The answer, like so many things in life, is that it depends. Here is some information to help you in your decision process.
There are three international airports within striking distance of Kilimanjaro: Jomo Kenyatta International, in Nairobi, Kenya (code: NBO); Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (code: DAR); and Kilimanjaro International Airport, near Arusha, Tanzania (code: JRO). I'll give you three guesses to figure out which one is closest to the mountain...
The preferred airport in terms of time and convenience is Kilimanjaro International. It's less than an hour from Moshi or Arusha (it's about halfway in between the two towns) and you can be at your hotel with a short transfer and ready to start the next day. The disadvantages: flights can cost more and there is only one international carrier, KLM, that flies to this airport. KLM is a US codeshare with Northwest, so it's possible to book a continuous flight with NWA all the way to Kilimanjaro International.
Nairobi frequently offers a lower price thanks to the competition of several international carriers and higher volume. The disadvantages are:
- It's a 5 to 6 hour transfer by minibus to Arusha or Moshi. The idea of traveling by bus might sound fun, but the landscape is monotonous and there can be tedious delays at the border into Tanzania.
- You'll need two visas, one for Kenya and one for Tanzania. Kenya offered a "transit visa" which offered a bit of a savings, but some travels have been required to buy the full visa (about $50) or buy TWO $20 transit visas, one coming, one going. The airport also features a departure tax, so you should make sure you're really getting a good deal on your ticket before you go this route!
Dar es Salaam offers some of the inconvenience of Nairobi (about 5 to 6 hours by bus to Kilimanjaro) but without the visa hassle. However, if you want to see the beach, Dar es Salaam is close to many Tanzanian beach resorts.
If you can't find a reasonably priced ticket to JRO but don't want to take the two days in transit, don't despair. Several regional airlines provide service to JRO from both NBO and DAR.
Here are some maps of the airports in relation to the mountain, the Google Maps view can be toggled to the "map" view to show the major roads and towns:View in Google Earth View in Google Maps
