Fly-in safaris in Africa

On a fly-in safari you travel between different safari areas by light aircraft. You land on an airstrip near your accommodation and are taken from there to the lodge or camp. This shortens long driving distances and gives access to remote regions.

On site you go on game drives and other activities offered with the guides from your accommodation. Flights, transfers and nights are coordinated with one another. During the flights you experience the landscape from a bird's-eye view.

The best time to travel for a fly-in safari is generally the dry season. In Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia it usually lasts from May to October. This period is also suitable for South Africa's safari areas in the north-east, such as Kruger National Park and the neighbouring private game reserves.

Kenya and Tanzania have two drier travel periods: the long dry season from June to October and the short dry season in January and February. In Uganda, June to September and December to February are usually comparatively dry. Depending on the region and the year, the start and end of the rainy seasons can vary.

The vegetation is then sparser in many places, and wildlife is easier to observe at the remaining waterholes.

If, as a photographer, you want to capture green landscapes and impressive cloud formations, the wetter months can be the better choice. In Botswana, for example, November to April also offers good conditions for birdwatching.

Because of the denser vegetation, however, mammals can sometimes be harder to spot.

Your desired activities also determine the best time to travel: for walking safaris, for example in Zambia, the dry season is usually best. For boat and mokoro trips in the Okavango Delta, on the other hand, the water level is decisive.

Often June to August offers good conditions, as the flood from Angola reaches the delta during Botswana's dry season. Which activities are possible, however, depends on the individual camp and local conditions.

Our travel experts tailor your fly-in safari to your interests, the seasonal conditions and the opening times of the camps. For more detailed information on the best time to travel in the various safari areas of Africa, we recommend the travel blog "When is the best time to travel for a safari in Africa?"

Elefant-Tours offers fly-in safaris in the following countries:

• Namibia – desert landscapes, Etosha National Park and the Zambezi region.
• Botswana – Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.
• Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mana Pools.
• Zambia – Victoria Falls, Kafue and South Luangwa National Park.
• Kenya – Masai Mara and private reserves.
• Uganda – including gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park.

Further destinations in southern and eastern Africa are possible on request. We tailor the route, accommodation and activities to your wishes.

Yes – fly-in safaris are considered a safe way to travel when organised by an experienced tour operator and you follow the instructions of the crews, guides and lodges.

With Elefant-Tours, the flights, transfers and safari activities are carefully coordinated so that you can focus entirely on your nature experience.

What makes a fly-in safari with Elefant-Tours safe:

• Experienced bush pilots take you to the airstrips of the safari areas.
• Organised transfers between airstrip and accommodation are handled by the camps.
• Professional safari guides accompany the game drives and know the behaviour of the wildlife and their territory precisely.
• Clear safety rules in national parks and accommodation help to avoid risks – for example through behaviour briefings or fixed routines in unfenced camps.
• Respect for nature is the most important safety factor: if you follow the guides' instructions, you will experience the African wilderness safely and intensely.

Important: a safari takes place in the wild. Wild animals remain wild animals – so sensible behaviour and following your guides' instructions are decisive for your safety.

In addition to fly-in safaris, Elefant-Tours offers the following travel styles for independent travellers:

• Private safaris – wildlife viewing in national parks and game reserves with your own guide and private vehicle.
• Private tours – guided round trips focusing on landscapes, cities, culture and encounters.
• Mobile Explorer Camp – private camping safaris in Tanzania with your own camp and a crew who take care of set-up and catering.
• Photo tours – trips with time for selected subjects, the right light conditions and extensive wildlife viewing.
• Self-drive tours – individually planned round trips by rental car, where you drive yourself and travel without a guide.

Our travel experts will advise you on the right travel style and tailor the route, accommodation and activities to your wishes. Our local subsidiaries bring their knowledge of the country to the planning and organisation.

A fly-in safari shortens long driving distances between safari areas. Particularly for destinations that are far apart or difficult to reach, it offers the following advantages:

• Time savings – less time on the move means more time for wildlife viewing and for relaxing at your accommodation.
• Reaching remote destinations – small aircraft take you to camps and reserves that are difficult or impossible to reach overland.
• Fewer long drives – hours-long stages on uneven roads and tracks are eliminated.
• Seeing landscapes from above – even on the way you experience savannahs, rivers and deserts from a bird's-eye view.

A classic round trip, on the other hand, offers more opportunities to stop along the way and get to know places and landscapes between the safari areas.

On a fly-in safari, special luggage rules apply, as storage space and payload on the light aircraft are limited. As a rule you may take a maximum of 20 kg of luggage per person, including hand luggage and camera equipment.

Pack in soft travel bags without wheels or rigid frames; hard-shell suitcases are not suitable. The exact weight limits and bag dimensions depend on the flight provider and the booked route. We will let you know the requirements for your trip in advance.

Additional luggage may be possible by prior arrangement for an extra charge. If your body weight is over 94 kg, please let us know when you book so that we can check the conditions.

Depending on the flight provider, additional costs may apply. Whether the weight limits of people travelling together may be pooled must also be clarified in advance. Many lodges offer a laundry service, so you can manage with fewer clothes.

Before your trip, Elefant-Tours will send you all the luggage rules that apply to your booked fly-in safari, so that you can set off fully prepared.

A fly-in safari is suitable for travellers who want to combine several safari areas and avoid long overland drives. Safari first-timers benefit from organised transfers between accommodation. Experienced safari travellers also reach remote regions and camps that are hard to access overland.

Nature and wildlife lovers gain more time for observation, while photography enthusiasts can also capture landscapes from the air. For couples and honeymooners, small, remote lodges provide a peaceful setting with plenty of privacy. If you value comfortable accommodation, you will find, depending on the destination, a selection of high-quality camps and lodges.

Elefant-Tours tailors the trip length, safari areas, accommodation and activities to your interests and your budget – whether in the Okavango Delta, in Zambia or on a combination of several national parks.

A fly-in safari in Africa is generally more expensive than a comparable overland safari. The additional costs arise mainly from the bush flights and the often remote, small lodges and camps, which are more costly to supply.

The total price depends on the country, the season, the trip length and the standard of accommodation. The number of flight legs also plays a role. In return, you save long overland drives and reach safari areas that are hard to access.

With Elefant-Tours, prices in a double room start, for example, at:

• Botswana fly-in safari
  Short safari – Okavango Delta (3 days): from 1,460 € per person.
  Fly-in safari in Botswana (9 days): from 4,280 € per person.
  Stylish Botswana (10 days): from 7,030 € per person.
• Exclusive Namibia – fly-in safari (10 days): from 7,260 € per person.
• Zimbabwe fly-in safari (12 days): on request.
• Unspoilt Zambia fly-in safari (10 days): from 6,390 € per person.
• Kenya fly-in safari (7 days): from 6,080 € per person.
• Uganda fly-in gorilla safari (4 days): from 2,440 € per person.

International flights are not included in the trip price, but, depending on the trip, numerous services are, including domestic bush flights, nights in carefully selected lodges and camps, transfers, many meals and the safari activities and national park fees provided for in the itinerary.

Don't forget: all fly-in safaris from Elefant-Tours are individually adaptable. Trip length, accommodation and itinerary can be tailored to your wishes, so that you experience a safari that fits your budget and your ideas perfectly.

Yes, you can combine several countries on a fly-in safari. Which combination makes sense depends on your interests, the travel time available and the flight connections. Examples include:

• Namibia & Botswana – Sossusvlei and the Okavango Delta.
• Botswana & Zimbabwe – Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls and Mana Pools.
• Zimbabwe & Zambia – Hwange and Kafue National Park.
• Tanzania & Kenya – Serengeti and Masai Mara.
• Kenya & Uganda – wildlife viewing in Kenya and gorilla trekking in Uganda.

For the transition between countries, depending on the route, we plan a cross-border flight or an overland transfer.

The respective entry requirements must be observed. Within the safari areas, light aircraft usually take you to your accommodation. Our travel experts coordinate flights, transfers and stays with one another.

Yes, a fly-in safari can be combined with a classic overland safari. You can first explore several national parks with a guide in a 4x4 and then continue by bush plane to a remote camp. In this way you get to know different landscapes along the way and bridge longer or hard-to-drive stretches by air.

After a bush flight, too, you go on game drives with the guides from your accommodation. Depending on the region and camp, boat trips, mokoro excursions or guided bush walks complete the programme. The flights connect the safari areas and offer additional views from a bird's-eye perspective.

Elefant-Tours tailors driving and flight legs, trip length and accommodation to your wishes. Together we plan which stages you cover overland and where a flight makes sense.