The right side wins primarily because of the dramatic Kilimanjaro departure view, plus a cruise track that curves over the Nile Valley and Egyptian desert, giving more genuinely distinctive terrain than the flatter, more ocean/desert-heavy left side; the Amsterdam approach on either side is comparatively unremarkable and flat.
Flight Path
The great-circle route passes over the Kenyan highlands, the Sudanese Nile Valley near Khartoum, the Sahara desert of southern Egypt and Libya, the central Mediterranean Sea, and the Italian Alps before descending over Germany into the flat Dutch lowlands.
Great circle distance and headings ›
Phase by phase
Takeoff from JRO
RIGHTKilimanjaro International sits just southwest of Mount Kilimanjaro itself, and on the initial climb-out toward the northwest, the volcano's snow-capped summit and broad shield shape dominate the view off the right side of the aircraft before the plane settles onto its northbound track.
Landing at AMS
LEFTOn the descent into Schiphol from the south, arrivals often track over the Randstad conurbation before turning onto final approach, giving left-side passengers a view of Rotterdam's harbor cranes and the patchwork of polders and canals leading into Amsterdam.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Kilimanjaro International (JRO) to Schiphol (AMS)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Kilimanjaro to Amsterdam. The right side wins primarily because of the dramatic Kilimanjaro departure view, plus a cruise track that curves over the Nile Valley and Egyptian desert, giving more genuinely distinctive terrain than the flatter, more ocean/desert-heavy left side; the Amsterdam approach on either side is comparatively unremarkable and flat.
What can I see during takeoff from Kilimanjaro International in Kilimanjaro?
During takeoff from Kilimanjaro International (JRO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Kilimanjaro International sits just southwest of Mount Kilimanjaro itself, and on the initial climb-out toward the northwest, the volcano's snow-capped summit and broad shield shape dominate the view off the right side of the aircraft before the plane settles onto its northbound track. Notable sights include: Mount Kilimanjaro (Kibo and Mawenzi peaks), Amboseli plains, Chala Crater Lake.
What can I see when landing at Schiphol in Amsterdam?
When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the descent into Schiphol from the south, arrivals often track over the Randstad conurbation before turning onto final approach, giving left-side passengers a view of Rotterdam's harbor cranes and the patchwork of polders and canals leading into Amsterdam. Notable sights include: Rotterdam harbor and skyline, Dutch polder farmland grid, canals near Delft and The Hague, distant North Sea coastline.
How long is the flight from Kilimanjaro to Amsterdam?
The flight from Kilimanjaro International (JRO) to Schiphol (AMS) takes 8h 50m.
What does the Kilimanjaro to Amsterdam flight path pass over?
The great-circle route passes over the Kenyan highlands, the Sudanese Nile Valley near Khartoum, the Sahara desert of southern Egypt and Libya, the central Mediterranean Sea, and the Italian Alps before descending over Germany into the flat Dutch lowlands.