Fly in Safaris Tanzania

A fly-in safari involves taking light aircraft flights between different safari destinations or directly to airstrips within national parks, minimizing long and often bumpy road transfers. Instead of driving for many hours between parks, you take short, scenic flights. Upon arrival at a bush airstrip, a safari vehicle from your chosen lodge or camp will meet you, and your game drives typically begin shortly after landing. This maximizes your time spent on game viewing and reduces travel fatigue.

• Time-Saving: This is the biggest advantage. You save countless hours that would otherwise be spent driving on sometimes challenging roads, allowing you to spend more time on game drives and enjoying your camp.
• Access to Remote Parks: Some of Tanzania’s most wild and pristine parks, like Ruaha and Mahale Mountains, are best (or only practically) accessed by air.
• Reduced Travel Fatigue: Avoid the long, dusty, and bumpy drives, making for a more comfortable and refreshing safari experience.
• Spectacular Aerial Views: Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the vast plains, Rift Valley, volcanic landscapes, and even wildlife from above. It’s a unique perspective.
• More Time in Camps/Lodges: By cutting down travel time, you get more leisure time to relax and enjoy the amenities of your chosen accommodation.
• Local Guides: In many fly-in safari arrangements, your game drives are conducted by guides from the specific camp or lodge you are staying at. These guides are often highly specialized and have extensive local knowledge of the area and its wildlife, as they operate in that particular zone daily.

Fly-in safaris are generally more expensive than driving safaris due to the cost of domestic flights. The exact price varies widely based on:

• Flight legs: The number of flights you take.
• Lodge/Camp standard: Luxury fly-in safaris staying at exclusive camps will be significantly more expensive.
• Season: Peak season (June-October) flight and accommodation costs are higher.
• Duration: Longer safaris involve more flights and accommodation nights.

Roughly, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $2,000+ per person per day for a fly-in safari, depending on the level of luxury and itinerary.

This is a crucial consideration! Light aircraft have strict luggage limitations due to weight and space constraints. Typically, you are limited to:

• 15-20 kg (33-44 lbs) per person, including hand luggage.
• Soft-sided bags/duffel bags are mandatory. Hard-sided suitcases cannot be accommodated in the small luggage compartments of the aircraft.
• It’s always best to check the specific limits with your safari operator, as they can vary slightly by airline and aircraft type.

Domestic airlines operate scheduled and charter flights to numerous airstrips located within or very close to Tanzania’s national parks and major safari hubs. Common airstrips include:

• Seronera (Central Serengeti)
• Kogatende/Lamai (Northern Serengeti)
• Ndutu (Southern Serengeti)
• Lake Manyara Airstrip
• Tarangire Airstrip
• Ruaha Airstrip
• Mtemere/Siwandu (Nyerere National Park/Selous)
• Kigoma/Mahale (for chimpanzee trekking)

Major international airports for connecting flights are Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar.

Most domestic safari flights in Tanzania are operated by reputable local airlines using small, light aircraft such as:

• Cessna Caravans (often 12-13 seaters)
• Twin Otters
• Other similar turboprop planes. These aircraft are specifically designed for short take-offs and landings on bush airstrips and offer excellent viewing opportunities.

Absolutely! Fly-in safaris are perfect for combining with a relaxing beach holiday in Zanzibar. You can easily fly from the Serengeti or other safari parks directly to Zanzibar, or vice versa, maximizing your time for both adventure and relaxation without lengthy transfers.

A fly-in safari is ideal for:

• Travelers with limited time who want to maximize their safari experience.
• Those seeking a more luxurious and comfortable journey.
• Visitors wanting to explore remote and less-visited parks.
• Individuals who prefer to avoid long road journeys.
• Photographers looking for aerial perspectives of the landscape.