An air Safari in Africa is the ultimate way to experience a safari from the moment you step straight aboard the light aircraft! It is also one of the most spectacular types of safari holidays, ideal when time is tight, budget is flexible and aerial views of Africa interest you.
An Air safari in Africa means you will fly from place to place, avoiding detours and long road transfers. There are two different types of air safaris in Africa, private charter or scheduled fly ins.
Private Air safaris are the ultimate luxury safari holiday in Africa. From the moment you arrive, you and your loved ones will be met by our pilot and take off, travelling destination to destination in your own plane which is single or twin engine. This avoids detours, other passengers, check in times and luggage loss.
Every professional pilot we work with is well qualified and with you all the way to ensure an effortless safari experience. The fleet of aircraft we use is of the highest specification offering superlative safety standards and attention to detail across all aspects of the air safari service.
The second option is a fly-in safari that utilises existing flight schedules so you travel with others in light aircraft between destinations.
We work with you to design the perfect safari holiday itinerary incorporating your preferred flying mode and at a pace that suits you. We ensure you have access to remote wilderness, previously inaccessible landscapes, abundant wildlife and safari accommodation at your level of comfort and luxury.
Our holiday to Kenya far exceeded our expectations! It was a magnificent holiday- everyday we were dazzled by new things to see and experience. Our highlights would have to be our gorgeous accommodation, witnessing the wildebeest crossing the Mara Rive and seeing vast chunks of East Africa via small aircraft- what a treat!
When to Go
There is never a bad time to be in Africa on a flying safari. Aerial views are stunning all year round, you may prefer green season when the wilderness is bursting with colour and bloom. Some travellers prefer air safaris in summer so they can see the harsh landscapes and wildlife congregating around water holes. Nothing beats air safaris in Africa, arriving in remote airstrips where 4×4 safari vehicles await to whisk you away on your adventure in Africa.
Good to Know
Flying in light aircraft means you will have a strict luggage allowance. Including hand luggage, you can take either 15 kilograms or 20 kilograms depending what countries you are visiting. Soft sided bags only as hard cases with wheels do not fit within the tiny luggage holds of the light aircrafts used on flying safaris. You can buy an additional seat to increase your allowance as many of our guests do, particularly photographers. Food is not served on scheduled light aircraft. Water is mostly provided to guests in a cooler box at the rear of the plane and you can only get this before take off. We also offer helicopter transfers, scenic flights and safaris.
Wings over Africa
A traveller without observation is a bird without wings. – Moslih Eddin Saadi
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Namibia by Air
One of the most scenically diverse countries to experience on an air safari in Africa is Namibia. You can experience aerial views of the harsh Namib Desert, impressive dunes of Sossusvlei, endless salt pans of Etosha, mountainous Damaraland and the boat wreck littered Skeleton Coast. Namibia is vast, so an air safari here saves you full day drives on the road. Many of our guests like to combine driving with an air safari which is easily done here due to the circular route that starts and ends in Windhoek.
Botswana Air Safari
Botswana has a beautiful variety of landscapes, many of which are inaccessible by road so a Botswana Air safari is certainly popular with our travellers. Light aircraft flights here are like taxis, taking guests from place to place often with stops in between so you get to experience a few take offs and landings. Nothing beats flying low over the Okavango Delta and seeing wildlife in the waters and islands of this landscape. Or the vastness of the Makgadikadi Pans and Kalahari Desert. We also recommend factoring in the unique Okavango Delta helicopter safari where you fly low with doors off to maximise your photographic safari chances. With a champagne island stop in the heart of the Delta, you’re experiencing the ultimate luxury Botswana safari activity.
Wings over Zimbabwe
Whilst roads exist between Zimbabwe safari holiday destinations, they are quite long and so air safaris are hugely popular. Take off from Victoria Falls which is a spectacle unto itself and head to elephant rich Hwange before flying down to the riverside haven of Mana Pools with abundant wildlife on land and in the waters. With frequent scheduled flights an air safari in Zimbabwe is worth considering to make your safari holiday a comfortable one with the added bonus of outstanding aerial views of Africa’s finest landscapes.
Classic Kenya Wings
Kenya is one of our favourite air safari holidays because some of the country’s most sensational scenery is most accessible by air, reducing long, strenuous days in the vehicle and adding to the luxury of the experience with aerial views that leave you speechless. See the Great Rift Valley plunge down to the lakes, expansive plain views of the Masai Mara to the vast, lush mountainous Samburu region. With frequent scheduled light aircraft, an air safari in Kenya is easily achieved to meet your criteria of time and budget. We also have scenic flights available in bi-plane, helicopters and private planes for those who seek the ultimate luxury Kenya safari experience.
Madagascar Flying
With a country so massive and roads so poor, we always recommend flying around Madagascar. Most of our itineraries involve at least one or two light aircraft flights to ensure you get more time on the ground in beautiful locations than bumping around for hours traversing difficult roads. On a Madagascar holiday, we also recommend you allow for delays as there is only one airline and schedules often change at the last minute – all of which we take into consideration when planning your trip. Antananarivo is the capital and you often have to fly in and out multiple times to get to more remote destinations which may mean a few nights here.
Ethiopia by Air
If you seek the ultimate Ethiopia safari holiday, it will be worth flying to some of the more remote destinations particularly in the far north and south. Fortunately, there is a great domestic carrier with regular services to major cities and regions that are reasonably priced most of the time and scenic. It greatly reduces some of the longer days on the road and allows for a unique perspective on your Ethiopia holiday.
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We loved all of Namibia but especially enjoyed the small plane flights, they were game drives in themselves! It puts the country side in perspective, something you don’t quite get from the ground.
Our holiday to Kenya far exceeded our expectations! It was a magnificent holiday- everyday we were dazzled by new things to see and experience. Our highlights would have to be our gorgeous accommodation, witnessing the wildebeest crossing the Mara Rive and seeing vast chunks of East Africa via small aircraft- what a treat!
Thank you Encompass Africa for helping us celebrate such a milestone in life and ticking off a bucket list item! We saw so much and how can you possibly choose a favourite animal, they are so varied and beautiful. But the elephant came close because we encountered so many. Lion, leopard, hippo.. just to name a few from the endless list. African sunsets are magnificent and celebrating with a drink and canapés is certainly memorable. The accommodation along the way was truly outstanding and flying in from place to place wasn’t as daunting as we thought. The birds eye view of the amazing African landscapes to bouncing up and then again safely down on dusty dirt airstrips in the middle of nowhere were all part of the outstanding experience. Staff were delightful and food was in abundance so what more could a lady wish for.
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