Kilimanjaro Visa Requirements 

Do you need a visa to climb Kilimanjaro 

All visitors to Tanzania planning to climb Kilimanjaro are required to carry and show a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into the country. Your passport should have at least one empty page for official stamps. Check your passport well in advance of travel, in case you need to renew it. Most foreign visitors are required to obtain a visa for entry into Tanzania, but there are some exceptions. The visa doesn’t always need to be obtained before arrival as they can be issued at the port of entry. Generally, all visitors from non-Commonwealth countries need a visa for entry, unless your country has an agreement with Tanzania under which this requirement has been waived.

Tanzanian visas are widely needed to gain entry into the country. Only some citizens from Commonwealth nations are able to get into Tanzania without a visa. There are two main ways you can get your visa: either with the Tanzanian embassy before arrival or at Kilimanjaro International Airport when you arrive. The choice is yours, but keep in mind you can save significant amounts of time by purchasing your visa beforehand. Currently, Tanzanian visa fees for those who purchase on arrival are as follows:

US Citizens (one year, multiple entry): $100

Non-US Citizens (six months, single entry): $50

Non-US Citizens (six months, double entry): $100

Keep in mind that these visa fees must be paid in cash on arrival, though you can likely save money if you’re not a US citizen and have no plans on coming back to Tanzania. You need to show proof of vaccinations (more on this below) in order to get your visa (either at the embassy or in person).

PASSPORT & KILIMANJARO VISA REQUIREMENTS

• All nationals visiting Tanzania must carry their passport when entering the Republic of Tanzania. 
• The passport should be valid for at least 6 months past the date of entry into the country.
• Your passport should have at least one blank page for official stamps.

How to apply for your Visa?

• To arrange your Visa in advance, you can simply contact the Tanzanian Embassy in your country. Usually, they ask for your passport and you fill out an application form that is processed by the Embassy and you are issued your Visa.
• You can also apply for your Visa online. The process is simple, you fill out an online form, make the payment and submit your application form. Your application will be reviewed and processed and you will be notified via email whether your application has been accepted or rejected. You may even need to visit the Embassy Office for an interview.

Can I get visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport 

To avoid delays in obtaining the Visa, many people opt for the Kilimanjaro visa on arrival  option. You can simply purchase your Visa upon entering Tanzania. While this option is practically trouble-free, if it’s a peak visiting season then the queues can be pretty long.

Entry points from where you can purchase a Visa on arrival

• Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Dar Es Salaam International Airport
• Zanzibar International Airport
• Namanga Entry Point (Tanzania-Kenya border point)
• Horohoro
• Tunduma
• Sirari
• Kigoma port

Vaccinations

Before entering Tanzania, you will be required to receive a Yellow Fever Vaccination card that generally costs around $100. This is the only vaccination that is required for entry, but you may want to consider others as well for your own wellbeing. In general, we recommend getting a Polio Tetanus Diphtheria booster and a HEP-A vaccination as well, as these will make sure that you don’t contract these prevalent diseases while you’re in Tanzania. While you’ll spend a majority of your time on the mountain, where it’s unlikely you’ll contract much of anything, you should take precautions so that you’re not exposed to anything unwanted to and from Mount Kilimanjaro.

This includes, of course, malaria. In addition to wearing mosquito repellants and staying out of mosquito-ridden areas, you may also consider taking malaria tablets. While slightly expensive, these tablets will ensure that you don’t contract the deadly disease at any time while in Tanzania. It goes without saying that you should consult with your physician before taking any medication so that you can remain safe throughout your journey. Keeping this health information in mind could be vital to the success of your trip, so expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $200 on medical care before you even set foot on the mountain.

Where do you fly into to Climb Kilimanjaro?

There are three international airports in Tanzania:

• The Kilimanjaro International Airport in Kilimanjaro.
• Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar Es Salaam.
• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar

Other airports that connect to Tanzania:

• Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia
• Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya
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The Best Way to Reach Kilimanjaro

The best and cheapest way to travel to Tanzania is to fly and then take a shuttle. First, fly to Nairobi or Ethiopia and then shuttle your way to Kilimanjaro. 

Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha 

Arusha and Moshi are the two nearest cities to the Kilimanjaro Airport. There are taxis available at the Kilimanjaro Airport that will take you to Arusha. You can also pre-book your taxis for a smoother experience. It takes approximately 1 hour in light traffic to reach Arusha.

Dar Es Salaam Airport to Arusha 

The Dar Es Salaam Airport is another entry point to Tanzania and people climbing Kilimanjaro often arrive via this airport. Dar Es Salaam also offers light domestic aircraft connecting to Arusha.

There are six ways you can travel to Arusha from Dar Es Salam Airport.

→ Fly from Dar Es Salaam to Arusha.

→ Fly from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro and then take a taxi to Arusha.

→ Take a shuttle to Arusha. It will take around 18 hrs.

→ Take a ferry to Zanzibar and fly to Arusha. It takes about 4 hrs.

→ Take a bus from Dar Es Salaam to Arusha. It takes around 10 hours.

→ Take a cab from Dar Es Salaam to Arusha. It takes around 9 hrs.

Zanzibar Airport to Arusha 

Some people also prefer to fly to Zanzibar International Airport and then reach Arusha or Moshi to climb Kilimanjaro.

There are 4 ways to travel from Zanzibar International Airport to Arusha.

→ Fly to Arusha. It takes around 1 hour.

→ Take a ferry from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam and then take a train to Arusha. It takes around 3 hrs.

→ Fly to Kilimanjaro and then take a taxi to Arusha. It takes around 3 hrs

→ Take a ferry from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam and then take a bus to Arusha. It takes about 12.5 hrs.

In case you are flying to Kenya and want to reach Arusha

• In case you are flying to Kenya, the cheapest way to travel from Nairobi Airport to Arusha is to take a shuttle. It takes about 5 hrs. 
• The fastest way to travel to Arusha from Nairobi is to fly which takes 2 hrs. 
• There are also direct bus services between Nairobi and Arusha run by Kidia One Express that depart once daily and arrive at Arusha Station. The journey takes about 4.5 hrs.

In case you are flying to Ethiopia and want to reach Arusha

• The cheapest way to travel from the Addis Ababa Airport in Ethiopia to Arusha is to take a taxi. The journey, however, is a long one and can take up to 28 hrs.
• The fastest way is to fly from Addis Ababa to Arusha and it takes about 3.5 hrs.
• Best way is to fly from Addis Ababa to Kilimanjaro International Airport and take taxi to Arusha.
• Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Precision Air offer flights from Addis Ababa to Kilimanjaro Airport.

How  to get to Kilimanjaro from India 

There are no direct flights from India to Tanzania. However, some flights connect major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Addis Ababa and Nairobi.

How to get to Kilimanjaro from uk

If you are travelling from the UK, the best and cheapest way to reach Tanzania is to fly to Nairobi first and then take a shuttle to Tanzania. Some airlines also provide direct flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

How to get to Kilimanjaro from Canada 

From Canada, you can find many direct flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport. It is the fastest way to reach Tanzania. Alternatively, you can fly to Nairobi in Kenya and then take a shuttle to Tanzania.

How  to get to Kilimanjaro from the US

From the USA, you can find many direct flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport. It is the fastest way to reach Tanzania. Alternatively, you can fly to Nairobi in Kenya and then take a shuttle to Tanzania.

The designated pick-up and drop-off location is Kilimanjaro International Airport, and this is already included in the overall cost. Our objective is to optimize transportation arrangements to enhance your convenience. We achieve this by categorizing drop-off services based on the duration of your flights. Travelers with flights scheduled between 1 and 2 hours will be grouped together, ensuring they receive customized and convenient transportation services to the airport.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Credit cards / Travellers Checks

Credit cards are only accepted by the major airline companies and by most of the bigger hotels and lodges. Do not rely on credit cards as a source of cash while in in Tanzania. In some cases, a surcharge will be added to credit card payments. We suggest that you take sufficient cash and use the credit card as a backup only. Traveller’s checks are accepted at most banks and some hotels, however, a surcharge normally applies to exchange traveller’s checks into cash. Please note many shops/hotels don’t accept traveller’s checks.

Electricity

→ The local electricity supply is 230 volts, 50 Hz. You will need to supply your own international standard adapter for your electrical appliances. 

→ Most hotels in Tanzania use plugs with 3 large flat prongs (“British” type – BS1363 system), however, some hotels also use plugs similar to the “French” type (2 parallel prongs) but with an earth connector.

Insurance

It is strongly advised to take out travel insurance which should cover baggage as well as personal accident and medical insurance and specifically covering your Kilimanjaro expedition.

Distance from Kilimanjaro airport to Mount Kilimanjaro

The distance from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Mount Kilimanjaro is approximately 31 miles (50 kilometers).