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Kenya Safari With Scheduled Flights Within National Parks & Game Reserves

Kenya is one of East African States that have the most attractive national parks & game reserves within its  8 provinces namely,Nairobi,Rift Valley,Central,Eastern,North Eastern,Coast,Westen,Nyanza.

In Nairobi province, we have the Nairobi National Park, The Giraffe Centre, Museum, Ngong Forests, and Nairobi River among others. Within Nairobi Province you can use Tour Vans or Land cruisers for your tour.

In Rift Valley Province we have the "seven wonders of the world" the famous Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Lake Magadi, The Great Rift Valley and many others. There Scheduled flights To Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru and to other destinations there are private charter flights which you can hire on request in various capacities. There are 8 scheduled flights operated everyday to Eldoret International Airport and 5 scheduled flights operated to Masai Mara everyday. There is Morning service flight from Nairobi at 0945 hrs, 1000 hrs and 1015 hrs to Masai Mara and at 1130 hrs, 1145 hrs and 1200 hrs departing Masai Mara to Nairobi. These flights can accommodate over 200 passengers per service both morning and afternoon. The Afternoon service departs Nairobi at 1445 hrs, 1500 hrs to Masai Mara and departs Masai Mara at 1600 hrs and 1630 hrs arrival Nairobi at 1645 hrs and 1715 hrs in Nairobi. Out of Coast we have one scheduled flight daily departing  Mombasa at 0730hrs via Ukunda,Malindi to Masai Mara arriving at 1045 hrs and  departing Masai Masai at 1330 hrs arriving Mombasa at 1630 hrs via Malindi and Ukunda.There are two scheduled flights daily to Kitale which is in Rift Valley.

In Central Province we have the Abardares, Nanyuki, Mt Kenya where there are luxury and budget hotels, tented camps and campsites which tourists can hire  and this will purely depend on ones budget. There are scheduled flights to Nanyuki where you can be dropped and picked and there are also private charter flights you can hire on request which vary with capacity. We have exclusive properties like Loisaba, Kitich, and Tassia which are in Laikipia and only Loisaba is served by a scheduled flight the rest you will alight in Nanyuki or take a private charter flight. There are also helicopters which can drop and pick at door step and this is ideal for elderly people and those with back-ache problems.

Eastern Province we have Meru national park, Chyullu Hills, Samburu ,Shaba ,Lewa Downs which we have one scheduled flight daily  from Nairobi via Masai Mara. Airstrip like Shaba you will drop at Samburu and go by road to Shaba and Joys Camp or alternatively hire a private charter.

There are no scheduled flights to North Eastern Kenya and the tourists will have to charter private flights to Loyengalani, Lake Turkana, Oasis Lodge, Sibiloi, Kobi Fora, Marsabit, and Baragoi among others.

In Nyanza province we have the Mfangano Island,Rusinga Island, Lake Victoria,Usenge Beach which you can use a domestic flight up to Kisumu and drive or charter a private charter. Only a 3 seater and 5 seats aircrafts land at Mfangano Island whereas Rusinga Island only 3,5,12 can land and take off with light luggage and no twin engine can enter in there. We have helicopters which can take you to the door step in the capacity of 3 and 5 seats.

In Western Province we have the Mumias sugarcane plantation, Nzoia sugarcane plantation and West Kenya, Kakamega Rainforest, Rondo Retreat, Mt Elgon where tourists can go for birding safaris, mountain climbing among other activities. There is only one scheduled flight daily in the morning to Kaka mega airstrip or you can fly up to Kisumu and take a vehicle to Kaka mega.

Briefly we will give a description of some of the mammals you will be able to see while on a safari in Kenya.

Hippopotamus

Second in weight only to the Elephant, this unmistakable amphibious mammal has a bulbous body, short legs and a large head which broadens at the muzzle. The eyes, ears and nostrils are placed high on the head in order to remain clear of the water when the animal has its body submerged. The coloration is pink, grey/purple and brown. The body is devoid of fur, having just a few bristles on the tail, head and face. The tail is short and thick. They have well developed incisor teeth which are used when fighting and serve no purpose at all with regard to feeding, which is accomplished by use of the large lips in a ripping motion. In isolated cases they have been recorded feeding on rotting flesh of other animals.

An animal of rivers and swamps across much of East Africa .During the daytime they usually remain partially submerged to avoid the effects of overheating. Sunburn and dehydration. At night they leave the water to graze, preferring short grassy pastures. They use well-defined pathways from the water to their feeding areas, and during the course of the nights foraging, they may cover a distance of 8-10 kilometers. They have been recorded, in isolated cases, feeding on the rotting flesh of other animals. They will usually gather together in herds of 10-50 animals, but during periods of drought densities can increase dramatically to 200 or more. Adults are capable of remaining completely submerged for periods of up to 5 minutes. When giving birth cows will isolate themselves from the herd, remaining alone with their calves for about 6 weeks. Calves are capable of suckling underwater as well as on land.

Masai Giraffe

As the world's tallest animal, reaching heights over 5m, the giraffe is unmistakable. The immense neck, sloping body and long legs aid easy identification. The coat pattern is that of irregular brown blotches on a yellow-buff background. The coat colour of the males has a tendency to darken with age. The under parts are light with faint blotches and spots.  A mane of stiff hair extends from the nape, down the neck to the shoulders. The tail is long and thin, terminating in an abundance of long black hair. The amount and size of horns is very variable, but normally they possess a principle pair on the upper forehead and signs of a much smaller pair of the crown. In addition they often have a single knob of horn in the centre of the lower forehead. The horns are skin covered with tufts of hair at the tips in some females and younger animals. Females are smaller than males.

An inhabitant of bush and lightly wooded regions south of the Sahara, where they feed by browsing to a height denied to al other herbivores. They will strip leaves and shoots from even the thorniest trees and bushes with ease, by use of prehensile lips and a very long 45cm tongue. They remain active for much of the day, seeking shade during the hot midday period. They are found in herds of between 6-12 animals on average. They need to drink every 2-3 days when water is available and during the dry season they are seldom too far from a permanent source, they will disperse over a much wider area during the rains. In order to drink thy have to splay out the forelegs and it is at these times they are most susceptible to attack by lions. They walk with a slow amble moving both legs of the same side of the body together: this is known as ‘pacing' and is quite unusual among animals. When they run or gallop they give the impression of ‘slow motion' but are capable of speeds up to 60km/h.

Cape buffalo

An enormous bovid of strong, solid build with short leg and cattle –like appearance. The sparse coat is short and blackish in colour: young animals have a thicker browner coat. The stout muscular neck supports a large head with a wide muzzle and large ears on the sides of the head, beneath massive horns which spread outwards and downwards from a thick broad base before arcing upwards and inwards. The horn size and shape is variable and dependent on age, the old mature bulls carrying the prize sets, they are much reduced in the female. The tail is long terminating in a tassel of black hair.

Found over a wide range of habitats from dense forests and woodlands to open plains. They are primarily grazers but in forest habitats will browse leaves and shoots. They are water dependent and need to drink daily if possible. They are gregarious, living in herds of 20-40 animals on average, but sometimes form into herds of several hundred. Old bulls tend to live a solitary existence or form small geriatric herds. They are often attended by flocks of Oxpeckers or Tick Birds who do a service to the animals by removing ticks and blood-sucking insects from the hide. They are active by both day and night, seeking shelter during the hot midday period. They take great delight in wallowing in mud holes. The eyesight is rather poor and the hearing only average but the sense of smell is a cute. In the face of danger or uncertainty they will usually lumber away, but they need to be treated with the utmost respect, being responsible for many serious injuries and deaths among local people.

African Elephant

Quite unmistakeable, the worlds largest land mammal. The elephant is so well known that a detailed description seems quite unnecessary; however, there are many interesting facts worth mentioning. The trunk is unique, being not only a nose, but also acting as an additional limb, with an extremely sensitive and flexible tip. An elephant will also use its trunk for drinking, by sucking up large quantities of water before squirting it into the mouth. The large ears act as a very effective cooling system. A network of blood vessels covers the backs of the ears and the constant flapping helps the animal to regulate its body temperature through evaporation. The tusks grow throughout the animal's life, with the rate of growth varying enormously among individuals. An elephant's eyesight is poor but the senses of smell and hearing are very acute. In spite of their massive bulk, soft cushioned undersides to their feet enable almost noiseless movement.

Over recent years the number and distribution of the elephant has been greatly reduced, the main reasons being the expansion of human settlements and the poaching of ivory. They favour areas of wooded savannah and forests. Elephants eat a wide variety of vegetation from grasses and herbage to bushes and trees. In woodland areas considerable damage can be caused, even to mature trees, by the passage of a large herd. They are active throughout the day and night. Although shelter is usually sought during the hottest part of the day. Most females and calves live together in herds averaging 10-20 animals; usually led by an old female they are very protective of their young. By contrast old bulls tend to lead a solitary existence.

Lion

The largest and most powerful of East Africa's cats. The head is very broad with a short muzzle and small, rounded ears, the backs of which are black. The coat, with the exception of the mane, is very short, the ground colour being a sandy yellow often with faint spots, which are particularly noticeable in younger animals. The mane, which is only present on the males, is variable in colour from pale buff to black and covers the neck and shoulders. A full mane may take up to 6 years to develop.

An animal of open savannahs, grassy plains and lightly wooded area. They are unusual among cats in being very social, living in prides of 30 or more individuals. Lions are inactive for much of the day, often resting for up to 20 hours in the shade of trees and bushes. Their sight and smell are good and their hearing is exceptionally keen. Lions will hunt singly, in pairs or in large prides and, as a rule, the more lions taking part the larger the prey species. Primarily the lionesses who secure around 80 % of the prides food requirement undertake the hunting. Lions will also scavenge whenever the opportunity arises. Although capable of running at speeds of up to 60km/h lions have little stamina and give up most chases if they are not successful within 200m.On the plains  of the Serengeti in Tanzania, many of the prides seem less territorial than in other areas, often following herds of plains animals on their annual migrations.

Kenya Safari provides a variety of aircrafts for private charter or on scheduled, luxurious hotels, tented camps, budget hotels and tented camps which you will have a choice from. While on tour in Kenya you will have a variety of mammals, reptiles, insects, amphibians, trees and flowers to view which are all over the country.

There several air operators in Kenya who provides differentiated  air charter services as follows, Private executive jet flights,VIP Executive flights, private charter flights, scenic charter flights, aerial survey and photography flights, sight seeing flights and filming  flights which can be done depending with the number of people you have from 3 to 37 seats.

About the Author

Anthony Juma is the Editor and Senior Aviation Director at Wings Over Africa Aviation. 
This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Scheduled Flights & Safaris In Kenya. The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http:// www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/sheduled-flights.html

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