Tanzania to build ‘Green International Airport’ in Serengeti
What you need to know:
- The Serengeti International Airport project has been allocated Sh 3 billion in the 2025/26 financial year from domestic sources. The funds will go toward completing a detailed feasibility study and beginning initial construction works.
Dar es Salaam. The government has announced plans to begin construction of a new environmentally conscious airport in the Serengeti, dubbed the Green International Airport, as part of the 2025/26 national budget.
Presenting the Ministry of Transport’s budget in Parliament today, May 15, Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said the project will serve as a strategic gateway to one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations and a crucial link in Tanzania’s expanding aviation network.
The Serengeti International Airport project has been allocated Sh 3 billion in the 2025/26 financial year from domestic sources. The funds will go toward completing a detailed feasibility study and beginning initial construction works.
“The airport will be built with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, preserving the Serengeti’s ecosystem while enhancing tourism access,” Prof Mbarawa told lawmakers in Dodoma. “It will act as a hub, connecting with other international airports across Tanzania, and is expected to significantly boost tourist arrivals and regional development.”
The airport is expected to complement the government’s ongoing efforts to improve air transport infrastructure, including expanding airport capacity and increasing international air connectivity.
According to the minister, the planned Green International Airport will integrate green design principles and sustainable technologies—an approach that aligns with global trends in eco-tourism infrastructure.
Prof Mbarawa added that the facility would not only support the Serengeti’s tourism economy but also open up access for investment and trade in northern Tanzania.
The announcement of the new airport comes amid a wider national strategy to modernise aviation infrastructure. The 2025/26 budget allocates funds for airport projects in Mwanza, Arusha, Mtwara, Bukoba, and Kilimanjaro, as well as for the rehabilitation and expansion of Julius Nyerere International Airport’s Terminal II.
Other key allocations include Sh 35 billion for the Kilimanjaro International Airport upgrade, and Sh 80.12 billion in external funding from the French government for enhancements at JNIA.
In total, the Ministry of Transport has proposed billions in new spending to improve aviation safety, passenger handling capacity, and operational efficiency across Tanzania’s domestic and international airports.
