The wife and I are planning to do a safari trip in Kenya this April. Have any of you done this and do you have any tips on doing a flight while on the trip? I fly a 182 and it would be a blast to take a flight while there.

Cheers, Dale

I have a friend in Kenya. I believe his wife is a 'travel agent" but will double check.

If you haven't already, do yourself a great favor and pick up a copy of West with the Night. Best of luck- I hope it comes together for you!

-DP

I will get a copy of the book and thanks for checking with your wife's friend. We are planning to go the beginning of April. Landing in Nairobi, spending 4-5 on safari and then doing other stuff for 4-5 days. A good friend went a couple months ago, so we will be doing the same safari they did.

We did the photo safari thing in Kenya several years ago. There was a company doing balloon rides at that time, but I didn't hear of an option of plane rides from the tourist operator we worked with. This is off topic, but I would highly recommend you consult with your doctor asking him to prescribe pills to take with you to counteract the possibility of Montezuma's revenge. Everything you eat, drink (including ice) puts you at risk. I was naive, did not know any better and found out the hard way that you need to be prepared ahead of time. This in not just an overnight thing, it took a couple of weeks to get over, it put a real crimp on the trip. Have fun, there is a lot to see.

steve wrote:We did the photo safari thing in Kenya several years ago. There was a company doing balloon rides at that time, but I didn't hear of an option of plane rides from the tourist operator we worked with. This is off topic, but I would highly recommend you consult with your doctor asking him to prescribe pills to take with you to counteract the possibility of Montezuma's revenge. Everything you eat, drink (including ice) puts you at risk. I was naive, did not know any better and found out the hard way that you need to be prepared ahead of time. This in not just an overnight thing, it took a couple of weeks to get over, it put a real crimp on the trip. Have fun, there is a lot to see.

I second this!! Something I had forgotten about. I wasn't in Kenya, but was on a hunting Safari in Zimbabwe. If you have even the slightest 'weak' stomach be prepared! Much less sanitary conditions in most of Africa and this little fact can have it's consiquences.Also check to see if you might need to be on a Malaria medication plan.It was quite a few years ago, things may have changed but there were side affects from the medication. Nothing debilitating, but noticable. I would love to go back to Africa one day, but then I grew up dreaming of great safaris after reading Robert Rurack, Himingway and others of that generation.

I have reached out to my friend to see if his wife still does the travel and safari work. I think she had done hunting safaris years ago but hunting I believe is banned now in Kenya. I will let you know when I hear back from him.

Lucky, Friend responded. His wife is involved in the travel industry and I will forward you her email in a private message. He also stated that if you are wanting to fly left seat, it is quite involved, due to paperwork, possibly much easier if you just want to sight see.
PM inbound.
Good luck and have fun! I hope to get back to several places in Africa someday.
Keith

I second “West with the night” by Beryl Markham. Knocked around Kenya in the mid-seventies, and later worked around there flying helicopter (212, 412, S76, 139).
Some big tire stuff around, saw a SuperCub or two on big tires on beaches in Zanzibar and Mafia island.

Hey,

Thanks for everyone's replies and I have ordered the book

I will also reach out to your friend this weekend and let everyone know about or final plans

cheers

Wilson airport in Narobi is the GA hub. There are operators there who can do dual flights. Also check out the Aeroclub of East Africa

I’ve got the Beryl Markham autobio on my bed stand, I read a little bit now and then I’m the evening.

I had a chance to go to Africa with my older sister when I was a young man. She ran an endangered ungulate recovery via in vitro fertilization program which was funded by the DeBoor diamond wealth, which was something I didn’t wanna be involved with. I recall my sister saying, I know I know but we are doing something that is making a positive difference…

There were a couple of old timers who were still around hunting and commercial fishing here in AK when I first showed up who talked about getting paid to run guns in Africa using supercubs, talked about the one guy who never made it back one evening…one of those guys captained two B17 missions in Europe, shot down and bailed out once and snuck back to France to keep fighting… makes a guy seem somewhat insignificant compared to those men.


Rocket

Not exactly a guide to trip-planning, but here is a great writeup from this very site that may provide some inspiration:

https://backcountrypilot.org/features/c ... rican-bush

-DP

Where in Kenya are you going for your safari?

My wife and I spent nearly a month driving around Kenya with friends a couple of years ago based from Nairobi.
We had lunch at the Aeroclub at Wilson Airport which has plenty of history from the early days of flying in East Africa.

Nothing to do with flying, but if you're interested in Kenya safaris you might find this book enjoyable.
"Aagaard's Africa, A Hunter Remembers" written by Finn Aagaard in 1991.
Finn Aagard was a Professional Hunter who grew up in Kenya,
but moved to Texas after hunting was banned in his native country.
He wrote for the NRA's American Hunter magazine for 10 or 12 years,
and authored several books about guns & hunting.
Good stuff.

Yes, unfortunately hunting in Kenya is not allowed. Photo safari might be okay. I hunted Zimbabwe back when Mugabe was a big problem. Exciting times!