Amsterdam to Dar es Salaam (AMS–DAR) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Dutch passport holders need a visa for Tanzania. Apply online at visa.immigration.go.tz for an e-visa before departure. The single-entry tourist visa costs USD 50 and is valid for up to 90 days. Processing takes 5 to 10 working days. You can also get a visa on arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for USD 50, but the e-visa avoids queuing. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival with at least two blank pages.

KLM flies direct from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro (JRO) in about 9 hours. This is a convenient routing for safari visitors heading to the northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire). For Dar es Salaam (DAR) or Zanzibar (ZNZ), connect through Nairobi on KLM/Kenya Airways or through Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. Total travel time to ZNZ from Amsterdam runs 12 to 16 hours with one stop.

Tanzania uses the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), trading at roughly 2,800 TZS per EUR 1. US dollars are widely accepted at hotels, safari operators, and on Zanzibar, but bills must be from 2006 or later. ATMs in major cities and tourist areas accept foreign cards (CRDB and NMB banks are reliable). Card payments are uncommon outside upscale hotels and lodges. Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from an endemic country. Carry your yellow vaccination certificate. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly advised for all regions.

Intercity and Sprinter trains run directly to Schiphol Plaza (the station is inside the terminal) from Amsterdam Centraal every 10–15 minutes (15 min, €5.70). The Intercity Direct from Rotterdam takes 43 minutes (€17.40 with supplement). Trains from The Hague take 35–45 minutes.

Taxis from central Amsterdam cost €35–50 and take 20–35 minutes. Highway A4 is frequently congested during morning rush. Bus 397 runs from Amsterdam Leidseplein to Schiphol (30 min, €5.50) for a cheaper landside alternative.