.
Flying safari routes
Common Flying Safari Itineraries
The Classic Fly-In: Arusha → Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Fly from Arusha to the Serengeti in the morning (45 minutes — versus 6–7 hours by road). Do two full days of game drives in the Serengeti. Fly back to Ngorongoro/Lake Manyara area or directly to Arusha. This is the most popular flying safari combination and works for 4–6 day itineraries where you want Serengeti without the long road commitment.
Best for: Repeat safari travellers, travellers short on time, anyone combining Tanzania with a beach stay in Zanzibar (you can fly direct from the Serengeti airstrip to Zanzibar on certain days).
The Southern Circuit Fly-In: Selous or Ruaha
Ruaha National Park and Nyerere (formerly Selous) are remote — flying is the only practical way to reach them from the northern circuit. A fly-in to Ruaha or Nyerere combined with the northern circuit by road or air is a genuinely extraordinary itinerary that very few travellers do. This is Tanzania's best-kept safari secret — and it requires flying.
Best for: Photographers, repeat Africa travellers, anyone who wants to see a different side of Tanzania away from the northern circuit crowds.
Dar es Salaam → Serengeti Direct
Daily scheduled flights operate from Dar es Salaam to Serengeti airstrips via aircraft that connect with safari operations. You can fly from Dar es Salaam to the Serengeti in approximately 3 hours door-to-door (including a short connection at a regional airstrip). This opens Tanzania to beach-plus-safari itineraries in a way that road travel simply cannot.
Best for: Travellers starting from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, anyone flying into Tanzania internationally via Dar es Salaam airport.
Honest pricing
Flying Safari Cost: What to Expect
Flying safari pricing varies by season, route, aircraft type, and the number of sectors you fly. Below is a general guide — Safaris Tanzania quotes flying safaris as a complete package including all flights, park fees, accommodation, and guide.
| Route | Approximate Flight Cost (per person) | Road Alternative Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arusha → Serengeti (Kogatende) | $364–$499 | 6–7 hours |
| Serengeti (Kogatende) → Ngorongoro/Manyara | $291–$395 | 5–6 hours |
| Arusha → Tarangire | $187–$260 | 1.5 hours (not worth flying) |
| Serengeti → Zanzibar (direct) | $395–$541 | N/A — fly or 2-day drive |
| Dar es Salaam → Serengeti | $437–$624 | 10–12 hours + ferry |
Flight costs are indicative for scheduled charter per person, one way. Prices vary by season and aircraft availability. Full-package flying safari itineraries are quoted individually — WhatsApp Kassim with your dates for an exact all-inclusive quote.
Direct vs broker
Book Your Flying Safari Direct — Here's Why That Matters
When you book a flying safari through a European travel agent or international booking platform, the flight sectors are typically subcontracted to a local aircraft operator you never meet, whose safety record you cannot verify, and whose scheduling flexibility is limited by the broker's operational constraints.
When you book direct with Safaris Tanzania, you are booking with the operator who holds the landing permissions, who has the direct relationship with the aircraft company, and who can rearrange flight schedules if weather or wildlife opportunities require it. We do not sell your itinerary to a third party. Your flying safari is run by us, start to finish.
This is the same principle that applies to every part of our operation: direct booking means direct accountability. If your morning flight to the Serengeti is delayed by fog, it is Kassim you call — not a call centre in Amsterdam.
Get a Flying Safari Quote
Tell Kassim your preferred dates, how many travellers, and whether you have a specific route in mind. He will put together a flying safari package — with all flights, parks, accommodation, and guide — and send you a direct quote.
WhatsApp: +255 786 110 786 · Response within 2 hours · Direct operator since 1978