Fly-in Safaris in Tanzania

A fly-in safari uses light aircraft to travel between destinations instead of driving long distances by road. You still enjoy full game drives in each park with a private guide and vehicle, but the transfers between regions are by air, which saves hours and adds a scenic highlight of its own. Flying low over the Rift Valley, crater highlands and endless plains gives you a completely new sense of Tanzania’s scale, and landing on a bush airstrip with wildlife nearby is unforgettable. It suits travellers who want to cover more ground without spending whole days in a vehicle, and it works especially well when combining remote parks or pairing the bush with Zanzibar. In short, it is the same safari, minus the tiring road days.

The Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha, Nyerere and the remote Western Circuit parks of Mahale and Katavi all work beautifully by air. Fly-in is particularly valuable for the far-flung parks that would otherwise involve very long, bumpy drives from Arusha — Ruaha and Katavi in particular are transformed from a two-day slog into a short hop. In the Serengeti, scheduled and private flights let you reach the specific region where the migration is grazing, rather than committing to one area. Ngorongoro is usually reached by road or a short flight to nearby Lake Manyara. Tell us which parks are on your wish list and we will map the most efficient flying route between them.

Yes, flights add to the cost compared with a road-only itinerary, and light-aircraft charters are priced per seat or per aircraft, so the difference can be noticeable. However, you save time, avoid long and tiring drives, and often see more in fewer days — which can mean fewer nights of accommodation overall. For many travellers the comfort, convenience and sheer experience of the scenic flights justify the extra spend. Costs vary by route, season and how many seats you fill, so group size matters. We are always transparent about the trade-offs and can suggest a hybrid itinerary, flying the long legs and driving the short, scenic ones, to get the best balance of value and time.

We typically use small, safari-configured light aircraft with somewhere between four and twelve seats, depending on the route and the size of your group. The common workhorses are the Cessna Caravan and similar single-engine types, all well maintained and flown by experienced commercial pilots. They offer excellent visibility through large windows, so keep your camera close — the views over the crater highlands and Serengeti plains are wonderful. Seating is usually unassigned, and on shared flights you may sit beside other travellers. Flights are short, often thirty minutes to an hour, and the take-offs and landings on grass or dirt airstrips are part of the adventure. If anyone is a nervous flyer, let us know and we will plan around it.

Yes. Light aircraft have strict weight and space limits — usually around 15kg (33lbs) per person, packed in soft-sided bags rather than hard suitcases so they can be stowed easily. Some routes and smaller aircraft allow less, so always check before you pack. The good news is that most safari camps offer a complimentary laundry service, so you can travel with far less clothing than you might expect. If you are carrying extra camera gear, medication or a heavier bag, tell us in advance — we can often arrange a supplementary seat or a separate transfer. Store surplus luggage at your hotel in Arusha, and we will advise you on the exact limits for your specific flights well before departure.

Absolutely, and many of our favourite itineraries do exactly that. Flying the long, tedious legs — say between the Serengeti and Ruaha, or down to the coast — saves the best part of a day each time, while driving shorter, scenic routes keeps you close to the landscape and can be better value. A typical mix might fly you into the Serengeti, game drive across the plains by road, then hop by air to Ngorongoro or Zanzibar. This hybrid approach often gives the best balance of cost, time and experience, and it lets us include a park that would otherwise be too far to reach comfortably. Tell us your priorities and we will build the mix that suits you.

Yes. Shorter travel legs are ideal for families with children, since they cut the fatigue of long, hot drives and keep everyone happier on arrival. A thirty-minute flight is far easier for a young child than a five-hour road transfer, and it turns the journey itself into part of the fun. We can tailor flight times and connections to suit your family’s schedule, avoiding very early departures where possible and building in rest days. Some light aircraft have weight limits that apply to children too, and infants are often carried on a parent’s lap, so do tell us ages in advance. Combined with private game drives on the ground, fly-in safaris make an excellent, low-stress choice for families.

Yes. Many safari airstrips connect to Zanzibar either via Dar es Salaam or on direct seasonal flights, especially during the peak months. From the Serengeti, for example, you can often fly straight to Zanzibar in a couple of hours, arriving in time for a late-afternoon swim. If a direct service is not running, we route you through Dar es Salaam with a comfortable connection. We build the whole bush-to-beach journey in one itinerary, arranging every transfer, luggage allowance and check-in so the handover is seamless. Just tell us how long you would like on the coast and which beaches appeal, and we will weave the flights together with your safari dates so the timing works from start to finish.