I’m a Travel Advisor Who Has Lived in Africa for 30 Years—Here Are 6 Tips for Using Private Air Travel For a Safari

0Stunning aerial views of Maasai Mara National Reserve.Credit: Cavan Images/Steele Burrow/Getty ImagesAfter more than 30 years of living and working in Africa, I’ve seen private aviation transform safari travel. A new generation of pressurized aircraft can land on remote bush airstrips, making far-flung destinations faster and more comfortable to reach. When you’re traveling halfway around the world—and across a continent as vast as Africa—time is the ultimate luxury. Here are six tips for flying private on safari.

Safaris are complex journeys, with tricky logistics by land, water, and air. Choose the right operator, and much of that complexity disappears. The most experienced safari planners handle every detail, including the best air routes, airstrip conditions, and baggage-weight limits. They will also have longstanding relationships with charter companies and know when a short flight can turn a day of transfers into an afternoon in the bush—perhaps watching a pride of lions and its playful new cubs.

Look for an outfitter that provides a certified safari director who travels with you throughout your journey. Along with offering wildlife expertise, this person can manage the complications of air travel, airports, and border crossings.

When evaluating safari lodges, consider not only their architecture, amenities, and access to abundant wildlife, but also how easily you can reach them. Some lodges and camps have private airstrips or helipads, allowing you to land in the wilderness and begin your safari almost immediately.

Some of my favorite East African camps and lodges with private airstrips include Segera Retreat, Suyian Lodge, Mara Plains Camp, and Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy. Notable lodges with helipads include Rwanda’s One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and Tanzania’s Mwiba Lodge in the heart of the Serengeti.

Few destinations reveal their scale as dramatically from the air as Africa. The continent can feel even wilder from above—and nowhere more so than from a helicopter. It’s easy to understand why these aerial views have inspired generations of writers, poets, and painters.

Highlights from my more than three decades of flying include soaring over Kenya’s Lake Turkana and Great Rift Valley lakes—a birder’s dream, especially during flamingo migration season—and taking a time-saving helicopter transfer from Kigali to a trekking lodge near Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Other standouts include Victoria Falls’ stunning “Flight of the Angels” and a flightseeing tour from Cape Town over Robben Island and the entire Cape Peninsula.

Customs and immigration procedures can vary from country to country, and requirements may change with little notice. Knowing the ins and outs of border clearances is essential. A safari director who understands those formalities can help prevent delays and keep the journey moving.

At the same time, airports across the continent are becoming easier to navigate. Digital and biometric immigration systems can streamline arrivals and departures, while recent upgrades at Tanzania’s Arusha Airport have improved connections for northern Tanzania itineraries. New lounges at the Arusha and Lake Manyara airports offer VIP assistance and a more comfortable place to wait between flights.

Private air travel doesn’t just save time; it can open up parts of Africa that commercial flights rarely reach. In western Tanzania, the Mahale Mountains rise from the shores of Lake Tanganyika, creating one of Africa’s best settings for tracking wild chimpanzees on foot. Charter flights provide the most direct access to this remote corner of Tanzania.

In Namibia, the Skeleton Coast stretches along the Atlantic, where towering dunes meet the ocean. Despite the harsh environment, the region supports desert-adapted elephants, lions, and black rhinos, and is most easily reached by private aircraft. Farther south, the NamibRand Nature Reserve offers a different kind of remoteness: some of the world’s darkest skies. A charter flight into the Namib Desert places you beneath a dense blanket of stars, best viewed from the outdoor deck of a safari camp.

In Zambia, Kafue National Park is the country’s largest, with broad floodplains, rivers, and vast expanses of protected wilderness. The park is home to Kafue lechwe and puku that graze on the open plains, as well as elephants, buffalo, and lions. Flying significantly reduces the long overland journeys required to reach its most remote areas.

Conservation is always top of mind in Africa, and in recent years, many African air charters and carriers have made a meaningful effort to offset their carbon footprint. These efforts can vary widely in both scope and strategy, from widespread programs sponsored by the International Air Transport Association to regional projects involving the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and even local reforestation programs and community projects. Your safari operator can provide more information on your itinerary’s charters and carriers and how their practices align with your values.

Liz Wheeler is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in multigenerational and family safaris. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Wheeler by contacting [email protected].

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